|
Kul Tigin (685 - 731 or 732 CE) was a famous general of the Second Turkic Kaganate. He was a second son of Ilterish Shad and the younger brother of Bilge Kagan.
During the reign of Mochuo Kagan , Kul Tigin and his older brother
earned reputation for their military prowess. They defeated Kyrgyz,
Turgesh, and Karluks, extending the Kaganate territory all the way to
the Iron Gates (modern day Derbent in Dagestan). They also subjugated
all nine of the Tokuz Oguz tribes.
Upon the death of Mochuo Kagan, Mochuo's son attempted to illegally
ascend to the throne, defying the traditional Lateral succession law,
but Kül-Tegin refused to recognize the takeover. He raised an army,
attacked, and killed Mochuo's son and his trusted followers. He raised
his elder brother Mojilian, who took the title Bilge (The Wise) Kagan,
and took the title of Shad, an equivalent of commander-in-chief of the
army for himself.
In 731 Kül-Tegin fell ill and died. A stele in memory of Kul Tigin,
which included inscriptions in both the Turkic and Chinese was erected
to his memory. Kül-Tegin is also mentioned on another monument erected
in memory of his older brother Bilge Kagan.
Prince Kül-Tegin descended from the "Gold (Kagan’s) clan of the ancient
Türkic dynastic tribe Ashina (Hot.-Sak. blue) called Shar-Duly (Middle
Persian zarr duli "Golden bird Duli", i.e. "Golden/Red Raven"). All
royal Oguzes traced their descent from this mythical bird Dulu/Tulu.
The headdress on the glabella part of Kül-Tegin sculpture in the
Husho-Tsaidam enclave (Orkhon, Northern Mongolia) carries a bird with
wings spread like an eagle, personifying a Raven.
|
