Early years Tonyukuk was born around 646, near
Tuul River in the land of the
Ashide tribe. He fled the
Tang dynasty in 679 and joined
Ilterish Qaghan in 681. Chinese sources state that Tonyukuk's name was "Yuanzhen," and he learned all Chinese traditions and was aware of the gaps in the borders and the Chinese wall. While he was supervising the surrendered clans in
Chanyü military governorship, he was dismissed and jailed by the military governor Changshih.
During Ilterish Qaghan's reign Although he lost early wars against
Xue Rengui, he was a formidable force in establishing the
Second Turkic Khaganate. In 687, the Tang invaded
Göktürk land again.
Empress Dowager Wu commissioned the ethnically
Baekje general
Heichi Changzhi, assisted by Li Duozuo, to defend against Turkic attack and were able to defeat the Turkic forces at Huanghuadui (modern day
Shuozhou,
Shanxi) causing the Turkic forces to flee.
During Qapaghan Qaghan's reign . In 703, he was sent by
Qapaghan Qaghan for a marriage proposal to the
Wu Zhou dynasty.
Wu Zetian accepted the proposal, in exchange Wu Yanxiu was released on the Khagan's order. However,
Emperor Zhongzhong's accession changed the political climate, causing the cancellation of the marriage. In 712, he commanded a Turkic army during
Battle of Bolchu which proved disastrous for the
Turgesh army.
During Inel Qaghan's reign He was not in active politics during
Inel Qaghan's reign and accepted him as a legitimate ruler. Although this did not cost him his life and was spared, perhaps because of his great authority and his age. Another reason would the fact that he was Bilge Qaghan's father-in-law.
During Bilge Qaghan's reign In 716 he was appointed as master strategist (bagha tarkhan) by his son-in-law
Bilge Qaghan. Chinese sources state that Bilge Qaghan wanted to convert to
Buddhism and establish cities and temples. However, Tonyukuk discouraged him from this by pointing out that their nomadic lifestyle was what made them a greater military power when compared to the
Tang dynasty. While the Turks' power rested on their mobility, conversion to Buddhism would bring pacifism among population. Therefore sticking to
Tengriism was necessary to survive. In 720 the Tang chancellor
Wang Jun proposed a plan to attack Bilge Qaghan' along with the
Baximi,
Xi, and
Khitan.
Emperor Xuanzong also recruited
Qapaghan Qaghan's sons Bilgä Tegin and Mo Tegin,
Yenisei Kyrgyz Qaγan Qutluğ Bilgä Qaγan and Huoba Guiren to fight against the Turks. Tonyukuk launched a first attack on Baximi in the autumn of 721, completely crushing them. Meanwhile Bilge raided
Gansu, taking much of the livestock. Later that year the
Khitans, the next year the
Xi were crushed. He died around 726. == Family ==