Jieli Khan
The khan of the Eastern Turks who repeatedly raided the Tang southward and was finally captured by Li Jing.
Life
Army at the Wei River
Jieli Khan succeeded his elder brother Chuluo Khan in 620. The Eastern Turks were then at the height of their military strength and repeatedly raided southward into the newly founded Tang dynasty.
Pact of the Wei River
In 626, shortly after the Xuanwu Gate Incident, he led a great army right up to the north bank of the Wei River near Chang'an. Emperor Taizong of Tang came to the Wei River in person to parley with him; the two sides concluded a treaty and he withdrew, an event known as the "Pact of the Wei River."
Captured
Afterward the Eastern Turks fell into internal disunity and were also struck by heavy snowstorms. In 630 the Tang general Li Jing led a night raid that crushed the Eastern Turks; Jieli was captured and taken to Chang'an, and the Eastern Turkic Khaganate fell. He died in Chang'an in 634.
Legacy
After the fall of the Eastern Turks, Emperor Taizong of Tang was honored by the peoples of the northwest as the "Heavenly Khan."
Did you know? On learning that Jieli had been captured, Emperor Gaozu of Tang held a banquet at the Lingyan Pavilion, playing the pipa himself while Emperor Taizong of Tang danced. (According to the Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance)
Key dates
- 620Accession
- 626Pact of the Wei River
- 629Eastern Turks hit by snow disaster and internal breakup
- 630Captured by Li Jing; the Eastern Turkic Khaganate falls
- 634Died in Chang'an