Bars Bek
Khagan of the Kyrgyz Khaganate
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Bars Bek (Old Turkic: 𐰉𐰺𐰽:𐰋𐰏; Chinese: 巴爾斯別克; 637–711), also known as Inanch Alp Bilge (Chinese: 亦難赤阿爾普毗伽),[4] was the first khan of the Kyrgyz Khaganate.[4]
| Bars Bek 𐰉𐰺𐰽:𐰋𐰏 | |
|---|---|
The commemorative coin issued by the National Bank of Kyrgyzstan in 2010 in honor of Barsbek | |
| Khagan of the Kyrgyz Khaganate | |
| Reign | 693–711 |
| Successor | unknown |
| Born | 637 |
| Died | 711 Son River (modern-day Khakassia)[1][2][3] |
| Spouse | A sister of Bilge Khagan |
| House | Are |
| Religion | Tengriism |
Reign
Nothing is known about Bars Bek's early reign, except minor information fragments found in the Orkhon and Yenisei inscriptions. The royal Are clan, which Bars Bek was a member of, claimed descent from the Han dynasty general Li Ling.[5][6][7]
During his reign, he was believed to be hostile to the Göktürks until he married with one of the daughters of Ilterish Qaghan and was appointed as a lesser khagan (khan) ruling over Az and Kyrgyz tribes.[1][2][8]
In the late 7th century, according to Takeshi Osawa, Bars Bek mediated talks between Suoge and the Emperor Zhongzong of Tang.[9] According to Klyashtorny, he sent an ambassador named Eren Ulug to the Tibetan Empire in an attempt to form an alliance but was unsuccessful.[10]
Title
Death
After news of the triple alliance reached Tonyukuk, he decided to eliminate the Kyrgyz first. Roads to Kyrgyz lands were blocked by heavy snow, forcing them to find a guide. They first crossed Ak Termel (modern Ona - a tributary of the Abakan). However, after ten nights of searching for a way out, their guide became lost and was executed on the orders of Qapaghan. After a few days, they arrived at Kyrgyz headquarters and launched a night attack on Bars Bek, killing him.[13] A memorial stele was erected after his death, on the left side of the Abakan river.[14]
He was succeeded by his son and Bilge Qaghan's nephew.[15]
Legacy
A commemorative coin honouring Bars Bek was issued by the National Bank of the Kyrgyz Republic in 2010.[16] In 2017, a monument to Bars Bek was erected in Osh.[17]