Irbis Ishbara Yabgu Khan

Irbis Ishbara Yabgu Khan was the khan the Nushibi raised in 639. Ishbara Tolis had died in Ferghana, and his son had died within the year.^[1] The new khan held the south-west of the western Göktürk lands for two years. The oasis states from Kucha to Samarkand were under his governors. He was killed at the order of his rival Yukuk Shad.^[1]

Name and descent

乙毗沙鉢羅葉護可汗ChineseXin Tangshu 215
畢賀咄葉護ChineseXin Tangshu 215
薄布特勒ChineseJiu Tangshu 194

His title was 乙毗沙鉢羅葉護可汗, Yipi Shaboluo Yabgu Khan. The histories call him the Yabgu Khan or the Shaboluo Yabgu for short.^[1] The Xin Tang Shu gives his name as the Biheduo Yabgu, the Jiu Tang Shu as the Bobu Tegin.^[2] Both make him the son of Jiana Shad, a brother of Ishbara Tolis. In the one history Jiana Shad is the elder brother Nishu under another name. In the other he is a younger brother.^[2]

The Southern Court (639–641)

The great chiefs of the Nushibi fetched him and gave him the power.^[1] He set his court north of the Sui river and called it the Southern Court. To the east it reached the Ili.^[1] The states of Kucha, Shanshan, Qiemo, Tokharistan, Karashahr, Chach, Kesh, Kushaniya, Mu and Samarkand all received his governors.^[1] He sent an envoy to render homage and bring tribute. Taizong sent a sealed letter to console and encourage him. In the fifteenth year of Zhenguan, 641, the emperor ordered the general Zhang Dashi to carry the letter to him and to present him with a drum and a standard.^[3] Where the Sui river ran is not known. A placing north-east of Issyk Kul rests on nothing firm.^[2]

The Tarim article sets the list of his subject states beside the claims of his rival. The rival took Tokharistan from him and raided Yizhou.^[1]

Death (641)

Duolu’s army was growing all this while. The two khans fought repeatedly.^[1] Envoys of both arrived at the Tang court together. The emperor gave them instructions on sincerity and harmony and ordered each to lay down his arms. Duolu would not listen.^[1] He sent the tudun of the state of Chach to attack the Yabgu Khan. The tudun took him prisoner and sent him to Duolu. He was put to death, and his state was annexed.^[3] The Nushibi would not submit to the victor and fell away from him.^[1] For a year the west had one khan. Then the Nushibi asked the Tang for another khan. Irbis Shegui was set up.^[1]

Assessment

His reign shows what a khan of the Nushibi was in the years of the Ten Arrows. He was a prince of the house, chosen by five chiefs and invested by China. He held the oasis states by governors and the steppe by nothing. The Chinese investiture of 641 and the murder that followed it are the whole of his recorded rule.