Heshana Qaghan

Reign

Ashina Daman, later called Heshana Qaghan, imposed heavy taxes on the Tiele, stirring up anger among them. Suspicious of their leaders, he rounded up about a hundred Tiele chieftains and executed them. In response, the Tiele revolted, backing Geleng, the Qibi chief, as the Yiwuzhenmohe Khan, with Yishibo serving under him as Yiedie Khan. Around 605, the rebels pushed Daman out of Dzungaria and into the Ili River region. Pei Ju advised Emperor Yang of the Sui to form an alliance with Daman’s subordinate Shikui, who wanted to marry a Sui princess. The emperor agreed, and Shikui attacked Daman, routing him and driving him to Gaochang. Emperor Yang sent Pei to Gaochang to convince Daman to submit to the Sui. Daman initially refused but gave in after being told his mother would be killed. He then remained in China, never returning to his homeland. In 611, Emperor Yang officially named him Heshana Qaghan and arranged his marriage to a Chinese princess. By 619, Daman had lost control of his khaganate and was in Chang’an, the Tang capital. Emperor Gaozu of Tang, bowing to pressure from Shibi khagan, handed him over to Eastern Turk envoys for execution. At the time of his death, his two sons were serving the Tang dynasty.