Amrak Khagan

Ashina Anluo (Chinese: 阿史那菴羅) was the fifth ruler of the Turkic Khaganate.^[1][2][3] in the sixth century. His regnal title is not recorded in Chinese sources.

Ashina Anluo
Qaghan of the First Turkic Khaganate
Reign	581
Predecessor	Taspar Qaghan
Successor	Apa Qaghan (in Bukhara) Ishbara Qaghan (in East) Tardu (in West)
House	Ashina
Father	Taspar Qaghan
Religion	Tengrism

Name

His name is subject to debate. Book of Sui and Tongdian recorded his name as Ānluó (Chinese: 菴羅) whereas Zizhi Tongjian recorded similarly sounding version Ānluó (Chinese: 庵羅). Cefu Yuangui has both versions. Lev Gumilev proposed Amraq (Old Turkic: 𐰢𐰺𐰴, lit. 'Beloved'^[4]) as Turkic reconstruction of Anluo.^[5] His name was recorded in Bugut inscription in Sogdian: 𐼍𐼄𐼁 𐼇𐼍𐼎𐼁 𐼉𐼒𐼄𐼒𐼎,, romanized: Maġa Umna Khagan. Turkish scholar Hayrettin İhsan Erkoç proposed Umna as proper reconstruction.^[6]

Reign

See also: Göktürk civil war

According to Chinese sources he was enthroned after his father's death in 581, soon his cousin Talopien (Mukan Khagan's son) proposed his own claim, saying that Taspar willed the title to him. Just like Taspar inherited this title from his father. Chinese sources suggest that Anluo's mother was a noble while Talopien's mother was a commoner, hence he wasn't favorable. Another cousin Shetu (Issik Khagan's son) supported Anluo, threatening to rebel if the throne is passed to Talopien. Meanwhile, Talopien still harassed Anluo and sent few emissaries to force him to abdicate.^[6] Anluo, being the least powerful of the three abandoned and renounced his title in favor of Shetu. In turn Shetu created him Dier Khagan (Chinese: 第二可汗; pinyin: Dìèr Kèhán) in Tuul River valley (now in Mongolia).^[7]