Tardush Shad

Tardush Shad — was a Yabghu of Tokharistan. He was a son of Tong Yabgu Qaghan.

Reign

In 618 or 625 Tong Yabgu invaded Tokharistan and forced Hephthalite principalities to submit. According to Cefu Yuangui, these principalities were Zabulistan, Kapisa-Gandhara, Khuttal, Chaghaniyan, Shignan, Shuman, Badhgis, Wakhan, Guzgan, Bamiyan, Kobadiyan and Badakhshan, when Pantu Nili – a later yabgu of Tokharistan submitted to Tang. He installed his son Tardu in Kunduz to rule over with title of Tokharistan Yabgu.

Family and death

He was married two times, both times to a daughter of Qu Boya ruler of Gaochang. When Xuanzang visited Kunduz, he also brought a letter from his brother-in-law and ruler of Gaochang Qu Wentai to Tardu. Yabgu received him despite being ill. Tardu advised him to make a trip westward to Balkh, to see Buddhist sites and relics. Xuanzang also witnessed a palace scandal when Tardu's firstborn son Ishbara Tegin fell in love with his new step-mother and poisoned Tardu in 630.