Inel Qaghan


Inel Qaghan was the third khagan of Second Turkic Khaganate.

Biography

During Qapaghan's reign

Inel actively participated in his father Qapaghan Qaghan's campaigns. In 699 he became lesser khagan and received 40,000 troops of the western wing from his father, so the Chinese called him Tuoxi Kehan.
He took part in battles involving the Muslim conquest of Transoxiana in 711 and 712. He was also present at the Siege of Beiting in 714, where his brother Toŋa Tegin was killed.

Reign

Inel Qaghan and his supporters were killed by Kul Tigin during a struggle for the throne. Some writers say that the law of succession was that power passed from a ruler to his younger brothers before returning to his sons. Thus the order was Ilterish Qaghan, his brother Qapaghan Qaghan, then his sons Bilge Qaghan and Kul Tigin. Inel, being Qapaghan's son, had no right on the throne. Other writers treat the matter as a coup d'état with no mention of the rules of succession.

In popular culture