Silifa

Silifa was a nephew of Tardush, the western khan who called himself Bujia Khan after Tulan’s death. He was therefore a prince of the house of Ashina.^[1] In 600 Tardush sent him against Yami, the khan the Sui had set up.^[2]

At Mount Dajin Tardush, whom the Sui Shu calls Datou, had fled before the Sui general Shi Wansui without a fight.^[1] Soon afterwards, in the last years of the civil war, he sent Silifa to attack Yami from east of the desert.^[1] The Sui sent troops to help Yami hold the passes. Silifa withdrew into the desert.^[1] The Zizhi tongjian tells the attack under 600, after the fourth month.^[2] Nothing more is recorded of him.

His descent is reported in two ways. The Sui Shu and the Zizhi tongjian call him the son of Tardush’s younger brother.^[3] The Bei Shi calls him Tardush’s son. It writes the name Houlifa, 侯利伐.^[4] A modern translation follows the Sui Shu.^[5]

The name is written 俟利伐. The title 俟利發, silifa, differs from it in the last character. The Zhou Shu lists the title fourth among the great offices of the Göktürks.^[6] That title has been taken for the Turkic elteber.^[7]