Sheguy

Shekui Kaghan (r. 611–619 or possibly 610–617;^[1] Middle Chinese: *ʑia-gwi; Middle Persian Zyk, Žeg^[2]) was the third khagan of the Western Turkic Khaganate. He was the grandson of Tardu (575–603) through his son Tulu (都六).

Shekui Qaghan 射匱可汗
Qaghan of the Western Turkic Khaganate
Reign	611–618
Predecessor	Heshana Khagan
Successor	Tong Yabgu Qaghan
Died	618 Suyab
House	Ashina
Father	Tulu Tegin (都六)
Religion	Tengrism

Background

The Western Turkic Khaganate in present-day Turkestan was founded as the result of the partition of the First Turkic Khaganate after the death of Tardu in 603. It was also called On Ok ("Ten arrows") referring to ten powerful tribes in the khaganate. Five tribes (called Duolu) to the northeast and five tribes to the southwest (called Nushibi) formed the two rival factions, the border line being the Ili River.

After partitioning

Sheguy was Tardu's grandson and governor of Chach (Tashkent)^[3] He was expected to be enthroned after the death of Tardu. But the Dulu faction enthroned Ashina Daman (later known as Heshana Qaghan) who was a generation younger than Sheguy. But Daman was a very inexperienced ruler and was a puppet of the Dulu clan. The Nushibi clan as well as Silk Road merchants who suffered from the increasing anarchy supported Sheguy to throne in 611. When Daman affiliated partisans arrested a Chinese ambassador to Sheguy, Sheguy revolted and Daman had to flee to Sui China where he was killed.^[4]

Sheguy maintained order in the khaganate and provided security on the Silk Road. His reign marks the beginning of Nushibi supremacy. In 618, he was succeeded by his brother Tong during whose reign Western Turkic Khaganate reached to apogee.