Yujiulü Hulü


Yujiulü Hulü 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 indication that Yujiulü Hulü began his rule in May 410 and, the following year, offered a tribute of three thousand horses to the Northern Yan ruler Feng Ba, with a request to marry Feng Ba's daughter, Princess Lelang, who was probably the daughter of Feng Ba's wife, Princess Sun. Feng Ba's brother, Feng Sufu, suggested refusing the request and sending the daughter of one of Feng Ba's concubines instead, but Feng Ba was apparently convinced that an alliance with Rouran would be beneficial to his state, and agreed to give Princess Lelang in marriage to Yujiulü Hulü in 411.

Deposition and exile

In 414, the fourth year of his rule, as he was, in turn, about to oversee the marriage of one of his own daughters to Feng Ba, he was confronted by his nephew Yujiulü Buluzhen who told him that his daughter was still small and was about travel far away; as she may get sick with longing, it would be necessary to send the daughters of the nobleman, such as Shuli and Wudeyan with her. Hulü not agreeing with him, Buluzhen told Shuli and others that Hulü was thinking of giving their daughters as a dowry for his daughter to a distant, alien state. In the wake of news Shuli, among other noblemen, entered into a conspiracy with Buluzhen. Some warriors were set up behind the Hulü's yurts at night and arrested him with his daughter. As result, Yujiulü Buluzhen was set up as khagan, with Shuli as chancellor.
Meanwhile Buluzhen sent Yujiulü Hulü and his daughter to Northern Yan. Feng Ba treated him as an honored guest and, as originally planned, took Yujiulü's daughter as a concubine. Yujiulü Hulü requested that Feng Ba send an army to escort him home and, in May 414, Feng Ba, with some reluctance, gave him an escort commanded by general Wan Ling who, according to the account, returned after having killed Yujiulü Hulü along the way.