Yujiulü Shelun (,

Simplified Chinese Simplification, Simplify, or Simplified may refer to: Mathematics Simplification is the process of replacing a mathematical expression by an equivalent one, that is simpler (usually shorter), for example * Simplification of algebraic expressions, ...

: 郁久闾社仑;

pinyin Hanyu Pinyin (), often shortened to just pinyin, is the official romanization system for Standard Mandarin Chinese in China, and to some extent, in Singapore and Malaysia. It is often used to teach Mandarin, normally written in Chinese for ...

: Yùjiǔlǘ Shèlún,

Wade–Giles Wade–Giles () is a romanization system for Mandarin Chinese. It developed from a system produced by Thomas Francis Wade, during the mid-19th century, and was given completed form with Herbert A. Giles's '' Chinese–English Dictionary'' of ...

: Yü-chiu-lü She-lun) (c. 391–410) or Qiudoufa Khagan (丘豆伐可汗) was khagan of the

Rouran The Rouran Khaganate, also Juan-Juan Khaganate (), was a tribal confederation and later state founded by a people of Proto-Mongolic Donghu origin.*Pulleyblank, Edwin G. (2000)"Ji 姬 and Jiang 姜: The Role of Exogamic Clans in the Organizati ...

from 402 to 410.

Early years

After his brother Heduohan (曷多汗) was defeated and killed by the

Northern Wei Wei (), known in historiography as the Northern Wei (), Tuoba Wei (), Yuan Wei () and Later Wei (), was founded by the Tuoba (Tabgach) clan of the Xianbei. The first of the Northern and Southern dynasties#Northern dynasties, Northern dynasties ...

general Zhangsun Fei (長孫肥), Shelun fled to west in 394, breaking ties with Wei. He found refuge among his uncle Yujiulü Pihouba (郁久闾匹候跋) and cousins. However, they were unhappy about his growing power, which forced Shelun to quickly gather his supporters and capture the sons of Pihouba. Soon, Shelun killed Pihouba as well, and his sons fled to Wei. Shelun was afraid of the revenge of the empire and migrated north through the

Gobi The Gobi Desert (Chinese: 戈壁 (沙漠), Mongolian: Говь (ᠭᠣᠪᠢ)) () is a large desert or brushland region in East Asia, and is the sixth largest desert in the world. Geography The Gobi measures from southwest to northeast an ...

, uniting nomadic tribes on his way.

Reign

Shelun led retaliatory raids against Northern Wei, but suffered a serious defeat in 399 and was forced to flee westward. There he subjugated the Hulu (斛律) tribe and with an aid of a Hulu called Chiluohou (叱洛侯) he defeated the Gaoche, then declared himself Khagan. Shelun was the first major leader of the steppes to adopt the title of Qiudoufa Khagan (丘豆伐可汗) which was originally a title used by Xianbei nobles. He reorganized military-administrative system, modeling it after

Xiongnu The Xiongnu (, ) were a tribal confederation of nomadic peoples who, according to ancient Chinese sources, inhabited the eastern Eurasian Steppe from the 3rd century BC to the late 1st century AD. Modu Chanyu, the supreme leader after 20 ...

, divided the army into hundreds and thousands. In order to strengthen his place, he became allied to Yao Xing, emperor of Later Qin. He aided Later Qin against Daowu in 403. In one occasion, his horse tributes to Qin were seized by

Helian Bobo Helian Bobo (; Middle Chinese Guangyun: ; 381–425), né Liu Bobo (劉勃勃), courtesy name Qujie (屈孑), formally Emperor Wulie of Xia (夏武烈帝), was the founding emperor of the Xiongnu-led Hu Xia dynasty of China. He is generally cons ...

in 407. He continued to raid Northern Wei in 407 and 409. In one of those battles in 410, Emperor Mingyuan sent one of his advisors, Baba Song (拔拔嵩) the Duke of Nanping to attack the

, and when Baba was surrounded by Shelun's troops, Emperor Mingyuan personally led an army to relieve Baba. Shelun died from his wounds in May 410 and was succeeded by his brother

Yujiulü Hulü Yujiulü Hulü (; pinyin: Yùjiǔlǘ Húlǜ) (died 414) was an early 5th century ruler of the Rouran, a confederation of nomadic tribes in Mongolia with the title Aikugai Khagan (). Marriage to Northern Yan princess There is historical indicatio ...

, because his sons Duba (度拔) and Sheba (社拔) were still young.

Personality and achievements

Shelun was described as "vicious/cruel, wily/artful, and possesses adaptability" in

Book of Wei The ''Book of Wei'', also known by its Chinese name as the ''Wei Shu'', is a classic Chinese historical text compiled by Wei Shou from 551 to 554, and is an important text describing the history of the Northern Wei and Eastern Wei from 386 to 5 ...

.''Book of Wei'
"Volume 103; Account 91"
Text: "社崘兇狡有權變" He has been described as a "talented politician" and an autocratic leader by modern scholars, known for his cruelty, cunning and adaptability. He revolutionized the military and public organisation of Rouran (for example, introducing compulsory military recruitment and establishing strict rules of behavior for the warriors, and punishment for those who broke them), introduced the so-called decimal system, overwhelmed and united many Mongolian and Turkic tribes, broke all Rouran's vassalages, and was the first to take the title of ''khagan''.

References

Bibliography

Sources

,
vol. 103
' 410 deaths Year of birth missing Rouran rulers Founding monarchs {{CAsia-hist-stub