Istämi

Istämi was the ruler of the western part of the Göktürks, the Western Turkic Khaganate and dominated the Sogdians.cite book
first=Francis
last=Wood
year= 2002
title= The Silk Road: Two Thousand Years in the Heart of Asia
edition=
publisher= University of California Press
location=Berkeley, CA
pages= pp. 238–239
id= ISBN 978-0-520-24340-8] He succeeded his brother Bumin Khan in 553 AD. His son was Tardu.

During his rule Istami established diplomatic relations with the Persian and Byzantine Empires, defeated the Hepthalites, and acted as an elder statesman during the disintegration of the eastern half of the empire. We know a great deal about him from the diplomatic missions of the Byzantine Empire.

Footnotes