Bayanchur Qaghan — was second qaghan of Uyghur Khaganate. His Tang dynasty invested title was Yingwu Weiyuan Pijia Qaghan or simply Yingwu Qaghan. He was also known as Gelei Qaghan. His official regnal name in Turkic was Tengrida Bolmish El Etmish Bilge Qaghan. He is mostly famous for ordering erection of Tariat Inscriptions.
Early life
He was born in 713 in Hanhai Protectorate near Ganzhou and Lanzhou to Kutluk Boyla. At time of his birth, clan chief Yaoluoge Dujiezhi had recently moved near Tang border, avoiding expansion of Second Turkic Qaghanate. Yaoluoge Dujiezhi died in 715 and succeeded by his son Yaoluoge Fudifu, who was followed by his son Yaoluoge Chengzong sometime later. In 727, at the suggestion of the general Wang Junchuo, Emperor Xuanzong commissioned Wang Junchuo to attack the Tibetan Empire, and after a Tibetan incursion in late 726, Wang counterattacked and inflicted losses on Tibetan forces commanded by the general Xinuoluogonglu. Later in the year, though, Xinuoluogonglu and another general, Zhulongmangbuzhi attacked and captured Wang's home prefecture Gua Prefecture, taking Wang's father Wang Shou captive. As a result, Wang Junchuo did not dare to counterattack, and subsequently blamed the defeat on a number of tribal chiefs in the area and had them exiles. In response, Bayanchur's grandfather Yaoluoge Hushu - the nephew of Yaoluoge Chengzong, ambushed Wang Junchuo and killed him, and while Yaoluoge Hushu was forced to flee thereafter, for several years Tang did not engage in any offensive campaigns in the region. 14 year old Bayanchur and his brothers had to follow his grandfather to exile. He was created as the eastern shad in 744 by his father Kutlug Bilge Khagan, who created his elder brother Tay Bilge Tutuq as yabgu of west and heir. He spent next 6 years ousting him in order to become heir.
Reign
He spent 3 years in order to fully consolidate his rule after he succeeded in his father in 747. He captured and executed his brother Tay Bilge Tutuq who was supported by Karluks, Basmyls and Khitans in 750. He was enthroned in Ordu-Baliq, a new capital that was built by Chinese and Sogdian architects. His royal court consisted of 60 nobles, Court Secretary - Inancu Baga Tarkan and a Chief Minister - Bilge Tay Sanggun.He also appointed his sons as viceroys over Western and Eastern tribes. , a city founded by Bayanchur.
appealed to Bayanchur in 756 for help against An Lushan, sending his second cousin Li Chengcai the Prince of Dunhuang and Pugu Huai'en as emissaries. Uyghur troops were instrumental in dealing with rebellion. Uyghur forces led by Uyghur Prince Ulu Bilge Yabgu and general Dide arrived at Emperor Suzong's then-headquarters at Fengxiang to join the elite Tang forces recalled from the Anxi Circuit and the Western Regions. Emperor Suzong did so by promising that the Uyghur forces would be permitted to pillage the Chang'an region once it was recaptured. Chinese chancellorLi Mi suggested that these forces be used to attack An Lushan's power base at Fanyang first, to root out the possibility of a recovery. Emperor Suzong chose not to do so and decided to attack Chang'an first, with Li Chu in command of the joint forces. The forces recaptured Chang'an in fall 757, allowing Emperor Suzong to rebuild his administration in the capital. Uyghur were set to pillage Chang'an, but Li Chu bowed to the Uyghur prince Ulu Bilge Yabgu commanding Uyghur forces to plead to delay the pillage—pointing out that if pillaging were carried out, the people of the eastern capital Luoyang, then serving as Yan's capital, would resist heavily, and asking that Uyghur pillage Luoyang instead.
Death
Bayanchur Khan died soon after completion of his successful expedition against the Yenisei Kirghiz in the Sayan Mountains in May of 759 during a feast.
Family
Bayanchur was married to an Uyghur who was created El Bilge Khatun in 747 and Princess Xiaoguo on 25 August 758, daughter of Suzong. Marriage to a true daughter of a Chinese emperor was unprecedented. She left for China after Bayanchur's death. Bayanchur had at least two sons:
Ulu Bilge Tardush Yabghu - commander of western part of the empire, who was commanding officer of Uyghurs in An Lushan rebellion, thought to be executed by his father in 759.
Bögü Qaghan - commander of eastern part of the empire, succeeded his father.
He also adopted his sister-in-law and married her to Prince Li Chengcai, Prince of Dunhuang, son of Li Shouli, Prince of Bin in 758. She was created Princess Pijia by Suzong.
