Battle of Yinshan (Tang conquers the Eastern Turks)
630 CE · Dingxiang and Yinshan (from modern Horinger to the Yin Mountains, Inner Mongolia) · China · Early modern
Li Jing raided Dingxiang by night through the snow, then took advantage of Jieli's envoys suing for surrender to launch a surprise attack at Yinshan; Jieli Khan was defeated and captured, and the Eastern Turks fell
Belligerents
Tang
- Commanders
- Li Jing, Li Ji
- Strength
- Li Jing's 3,000 elite cavalry raided Dingxiang by night; the combined columns totaled more than 100,000
Eastern Turks
- Commanders
- Jieli Khan
- Strength
- Eastern Turks, tens of thousands
Background
As the Eastern Turks suffered years of natural disasters and internal defections, Emperor Taizong of Tang sent six armies under Li Jing, Li Ji and others to attack.
Course of the battle
- Night raid on DingxiangLi Jing led 3,000 cavalry on a night raid on Dingxiang through the snow, and Jieli fled north in a panic
- Surprise attack at YinshanJieli sent envoys to sue for surrender; taking advantage of his complacency, Li Jing sent elite cavalry through heavy fog straight at the main camp at Yinshan, and the Turks were routed
- Jieli Qaghan capturedLi Ji blocked the line of retreat at Qikou, and Jieli was captured while fleeing west and sent to Chang'an
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 630 CE |
|---|---|
| Place | Dingxiang and Yinshan (from present-day Horinger to the Yin Mountains, Inner Mongolia) |
| Result | Li Jing raided Dingxiang by night through the snow, then took advantage of Jieli's envoys suing for surrender to launch a surprise attack at Yinshan; Jieli Khan was defeated and captured, and the Eastern Turks fell |
| Winner | Tang |
| Casualties | The Eastern Turks suffered a crushing defeat, and more than 100,000 of their people were captured or surrendered |
| Territorial change | The threat on the Tang dynasty's northern frontier was removed, and Emperor Taizong of Tang was honored as the "Heavenly Khan" |
Impact
The fall of the Eastern Turks made the Tang dynasty the most powerful state in East Asia, and the "Heavenly Khan" system took shape from this.
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