Issik Qaghan

Kara Issik Qaghan (Chinese: 乙息記可汗; pinyin: Yǐxījì kěhàn) was the second ruler of the Turkic Khaganate.

Kara Issik Qaghan
Qaghan of the First Turkic Khaganate
Reign	552 – 553
Predecessor	Bumin Qaghan
Successor	Muqan Qaghan
Born	Ashina Keluo (阿史那科罗)
Died	553
Issue	Ishbara Qaghan Bagha Qaghan
House	Ashina
Father	Bumin Qaghan

Biography

His personal name was Ashina Keluo (Chinese: 阿史那科罗) which is reconstructible in Middle Chinese as *kʰuâ-lâ, which is transliterated as either Old Turkic Qara.^[1] His regnal name Yixiji was reconstructed by Ahmet Taşağıl as Ilji.^[2] He is also referred to as Ayi Qaghan (阿逸可汗) in Cefu Yuangui.^[3]

During his brief rule, he defeated the Rouran khagan Yujiulü Dengzhu near Mulai Mountain to north of Woye Town (modern Wuyuan County, Inner Mongolia). He is recorded to have sent a tribute of 50,000 horses to Western Wei in May 553. He died the same year after an illness and was succeeded by his younger brother Yandou.^[4]