Yami Qaghan


Yami Qaghan, personal name Ashina Rangan, at one point known as Tolis Qaghan and later El Ïduk Jamï Qağan was the first qaghan of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.

Background

Yami Qaghan was born as Ashina Rangan, he was either son of Bagha Qaghan or Ishbara Qaghan. He was a subordinate khagan under Tulan Qaghan with title of Tolis Qaghan, ruling eastern tribes.
He sent an ambassador to the Sui dynasty in 597, requesting to marry to a Chinese princess. Pei Ju saw this as opportunity and told him to kill Tulan Qaghan's Zhou origin khatun Princess Qianjin. Princess Qianjin was murdered and Yami was sent Princess Anyi to marry.
However, Rangan's ambitious behaviour outraged Tulan Qaghan. Tulan started to gather an invasion party to attack the Sui in 597 and 599, only to be reported to the Emperor beforehand by Rangan on both occasions. As a reaction, Tulan approached Tardu to combine forces and attack Rangan. The attack was a success and Rangan had to flee to China after his brothers and nephews were killed during the attack.
In the winter of 599, he was made Qimin Khagan by Emperor Wen. Meanwhile Princess Anyi died and he was married to Princess Yicheng, a daughter of Yang Xie. The Emperor commissioned Zhangsun Sheng to build the city of Dali to house Qimin's people, and sent an army to protect Qimin.
Meanwhile Tulan was killed by his men causing Tardu to assume throne and claim title Bilge Khagan in 599 or 600.
In the winter of 601, Emperor Wen commissioned Yang Su to command an army, in association with Qimin Khagan as to attack Tardu.

Reign

After Tardu's subsequent defeat in 603, he fled to Tuyuhun. Having a cleared way Rangan assumed the throne of eastern wing with the regnal name Yami Qaghan, definitely starting the division between the western and eastern wings of the khaganate.
In the spring of 607, Yami went to Luoyang to visit Emperor Yang. In the summer, he was visited back by Yang. Much pleased from Yami's display of submission and loyalty, Emperor Yang bestowed much honor and wealth on him. When the senior officials Gao Jiong, Yuwen Bi, and Heruo Bi privately expressed disapproval, Emperor Yang discovered their criticism and put them all to death while removing Su Wei –who also discouraged him from giving excessive rewards to Yami– from his post.
In the spring of 609, Yami made another visit to Emperor Yang and was rewarded with much treasure. He later died from an illness and succeeded by his son, Shibi.

Family

He was married to Princess Anyi at first and later her death to Princess Yicheng. He also had a Tuyuhun concubine or wife. He had several children: