Istami Khagan

Western ruler of the Turkic Khaganate, who joined forces with Persia to destroy the Hephthalites.

Life

Younger brother of Bumin

Istämi was the younger brother of Bumin (Tumen) Khagan, founder of the Turkic Khaganate. After the rise of the Turks in the mid-6th century, he was charged with ruling the western part of the khaganate and led armies westward in expansion.

Destroyed the Hephthalites

He allied with Khosrow I Anushirvan of the Sasanian Empire, and between about 557 and 560 CE they launched a pincer attack that destroyed the Hephthalites, who had dominated Central Asia, dividing their lands with the Amu Darya as the border. Later the Turks and Persia fell out over the silk trade, and he turned to sending envoys to Byzantium; in 568 CE the Byzantine envoy Zemarchus arrived at his court.

Contacted Byzantium

He died around 576 CE; the western khaganate ruled by his descendants later became the Western Turkic Khaganate.

Legacy

Istämi established Turkic rule in Central Asia, and from then on Turkic-speaking peoples spread widely across the region.

Did you know? Byzantine envoys recorded that his tent held a golden couch and a golden chair shaped like a peacock.

Key dates

• 552Helped his elder brother found the Turkic Khaganate (approx.)
• 560Allied with Persia to destroy the Hephthalites (approx.)
• 568Received a Byzantine embassy
• 576Died