Princess Yicheng


Princess Yicheng was a Chinese princess of the Sui dynasty and a khatun of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate. She spent at least 30 years of her life among the Göktürks.

Family

She was an extended family member of the Sui Dynasty. Her father was Yang Xie and her brother was Yang Shanjing.

Life as khatun

With Yami Qaghan

After the death of Princess Anyi in 599, she was made a princess by Emperor Wen of Sui and was wedded to Yami Qaghan under the heqin system.

With Shibi Qaghan

She was inherited by her step-son Shibi Qaghan in 609, in a levirate marriage. She had much influence on the Khagan, to the point of changing his orders. In the fall of 615, when Emperor Yang of Sui was visiting Yanmen Commandery on the northern frontier, the Khagan launched a surprise attack on the area, overrunning most of its Chinese settlements. Warned by Princess Yicheng, the Emperor, Empress, and their entourage escaped to the commandery seat at present-day Daixian. The Göktürks besieged them there on September 11. There were few resources in the seat, and the Emperor was reported to cry out of fear seeing this, Yuwen suggested that Emperor Yang should select a few thousand elite cavalry soldiers to attempt a break out, but Su Wei and Fan Zigai persuaded Emperor Yang not to attempt this. Emperor Yang put Xiao Yu and Pei Ju in charge of planning the military counteroffensive, but was only able to get the siege lifted after he followed the advice of the empress's brother Xiao Yu and sent messengers to Princess Yicheng, who was directing military affairs at the Turkic capital in her husband's absence. She falsely informed Shibi that the Göktürks were under attack from the north, and so he lifted the siege.

With Chuluo Qaghan

She was inherited by Chuluo Qaghan in 619, another step-son from her first marriage. Yicheng greeted Empress Xiao and Yang Zhengdao, a posthumous son of Yang Jian who was made a puppet King of Sui by Chuluo. This marriage was brief. After Chuluo's death in June, she refused to marry Ashina Momo and eventually married to someone of imperial Li, claiming he was weak.

With Illig Qaghan

After refusing Yushe Shad, she was finally wed to Illig Qaghan in 620, yet another step-son. She was killed in confusion when the Tang general Li Jing attacked the Khagan's encampment with Li Shiji in March 630, during the Battle of Yinshan.

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