Inan

Biography

Family Background and Early Years

Inan belonged to the Yiliduo clan of the Xueyantuo. The Xueyantuo were one of the Tiele peoples and lived a nomadic life in the Mongolian steppe. In 605, the first year of the Daye era of Sui, Inan's grandfather Yishibo expelled the Turkic Niejue Chuluo Qaghan, was acclaimed Yiedie Lesser Qaghan by the tribes, and resided north of Yanshan, after which the Xueyantuo became powerful. Their position did not last. Around 618, the fourteenth year of Daye, Shegui Qaghan of the Western Turks became powerful, and the Xueyantuo and Qibi peoples were forced to abandon their qaghan titles and again submit to the Western Turks. Later, as the power of Tong Yabghu Qaghan declined, Inan led more than 70,000 households eastward and submitted to Illig Qaghan of the Eastern Turks.

Rise and Founding of the Khaganate

In 628, the second year of Zhenguan, Tong Yabghu Qaghan of the Western Turks was killed, throwing the khaganate into disorder and leaving it unable to intervene in the east. At the same time, Illig Qaghan's rule over the Eastern Turks was troubled by misgovernment and internal disorder. Inan seized the opportunity, allied with the Uyghurs, Bayegu, Tongluo, and other Tiele groups, and joined them in breaking away from Illig Qaghan. They heavily defeated the Turkic army, and the various tribes then jointly acclaimed Inan as qaghan. His headquarters was established at Yudujun Mountain, identified here as the Khangai Mountains in present-day Mongolia.

In the eighth lunar month of 629, the third year of Zhenguan, Inan sent envoys to the Tang court to offer tribute and signal submission. Emperor Taizong, who was preparing to eliminate the Eastern Turks, saw the rise of Xueyantuo as useful. He therefore sent the Mobile Cavalry General Qiao Shiwang bearing a tally of authority to invest Inan as Zhenzhu Bilgä Qaghan and bestowed drums and standards upon him. The Xueyantuo khaganate thereby formally became a subordinate power of Tang.

Dominance in the Mongolian Steppe

In 630, the fourth year of Zhenguan, Tang forces decisively defeated the Eastern Turks and captured Illig Qaghan. Inan contributed troops to the campaign. After the war he moved his headquarters to the Duluo River, identified here as the present-day Tuul River, occupied the former Turkic territories, and commanded an army of 200,000, becoming the dominant power in the Mongolian steppe. His territory was described as extending east to the Mohe, west to the Western Turks, south to the desert, and north to Julun Lake, identified here as present-day Hulun Lake in Inner Mongolia. He exercised authority over the Uyghurs, Bayegu, Adie, Tongluo, Pugu, and other groups.

Inan made his elder son by a concubine, Yemang, Tulishi Qaghan, and his legitimate son Bazhuo, Si Yabghu Qaghan, placing them in charge of the eastern and western divisions. He also sent his younger brother Tong Tegin to the Tang court, where Emperor Taizong bestowed generous gifts. In 633, the seventh year of Zhenguan, his sons Dadu She and Tulishi were additionally granted the title of lesser qaghan by Emperor Taizong. During this period, relations between Xueyantuo and Tang were close: Inan acknowledged Tang overlordship and sent tribute, while Tang relied on Xueyantuo as a barrier on the northern frontier.

Deterioration of Relations with Tang

In 639, the thirteenth year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong invested the Turkic noble Ashina Simo as Yiminishusilibi Qaghan and ordered him to lead Turkic communities south across the Yellow River to restore a polity in the region south of the Gobi. This policy was intended to divide Xueyantuo power. Inan was deeply dissatisfied, rejected Li Simo, and relations with Tang began to deteriorate.

In November 641, the fifteenth year of Zhenguan, Inan took advantage of Emperor Taizong's eastern tour to Luoyang and sent 200,000 troops south against Ashina Simo. Emperor Taizong hurriedly sent Li Shiji, Zhang Jian, and others north, and they inflicted a major defeat on the Xueyantuo army at the Nuozhen River. After his defeat Inan sent envoys to apologize and again asked for a marriage alliance. Seeking the return of the Tang general Qibi Heli, who had been detained by Xueyantuo, Emperor Taizong agreed to marry Princess Xinxing to Inan, but required him to provide an enormous bridewealth and personally travel to Lingzhou to receive the princess. Inan prepared the gifts as required, but many of the cattle and sheep died on the long journey. Emperor Taizong used this as the reason to refuse the marriage, and the alliance did not take place. Relations between Xueyantuo and Tang remained tense thereafter.

Final Years and Death

In 645, the nineteenth year of Zhenguan, Emperor Taizong personally campaigned against Goguryeo. To deter Xueyantuo from moving south, he deliberately sent Inan a provocative letter: “Tell your qaghan：My son and I are now on the eastern expedition against Koguryo，you may come raiding，come at once if you would raid！” (“Tell your qaghan: my son and I are now campaigning east against Goguryeo. If you are capable of raiding us, then come quickly!”). Inan did not dare make a major move, but died in the ninth lunar month of that year. Emperor Taizong, on hearing the news, held a memorial sacrifice for him in the army camp.

After Inan's death, his two sons Yemang and Bazhuo and his nephew Duomozhi competed for the succession. Civil disorder weakened the khaganate. In 646, the twentieth year of Zhenguan, Tang forces attacked Xueyantuo, destroyed the khaganate, and established the Yanran Protectorate-General to administer the region.

Major Activities

Establishment of the Xueyantuo Khaganate

Inan united the Uyghurs, Bayegu, and other Tiele groups in rebellion, defeated Illig Qaghan of the Eastern Turks, and established the Xueyantuo khaganate, described in the source as the first unified nomadic polity created by the tribes of the Mongolian steppe. Emperor Taizong invested him as Zhenzhu Bilgä Qaghan, making him Tang's most important subordinate power in the steppe.

Assistance in the Destruction of the Eastern Turks

In 630, the fourth year of Zhenguan, Inan cooperated with Tang forces in attacking the Eastern Turks and played an important role in Tang's destruction of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate. After the war, Xueyantuo occupied the former Turkic territories and rapidly became the strongest force in the Mongolian steppe.

War and Diplomacy with Tang

During his reign, Inan alternated between acknowledging Tang overlordship and sending tribute on the one hand, and launching armies south on the other. At the Battle of the Nuozhen River in 641, the fifteenth year of Zhenguan, a Xueyantuo army of 200,000 was defeated by the Tang general Li Shiji, a major military setback. He later sent several requests for a marriage alliance, none of which succeeded, reflecting the complex and delicate subordinate relationship between Xueyantuo and Tang.

Rule over the Tiele Tribes

Inan exercised authority over the Uyghurs, Bayegu, Adie, Tongluo, Pugu, and other Tiele groups and divided the eastern and western sections between his two sons, creating a relatively stable tribal confederation. At its height, his sphere of power was described as extending east to the Mohe, west to the Western Turks, south to the desert, and north to Julun Lake.

Personal Relations

• Grandfather: Yishibo (Yiedie Lesser Qaghan).
• Son: Yemang (Tulishi Qaghan).
• Son: Bazhuo (Si Yabghu Qaghan; later succeeded as Duomi Qaghan).
• Nephew: Duomozhi (Yitewushi Qaghan).
• Younger brother: Tong Tegin.
• Uncle: Shaboluo Nishu Sijin.
• Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin: invested him as Zhenzhu Bilgä Qaghan; their relations later deteriorated.
• Illig Qaghan: qaghan of the Eastern Turks; Inan once submitted to him and later rebelled.
• Li Shiji: Tang general who defeated the Xueyantuo army at the Nuozhen River.
• Qibi Heli: a man of the Qibi branch of the Tiele and a Tang general; he was once detained by Xueyantuo.
• Qiao Shiwang: Tang Mobile Cavalry General who carried the imperial tally and invested Inan.
• Ashina Simo, also known as Li Simo: Turkic noble whom Tang invested as qaghan to counterbalance Xueyantuo.
• Illig Qaghan of the Eastern Turks.
• Ashina Simo (Li Simo).

Historical Assessment

Assessments of this figure should be based on verifiable offices, actions, and works. Quotations from earlier drafts and generalized later judgments whose original sources could not be identified have been removed.