Qibi Heli () ( - died 677), noble title Duke of Liang (涼國公), was a Tiele general of China's

Tang dynasty The Tang dynasty (, ; zh, c=唐朝), or the Tang Empire, was an Dynasties of China, imperial dynasty of China that ruled from 618 to 907, with an Wu Zhou, interregnum between 690 and 705. It was preceded by the Sui dynasty and followed ...

and a companion of the

Emperor Taizong of Tang Emperor Taizong of Tang (28January 59810July 649), previously Prince of Qin, personal name Li Shimin, was the second emperor of the Tang dynasty of China, ruling from 626 to 649. He is traditionally regarded as a co-founder of the dynasty fo ...

. He was accorded the

posthumous name A posthumous name is an honorary Personal name, name given mainly to revered dead people in East Asian cultural sphere, East Asian culture. It is predominantly used in Asian countries such as China, Korea, Vietnam, Japan, Malaysia and Thailand. ...

Lie (烈).

Early life

Qibi Heli was born to a Tiele tribe called the Qibi. He was son of Qibi Ge (契苾葛), who was a younger brother of

Yiwuzhenmohe Qaghan Yiwuzhenmohe Qaghan () or Yaghmurchin Bagha Qaghan (Personal name: Qibi Geleng, ) was a tribal chief of Qibi tribe who ruled briefly over Turkic tribes of Xueyantuo, Tiele and Huihe. Reign At the time of Geleng's rule over the Tiele as ''Erkin ...

(易勿真莫賀可汗). Orphaned at 9 years old he became the eltäbär of his tribe and lived a nomadic life around Lake Zài (nowadays

Issyk-Kul lake Issyk-Kul () or Ysyk-Köl (, ; ) is an endorheic saline lake in the western Tianshan Mountains in eastern Kyrgyzstan, just south of a dividing range separating Kyrgyzstan from Kazakhstan. It is the List of lakes by depth, eighth-deepest lake in t ...

). His father's title was Baghatur Tegin (莫賀咄特勤). In 632, he led his tribe to submit Tang in Hexi, himself going to

Chang'an Chang'an (; zh, t=長安, s=长安, p=Cháng'ān, first=t) is the traditional name of the city now named Xi'an and was the capital of several Chinese dynasties, ranging from 202 BCE to 907 CE. The site has been inhabited since Neolithic time ...

while his mother Lady Feng and brother Qibi Shamen (契苾沙門) left behind to handle tribal affairs. He was created a general and was stationed in

Liangzhou Liangzhou District () is a district and the seat of the city of Wuwei, Gansu province, China, bordering Inner Mongolia to the east. Geography Liangzhou District is located in the eastern part of the Hexi Corridor, north of the Qilian Mountains. ...

During reign of Taizong

He participated in Emperor Taizong's campaign against Tuyuhun in 634-635, in one occasion saving lives of generals Xue Wanjun (薛萬均) and his brother Xue Wanche (薛萬徹) besides capturing

Murong Fuyun Murong Fuyun (; 597–635), regnal name Busabo Khan (), was a ruler of the Xianbei-led dynastic state of Tuyuhun. He first became ruler when his brother Murong Shifu was assassinated in 597, and became one of the longest-ruling monarchs of Tuyuhun ...

's wife and children. He later participated in

Tang campaign against Karakhoja The Tang campaign against Karakhoja, known as Gaochang in Chinese sources, was a military campaign in 640 CE conducted by Emperor Taizong of the Tang dynasty against the Tarim Basin kingdom of Karakhoja, based in the city of Turfan in Xinjian ...

in 640. After rise of Zhenzhu Khagan of

Xueyantuo The Xueyantuo or Sir Tardush were an ancient Tiele people, Tiele tribe and khaganate in Northeast Asia who were at one point vassals of the Göktürks, later aligning with the Tang dynasty against the Eastern Turkic Khaganate, Eastern Göktürk ...

in 642, Qibi tribe submitted to him. Heli tried to convince them to stay loyal to Tang. However, he was captured and brought to Khagan's camp. Where he spoke against him and proclaimed allegiance to Taizong, even cut off his ear. Taizong in turn offered a Tang princess to bribe Zhenzhu to ransom Heli. Although once freed, he persuaded Taizong not to proceed with marriage. He was appointed deputy of Ashina She'er during

Tang campaign against Kucha The Tang campaign against Kucha was a military campaign led by the Tang dynasty general Ashina She'er against the Tarim Basin oasis state of Kucha in Xinjiang, which was aligned with the Western Turkic Khaganate. The campaign began in 648 and ...

in 648 and later in

Goguryeo–Tang War The Goguryeo–Tang War occurred from 645 to 668 and was fought between Goguryeo and the Tang dynasty. During the course of the war, the two sides allied with various other states. Goguryeo successfully repulsed the invading Tang armies during ...

. Taizong himself tended to the injuries of the Tujue Generals Qibi Heli and

Ashina Simo Qilibi Khan ( Chinese: 俟力苾可汗, (Pinyin): qílìbì kěhàn, ( Wade-Giles): ch'i-li-pi k'o-han, Middle Chinese: (Guangyun) , died 647), personal name Ashina Simo (阿史那思摩), Chinese name Li Simo (李思摩), full regal title Yiminish ...

, who were both wounded during the war against Goguryeo. Qibi Heli was especially praised for his valor that despite being severely injured by a spear from enemies, he continued fighting furiously along with his subordinate soldiers. Despite requesting to commit suicide on Taizong's death in 649, he was forbidden by Gaozong.

During reign of Gaozong

In 657, he joined the Tang conquest of the Western Turks, at some point killing

Shatuo The Shatuo, or the Shatuo Turks (; also transcribed as Sha-t'o, Sanskrit SartZuev Yu.A., ''"Horse Tamgas from Vassal Princedoms (Translation of Chinese composition "Tanghuyao" of 8-10th centuries)"'', Kazakh SSR Academy of Sciences, Alma-Ata, I ...

leader Zhuye Guzhu (朱邪孤注). He participated in second Goguryeo-Tang War, defeated a Goguryeo army at the

Yalu River The Yalu River () or Amnok River () is a river on the border between China and North Korea. Together with the Tumen River to its east, and a small portion of Paektu Mountain, the Yalu forms the border between China and North Korea. Its valle ...

and was instrumental on the siege of

Pyongyang Pyongyang () is the Capital city, capital and largest city of North Korea, where it is sometimes labeled as the "Capital of the Revolution" (). Pyongyang is located on the Taedong River about upstream from its mouth on the Yellow Sea. Accordi ...

in 668. After which he was created Great General of Left Guard and Duke of Liang (涼國公) by Gaozong. In 676, when the

Tibetan Empire The Tibetan Empire (,) was an empire centered on the Tibetan Plateau, formed as a result of expansion under the Yarlung dynasty heralded by its 33rd king, Songtsen Gampo, in the 7th century. It expanded further under the 38th king, Trisong De ...

attacked Tang's western prefectures, Tang prince Li Xiǎn and his younger brother Li Lun, the Prince of Xiang, were nominally put in charge of the two armies that were actually commanded by the generals Liu Shenli (劉審禮) and Qibi Heli (契苾何力), but neither Li Xiǎn nor Li Lun actually set out with the troops. He died in 677 and was buried in

Zhao Mausoleum Zhao Mausoleum may refer to: *Zhao Mausoleum (Tang dynasty), mausoleum of Chinese emperor Taizong of Tang, located at Jiuzong Mountain, Shaanxi, China **Six Steeds of Zhao Mausoleum *Zhao Mausoleum (Ming dynasty), mausoleum of the Ming emperor Long ...

. He was honoured with the

Lie (烈) and awarded with titles. His descendants continued to serve Tang dynasty.

Family

He was married to Tang dynasty relative, a daughter of governor of

Lintong Lintong District (), formerly Lintong County, is one of 11 urban districts of the prefecture-level city of Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, Northwest China. The district was approved to establish from the former ''Lintong County'' () by t ...

in 635. He fathered at least 6 daughters and 3 sons. Known sons: # Qibi Ming (契苾明) (649-695){{Cite book, title=The Stele Inscription of Qibi Ming, date=2014, publisher=Zhong qing chu ban she, others=Li, Weipeng., 李伟鹏., isbn=978-7-229-06030-5, edition= ing yin benlocation=Zhongqing, oclc=1031157487 - General of Tang dynasty, Duke of Liangguo (Posthumously Jing - 靖) # Qibi Guang (契苾光, d. 709) - General of the Guards during reign of

Wu Zetian Wu Zetian (624 – 16 December 705), personal name Wu Zhao, was List of rulers of China#Tang dynasty, Empress of China from 660 to 705, ruling first through others and later in her own right. She ruled as queen consort , empress consort th ...

# Qibi Zhen (契苾贞) - Secretary of the Palace

In popular media

He was portrayed in Korean TV drama series ''

Yeon Gaesomun Yeon GaesomunSome Chinese and Korean sources stated that his surname was Yeongae () and personal name was Somun (), but the majority of sources suggest a one-syllable surname and a three-syllable personal name. (; 594–666) was a powerful mili ...

'' by

Lee Kye-in Lee Kye-in (born May 16, 1952) is a South Korean actor. Among his notable television series are ''Chief Inspector'' (1972-1989), ''Country Diaries'' (1980-2002), '' Emperor Wang Gun'' (2000-2002), and ''Jumong Dongmyeong of Goguryeo (), pe ...

in 2006-2007.

References

Tang dynasty generals at war against Goguryeo 7th-century Asian people 677 deaths