the turkic tribes 441presents from the Princess of T’ai-ho (Chiu T’ang shu 195:13a).
In the 12th month (Jan./Feb., 837) of the Chinese year 836, Uighur
envoys offered gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5033).
In the 10th month (Nov./Dec.) of 837, Uighur envoys offered gifts
(Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5033).
In the intercalary month (Feb./Mar.) of 839, Uighur envoys offered
gifts (Ts’e-fu yüan-kuei p.5033).
During 839, the Ai-teng-li-lo-ku-mo-mi-shih-ho-chü-lu-p’i-chia,
Who Manifests Trustworthiness, Qaghan killed two of his enemies
but was subsequently attacked, defeated, and committed suicide. The
Uighurs enthroned a certain Ho-sa as qaghan.^90 This was followed by
an epidemic and a heavy snowfall in which many sheep and horses
died (Chiu T’ang shu 195:13a; Tzu-chih t’ung-chien p.7983; Wen-hsien
t’ung-k’ao 347:29b).
In 840, envoys from Ho-sa announced the death of his predecessor
to the T’ang court. The same year, a Kirghiz army crushed the Uighurs
and killed Ho-sa. The Uighur empire had come to an end (Chiu T’ang
shu 195:13a; T’ang hui-yao 98:10a; Wen-hsien t’ung-k’ao 347:29b).
After their defeat, the Uighurs abandoned their old grazing grounds
north of the Gobi and scattered in different directions. Some moved
to Turfan and spread from there through East Turkestan. A large
contingent moved to the territory north of the Ordos Bend in Inner
Mongolia.
The Uighurs in Inner Mongolia were an obvious new danger to
the T’ang, and the Chinese fell back on their old policy of creating
dissent. In the 8th month (Aug.Sep.) of 841, the Wu-chieh Qaghan
informed the T’ang court through envoys of the victory of the Kirghiz,
of the death of the former qaghan (Ho-sa), and of his own election as
qaghan by the tribesmen. The princess of T’ai-ho sent envoys of her
own to announce the same matter. After the defeat of the Uighurs,
she had fallen into the hands of the Kirghiz, who had attempted to
escort her back to China. But the cortège had been intercepted by the
Uighurs, the entire escort was killed, and she had been brought to the
Wu-chieh Qaghan to become his wife. Emperor Wu-tsung, who had
ascended the throne on Feb.10, 840, sent the Herald and the General
of the Gilded Mace of the Left to recognize him (Chiu T’ang shu 18A:
4a; 195:12b, 12a-13b; T’ang hui-yao 98:9b).
(^90) On Ho-sa, see ibid, p.182 note 295.