Zhizhi Shanyu

Zhizhi Shanyu (Chinese: 郅支單于, Russian: Шаньюй Чжичжи or Чжичжи-хан, Wade-Giles: Chihchih) (d.36 BC), was a Shanyu of Hun (Ch. Xiongnu, Hsiung-nu, etc), who lived in the 1st-century BC. His original name in Chinese transcription was Luanti Hutuwusi, i.e. one of the Worthy Princes of the East.

After the death of the former Shanyu in 60 BC, the upper stratum of Hun (Ch. Xiongnu, Hsiung-nu) were in chaos caused by war. In 56 BC, Hutuwusi rose against his elder brother Jihoushan or Huhanye Shanyu (the legitimate Shanyu), and rest of the three Shanyus by proclaiming himself as Zhizhi Guduhou Shanyu (full title) in the east.

By 54 BC, Zhizhi Shanyu had won over most of Mongolian steppe, forcing Huhanye to move south. With the help of Han Dynasty, Huhanye regained power over Mongolia and Zhizhi fled west to Kangju with a spare army that numbered 3,000 men by the time he got there.

With the help of Zhizhi, Kangju staged a successful raid against the Wusun. Zhizhi then compeled Kangju to build a fortress in Talas valley, near modern day Taraz and where he established his own state "Zhizhi," also known in European historiography as Western Xiongnu.

In 42 BC, Zhizhi executed a Chinese emissary, Gu Ji, who had reached his court. Zhizhi was killed in the Battle of Zhizhi in 36 BC at Taraz, as he was defending his fortress against a Han expedition.

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*Huyan