Ashina Xian

Ashina Xian
Xingxiwang Khagan
Reign	708–717
Predecessor	Ashina Huaidao
Successor	Ashina Zhen
Died	717? Changan
Issue	Ashina Zhen
House	Ashina
Father	Ashina Yuanqing

Ashina Xian was a Western Turk khagan, also a general of Protectorate General to Pacify the West from 708 to 717, appointed by the Tang dynasty.

Life

When Ashina Xian's father was executed by Lai Junchen in 692, he was exiled to Yazhou. However, he was recalled to court in 703.

In 708, he was appointed Xingxiwang Khagan (Chinese :興昔亡可汗; lit.'The khagan who makes fallen to rise again') by Emperor Zhongzong of Tang. However, Saqal was appointed as his subordinate, ^[1] who was going to be appointed Shisixing Khagan (Chinese :十四姓可汗; lit.'Khagan of Fourteen Tribes') later. ^[2]

In 714, after the death of Saqal at the Battle of Bolchu, Xian was made Qixi (碛西) Military Commissioner and sent to Suyab to fill the power vacuum.

Nevertheless, when Suluk rose to prominence, the Tang appointed Ashina Xian as the Shixing Qaghan in 716 and appointed Suluk as his deputy, to appease Suluk. Suluk's growing ambition over Xian's overlordship resulted in war and the defeat of Xian in June and July in 717. ^[3]

After his defeat he left for Chang'an and died sometime during the reign of Emperor Xuanzong. His successor was his son Ashina Zhen. ^[4]

References

1. Moriyasu, Takao (1984). "Toban no Chūō Ajia shinshutsu" [The Entry and Withdrawal of the Tibetans from Central Asia]. Kanazawa Daigaku Bungakubu Ronshū, Shigakuka hen (in Japanese). 4: 24–25. ISSN   0285-6522.
2. Naito, Midori (1988). Nishi-Tokketsushi no kenkyū[History of the Western Turks] (in Japanese). Tokyo: Waseda Daigaku Shuppanbu. pp. 352–354. ISBN   4-657-88215-5.
3. Saito, T. 1991 Rise of the Türgish and Tang’s Abandonment of Suiye. Shiteki 12: 34–53 (in Japanese). pp 40-43
4. Theobald, Ulrich. "Tujue 突厥, Gök Türks (www.chinaknowledge.de)". www.chinaknowledge.de. Retrieved 2018-08-21.