Niri Qaghan

Niri Qaghan (Sogdian: nry x’γ’n, Rouran: nı̣rı̣ kagan) was a ruler of the Western Turkic Khaganate.

Reign
According to Baumer he ruled from 579 to circa 602/03. Baumer notes that the better-documented Tardu ruled from 575 to 603. According to de La Vaissere, the unnamed Turkic ruler who was in correspondence with Emperor Maurice was Niri.

Family
He was the grandson of Muqan Qaghan. His Chinese wife Lady Xiang (向氏) was married to his brother Poshi Tegin (婆實特勤) after his death and submitted to the Tang during end of the Kaiyuan era. However, his exact death date remains problematic. According to Chavannes, he died in 603 in a battle during the rebellion. Osawa on the other hand, states he died in 599. He was survived by his son Heshana Khagan.

Legacy

 * His memorial complex and statue exist in Xinjiang. Later, inscriptions were found at the west part of the stone man. They were written in two languages. Sogdian one was read by Yutaka Yoshida (Kyoto university), and an Old Turkic one was read by Takashi Osawa (Osaka University) He founded a Buddhist temple in Romitan.