Zhenzhu Khan

Zhenzhu Khan (Chinese: 真珠可汗; pinyin: Zhēnzhū Kèhán; lit. 'Pearl Khan', the Chinese rendering of Old Turkic: 𐰘𐰃𐰨𐰇 𐰴𐰍𐰣, romanized: Yinčü Qaɣan, lit. 'Pearl Khan') (died October 21, 645) was a khan of the Xueyantuo, under whom the Xueyantuo rose from being a vassal of the Eastern Turkic Khaganate to a khanate ruling over northern and central Asia. His personal name was recorded as Yishi Yinan (Chinese: 乙失夷男; pinyin: Yǐshī Yínán), the latter being Chinese rendering of Inan. He was later bestowed with the full regal title Zhenzhupijia Khan (Chinese: 真珠毗伽可汗; pinyin: Zhēnzhū Píjiā Kèhán, the Chinese rendering of Old Turkic: 𐰘𐰃𐰨𐰇 𐰋𐰃𐰠𐰏𐰀 𐰴𐰍𐰣, romanized: Yinčü Bilge Qaɣan, lit. 'Pearl Wise Khan').

During his reign, the Xueyantuo largely aligned with the Tang dynasty, even though the two states were at odds at times, with the most serious dispute involving the Tang's attempt to reestablish Eastern Turkic Khaganate as a vassal state under the Qilibi Khan — an attempt that eventually failed due to frequent incursions by the Xueyantuo army against the Turks. Throughout his reign, the Xueyantuo remained powerful despite Tang attempts to curb their power, but after Zhenzhu's death, a succession dispute between his sons, Bazhuo and Yemang (曳莽), led to Bazhuo killing Yemang and subsequently internal unrest. Further, Bazhuo attacked the Tang, resulting in a major Tang retaliatory campaign that, along with a revolt by the Uyghurs, led to the Xueyantuo's destruction in 646.