Yİ Cheng Princess (义成公主 Yi Cheng Gongzhu) Who Married The Four Gokturk Khagans

Abstract

Gokturk-Chinese relations between 599-630 were a period full of constantly changing alliances and political struggles for both sides. During this period, while China was strong under the umbrella of the Sui Dynasty, the Göktürk State was divided into Eastern and Western Göktürks due to internal conflicts as well as Chinese interventions. One of the most important strategies used in the power and alliance struggles was the "Heqin Policy". Heqin policy is a marriage agreement used by states in this period to keep their relations with neighboring states in balance, to gain power, or to turn the internal turmoil in the neighboring state into an opportunity. For this reason, political relations were discussed through the marriages of Princess Yi Cheng, the princess of Sui, who was a part of the heqin policy in this process. Princess Yi Cheng was first sent to Gokturk lands as a bride to Tuli Khagan, and then she had a levirate marriage with three Gokturk Khagans. She made her second marriage to Shibi Khagan and acted in favor of the Sui Dynasty in this process. Following the rebellions in the Sui Dynasty, the Eastern Turkic Khagan Shibi Khagan supported Li Yüan, one of the rebels who requested military support, and the Sui Dynasty was destroyed and the Tang Dynasty was established. Princess Yi Cheng was killed in an attack by the Tang Dynasty while she was married to the Il Khagan. His death by the Tang Dynasty, which eliminated the Sui Dynasty from his own lineage, in the Gokturk lands, where he was sent on behalf of his state throughout his life, is proof of how effective he was in the relationship between Gokturks and China.