Shibi Qaghan
Shibi Qaghan succeeded Yami Qaghan as the khagan of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate.
Reign
Shibi Qaghan succeeded Yami Qaghan in 609 or 611. From 613 to 615 he was actively supporting agrarian rebels inside China.The Chinese politician Pei Ju thought that Shibi was becoming strong and difficult to control and therefore suggested that Emperor Yang offer to marry a princess to his brother, Ashina Chiji. Chiji, in fear, declined. Later, Pei, tricked his Shibi's strategist Shishuhu into meeting him at Mayi and then killed him, claiming that Shishuhu was planning to rebel against Shibi. Shibi, knowing that the accusation was false, became resolved to rebel against the Sui.
In the fall of 615, when Emperor Yang was visiting Yanmen Commandery on the northern frontier, Shibi launched a surprise attack on the area, overrunning most of its Chinese settlements. Warned by Shibi's wife Princess Yicheng — a member of the imperial family who had been well treated by Empress Xiao during an earlier visit — the Emperor, Empress, and their entourage escaped to the commandery seat at present-day Daixian. The Göktürks besieged them there on September 11. The seat had few resources. The Emperor was reported to cry out of fear, seeing this, Yuwen suggested that Emperor Yang select a few thousand elite cavalry soldiers to attempt a break out, but Su Wei and Fan Zigai persuaded him 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 Shibi's absence. She falsely informed Shibi that they were under attack from the north, and so Shibi lifted the siege.
During the turmoil of the later years of Emperor Yang's reign, he supported various local warlords in northwestern China, who claimed the title of emperor, including Li Yuan, who would go on to found the Tang dynasty. The Shibi supplied Li with 2,000 horses and 500 cavalry, and played a crucial role in the early victories of the Tang such as the Battle of Huoyi.
Shibi khagan later supported Liang Shidu and made him Tardu Bilge khagan and bestowed on him a flag with a wolf head, the symbol of the Tujue. Liang guided Shibi's forces to occupy the Ordos Desert region. Subsequently, Shibi made him Jieshi Tianzi, although he himself declared a state of Liang and himself its emperor. His ally Guo Zihe was also made Wuli shad.
He also supported Liu Wuzhou, who gathered about 10,000 soldiers and declared himself commandery governor. When officials of the nearby Yanmen Commandery, Chen Xiaoyi and Wang Zhibian attacked him, he struck back in conjunction with the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, killing Wang and forcing Chen to flee. He then captured Loufan Commandery and pillaged Fenyang Palace —one of the numerous subsidiary palaces that Emperor Yang built around the empire—and took the ladies in waiting and gave them to Shibi as tribute; in return, Shibi sent him horses. Liu then captured Dingxiang Commandery. Shibi then made him "Dingyang Khagan" he also bestowed on Liu a great banner with a symbol of a wolf's head.
Another rebel, Li Yuan declared rebellion in the fall of 617, and Liu Wenjing suggested that he, who was still ostensibly claiming to be loyal to the Sui but wanting to support Emperor Yang's grandson Yang You, Prince of Dai, then at Chang'an, as Emperor, should change his banners from the regular Sui banners to distance himself from Emperor Yang, while seeking an alliance with the Eastern Turkic Khaganate for support. Li Yuan agreed, and sent Liu to the Eastern Turkic Khaganate to meet with Shibi Qaghan. When Shibi asked him what Li Yuan's intention was, Liu responded:
Shibi was pleased, and while he was not wholeheartedly willing to support Li Yuan, he nevertheless sent his general Kangqiaoli Tegin with 2,000 men to accompany Liu back south, as Li Yuan had already marched south toward Chang'an, and he also gave Li Yuan 1,000 horses. Li Yuan, who wanted Turkic horses more than Turkic soldiers, was pleased and praised Liu for his skills at diplomacy. Shibi's brother Ashina Chiji was appointed to accompany the Tang army to Changan.
Commander of Wuyuan county Zhang Cangxun submitted to Shibi Qaghan in 618 and was made Koli Tegin.
In the spring of 618, Shibi Qaghan sent his ambassador Kutlug Tegin to the Tang.
In February 619, Shibi Qaghan was planning to launch a major incursion into Chinese territory and he had Liu Wuzhou to join him. After passing into Xia territory, Liang Shidu also joined him. However, he soon died whilst campaigning near Taiyuan.