Apa Qaghan was born
Ashina Daluobian or
Talopien () to
Muqan Qaghan and a non-Turkic concubine from a dynastic alliance, probably around 551.
Lev Gumilev reconstructed his Turkic name as "Töremen" while Saadettin Gömeç proposed "Törüpen". Gumilev also equated him to Turum () who appears in
Theophylact Simocatta's work. Anluo, being the least powerful of the three abandoned and renounced his title in favor of Shetu. In turn Shetu made him Dier Khagan () in the
Tuul River valley (now in
Mongolia). Talopien also demanded a title and as a result he was made Apa Qaghan and was granted the steppe between northern Mongolia and the
Altai Mountains. Soon
Emperor Wen of Sui used
Zhangsun Sheng (長孫晟). According to his report, "Apa Khagan is timid and positioned between these factions. He somewhat fears Shetu and follows his lead, but his loyalty is uncertain." Apa later followed Ishbara during his raids to China. In 582, Ishbara marched on China with support from Apa and
Tamgan, while Wen responded by sending his cousin Yang Hong (), his brother-in-law
Dou Rongding (窦荣定), Dou Luji (豆盧勣),
Gao Jiong and Yu Qingze (虞庆则). In May, Dou Rongding led 30,000 infantry and cavalry from
Liangzhou, repeatedly defeating Apa's forces at Gaoyue Plain (northwest of present-day
Minqin,
Gansu). Zhangsun Sheng, serving as a deputy general in Dou Rongding's army, took the opportunity to sow discord among the
Göktürks. He sent someone to tell Apa Khagan that this defeat will bring Ishbara's anger on him and his prestige will decrease. Zhangsun further advised him to submit to Sui like his cousin
Tardu. Just like Zhangsun predicted, Ishbara was defeated in a battle near Baidao (白道, north of modern
Hohhot) and put the blame on Apa. In 583 Ishbara attacked Apa's camp and killed his mother. Having nowhere to turn, Apa fled west to seek refuge with Tardu. Tamgan and Tigin Shad also switched their allegiances away from Ishbara to Apa. Apa soon was given an army by Tardu and took
Kucha and
Kumul. Settling in
Ili Valley, he increased his power to the point of appointing a lesser khagan to the west wing of his territories. Chinese sources estimate his army to be around 100,000, which was probably an exaggeration. His state was described by
Zhizhi Tongjian as the
Western Turkic Khaganate (). == References ==