Suni Shi

Suni Shi was a younger brother of Yami Khan, whom the Chinese histories call Qimin. He held the title Shaboluo Shad among the eastern Göktürks.^[1] In 630 he took in the beaten Ilig Khan and gave him up to the Tang. In 634 he followed Ilig in death.^[2]

The Shaboluo Shad

Shibi Khan made him Shaboluo Shad over fifty thousand households, with his camp north-west of Lingzhou.^[1] The Xin Tang Shu describes him as strong and agile. It says that he ruled his people with kindness, so that many came to him.^[3] When Ilig’s rule fell into disorder, his people alone did not waver.^[3] After Töles went over to the Tang, Ilig made Suni Shi his lesser khan.^[1]

The capture of Ilig (630)

After the battle of the Iron Mountain Ilig rode alone to Suni Shi’s camp.^[4] The Zizhi tongjian says that he meant to flee on to the Tuyuhun.^[5] In its account the Tang commander Li Daozong pressed Suni Shi with his army to seize Ilig and hand him over.^[5] Ilig fled by night with a few horsemen and hid in a deserted valley. Suni Shi, afraid, rode after him and caught him.^[5] The Tang Huiyao says that the Tang made Suni Shi seize Ilig. According to the same text, Zhang Baoxiang took the khan and presented him.^[6] Suni Shi’s own biography in the Jiu Tang Shu says that he had his son Ashina Zhong seize Ilig and present him.^[7] The chapters on the Göktürks name only the Tang deputy commander Zhang Baoxiang. He came upon the camp and took Ilig alive.^[4] One modern account has Ilig’s uncle hand the khan over with his own hands.^[8]

Suni Shi then went over to the Tang with all his people. The land south of the desert was left empty.^[2] In the fifth month of 630 the Tang made him prince of Huaide. In the sixth month they made him governor-general of Beiningzhou.^[5] The Xin Tang Shu adds the rank of grand general of the Right Guard.^[3]

Death (634)

Ilig died at Chang’an in 634. His old retainer Tuyuhun Hunye cut his own throat to follow him.^[3] Soon afterwards Suni Shi too followed Ilig in death.^[3] The Cefu yuangui records the death of Ashina Suni Shi, prince of Huaide, in the sixth month of 634. It also records the emperor’s mourning for him at the Dayou gate.^[9] It does not say how he died.

Kinship and name

The Xin Tang Shu calls him a younger brother of Yami. The Zizhi tongjian calls him a younger brother by the same mother.^[1] That makes him Ilig’s uncle. The Jiu Tang Shu has Ilig flee to his 從侄 Shaboluo, the son of a cousin.^[10] Suni Shi’s own biography calls him the younger brother of Yami by the same mother and the great-uncle of Ashina She’er.^[11] In the next clause it calls Shibi his father. This may be a slip in the text.^[12]

Suni Shi is his name and Shaboluo Shad his title.^[3] The Tang Huiyao writes both together, Shaboluo Shad Suni Shi.^[6]