Zhenzhu Khan

Zhenzhu Khan
The stone base inscribed with the name and regnal title of Zhenzhu Khan in Zhaoling (Xiuqin Zhou, 1999)
Khan of Xueyantuo
Reign	628 – 645
Predecessor	Yiedie Khan
Successor	Duomi Khan
Born	Yishi Yinan (乙失夷男)
Died	(645-10-21)21 October 645
Issue	Yemang Bazhuo
Regnal name Chinese: 真珠毗伽可汗; pinyin: Zhēnzhū Píjiā Kèhán Old Turkic: 𐰘𐰃𐰨𐰇 𐰋𐰃𐰠𐰏𐰀 𐰴𐰍𐰣, romanized: Yinčü Bilge Qaɣan, lit. 'Pearl Wise 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'^[1]) (died October 21, 645) was a khan of Xueyantuo, under whom Xueyantuo rose from being a vassal of Eastern Tujue to a mighty khanate ruling over northern and central Asia. His personal name was recorded as Yishi Yinan (Chinese: 乙失夷男; pinyin: Yǐshī Yínán), latter being Chinese rendering of Inan.^[2] He was later bestowed with 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, Xueyantuo largely aligned with the Tang dynasty, even though the two states were at odds at times, with the most serious dispute involving 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 Xueyantuo army against Turks. Throughout his reign, Xueyantuo remained powerful despite Tang attempts to curb its power, but after Zhenzhu's death, a succession dispute between his sons, Bazhuo and Yemang (曳莽), led to Bazhuo's killing of Yemang and subsequent internal unrest. Further, Bazhuo attacked Tang, resulting in a major Tang retaliation campaign that, along with a revolt by the Uyghurs, led to Xueyantuo's destruction in 646.