Ishbara Tolis

For other uses, see Ishbara.

Ishbara Tolis was the ruler of Western Turkic Khaganate between 634 and 639. His full title was Shābōluō xìlìshī (~diélìshī) kèhán (沙钵罗咥利失可汗), personal name Ashina Tong'e (阿史那同俄).

Ishbara Tolis Qaghan
Qaghan of the Western Turkic Khaganate
Reign	634–639 (as khagan) 639–659 (as Nushibi khagan)
Predecessor	Duolu Qaghan
Successor	Irbis Tulu Khagan (in west) El Kulug Shad (in east)
Born	Ashina Tong'e 阿史那同俄
Died	659
Issue	El Kulug Shad
House	Ashina
Father	Bagha Shad
Religion	Tengrism

Reign

Ishbara Tolis's father was Bagha Shad. After his elder brother Duolu Qaghan abdicated, he was enthroned in 634 in unfavorable circumstances. He had to rely on vassal tribes which were more powerful than himself. In 635, he sent arrows to ten tribes which was meant to legitimatizing them as shads (semi independent governor princes), but he was careful to keep the delicate balance between the two rival factions by appointing five from Duolu and five from Nushibi. Thus his empire came to be known as Onoq, meaning "ten arrows" (十箭). This policy however, wasn't successful. A noble named Tun Tudun revolted and caused Ishbara to flee to Qarasahr with his brother Böri Shad. However, he was reinstalled to throne by the Nushibi noble Esegel Kul-Erkin who killed Tun Tudun. Meanwhile the Duolu tribes appointed Yukuk Shad, a prince from the recently collapsed Eastern Turkic Khaganate, as their ruler.

Later reign

After the Duolu–Nushibi split, he spent rest of his life among his former Nushibi subjects, east of the Ili River.^[1] He was killed by one of his own men in 659, on the orders of Yukuk Shad.^[2]