Chanyus

Chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire from 209 to 174 BCE

thumb|Reconstruction of a Xiongnu chief warrior, 2nd century BC – 1st century AD, by archaeologist [[A.N. Podushkin. Central State Museum of Kazakhstan.]] Chanyu () or Shanyu (), short for Chengli Gutu Chanyu (), was the title used by the supreme rulers of Inner Asian nomads for eight centuries until superseded by the title "Khagan" in 402 AD. The title was most famously used by the ruling Luandi clan of the Xiongnu during the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC) and Han dynasty (206 BC – 220 AD). It was later also used infrequently by the Chinese as a reference to Tujue leaders.

Touman (), from Old Chinese (220 BCE): *do-mɑnᴬ, is the earliest named chanyu (leader) of the Xiongnu tribal confederation, reigning from , directly preceding the formation of the Xiongnu empire.

Laoshang (; r. 174–161 BCE), whose personal name was Jiyu (), was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire who succeeded his father Modu Chanyu in 174 BCE. Under his reign, the Xiongnu Empire continued to expand against the Yuezhi with the Xiongnu gaining control of the Hexi Corridor.

Zhizhi or Chi-Chi (, from Old Chinese (58 BCE): *tśit-kie < *tit-ke; died 36 BCE), also known as Jzh-jzh, was a chanyu (supreme ruler) of the Xiongnu Empire at the time of the first Xiongnu civil war. He held the north and west in contention with his younger brother Huhanye who held the south. His original name in Chinese transcription was Luandi Hutuwusi (), i.e. one of the Worthy Princes of the East (of the Luandi clan).

Huhanye (), born Jihoushan (), was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire, the son of Xulüquanqu Chanyu. He rebelled in 59 BC with the aid of Wushanmu and Woyanqudi Chanyu soon committed suicide, leaving the Xiongnu torn apart by factional strife. By 55 BC, only Huhanye and his brother Zhizhi Chanyu were left.

Yizhixie (; Late Old Chinese: ; r. 126&ndash;114 BC) was the brother of Junchen Chanyu and his successor to the Xiongnu throne. Yizhixie ruled during a time of conflict with the Han dynasty under the military expansionist Emperor Wu (r. 141–87 BC).

chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire

Junchen (, Old Chinese (ZS): *kun-gin; r. 161&ndash;126 BCE) was the son and successor to Laoshang Chanyu. As chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire, Junchen outlived the Han emperors Wen (r. 180–157 BC) and Jing (r. 157–141 BC). He died during the reign of the Emperor Wu of Han (r. 141–87 BC). All three Han emperors confirmed the heqin peace and kinship treaty with the Xiongnu.

Xulihu Chanyu (; r. 102–101 BC) was a ruler of the Xiongnu Empire. Xulihu Chanyu was the younger brother of Wuwei Chanyu. He succeeded his nephew Er Chanyu in 102 BC.

chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire

Qiedihou (; r. 101–96 BCE), whose name was probably Qiedi, was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire, and the successor to Xulihu. His reign was contemporaneous with that of the Emperor Wu of Han (r. 141–87 BC). He was the younger brother of Xulihu, who died, after a one-year reign, during a campaign against the newly built Western Han fort Shuofang in Ordos.

Hulugu () was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire. He was the son and successor of Qiedihou and reigned from 96 to 85 BC.

puppet chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu from 188 to 195

Woyanqudi (), born Tuqitang (), was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire. The successor to Xulüquanqu Chanyu, he reigned from 60 to 58 BC.

chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire

Huyandi () was the son and successor of Hulugu Chanyu. He ruled as the Chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire from 85 to 68 BC.

Sutuhu (; , died 56 AD), also known as Bi (比), was the son of Wuzhuliu, and uncle of Punu Chanyu. Sutuhu was too young to succeed his father in 13 AD, so his uncle Wulei became chanyu, and he was demoted down the line of succession. Wulei's successor Huduershidaogao stationed Sutuhu in the southeast on the border of Wuhuan territory. Huduershidaogao's successor Wudadihou only lived for a few months and was succeeded by his brother Punu in 46 AD.

Chanyu of Xiongnu Empire from 31 to 20 BC

Qiangqu (; r. 179&ndash;188 AD) was the Western Wise Prince, successor to Huzheng, and chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu from 179 to 188 AD.

Tuntuhe (), the Xiulan Shizhu Houdi Chanyu (), was the son of Sutuhu. He succeeded Yitu Yulüti in 88 AD and ruled until his death in 93 AD. He was succeeded by his cousin Anguo.

Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu from 94 to 98 AD

Xulüquanqu () was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire. He was the brother and successor of the Huyandi Chanyu, and he reigned from 68 to 60 BC.

Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu from c. 56 to 57 AD

Wuzhuliu () or Wuzhuliuruodi (), born Nangzhiyasi (; , died 13 AD), was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire. The brother and successor of Juya Chanyu, he reigned from 8 BC to 13 AD. Wuzhuliu sent his son Wududiyasi to the Western Han imperial court upon his accession and arranged for his son Jiliukun to go to the Western Han court upon his death. Wuzhuliu died in 13 AD and was succeeded by his brother, Wulei Chanyu.

Souxie (; , died 12 BC), born Jumixu, was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire. The brother and successor of Fuzhulei Ruoti, he reigned from 20 to 12 BC. Souxie died on his way to Chang'an in 12 BC and was succeeded by his brother Juya Chanyu.

Huchuquan was the last chanyu () of the Southern Xiongnu during the late Eastern Han dynasty and Three Kingdoms period of China. He was a younger brother of the chanyu in exile, Yufuluo.

Huduershidaogao (; 34 BC – 46 AD), born Yu, was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire. The brother and successor of Wuzhuliu Chanyu, he reigned from 18 to 46 AD.

Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu from 93 to 94 AD

Juya (; , died 8 BC), born Qiemoju, was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire. The brother and successor of Souxie, he reigned from 12 to 8 BC. Juya sent his son Wuyidang to Chang'an. Juya died in 8 BC and was succeeded by his brother, Wuzhuliu.

Wudadihou (; died 46 AD) was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire. The son and successor of Huduershidaogao, he reigned for a few months in 46 AD before dying. He was succeeded by his brother Punu.

Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu during 63 AD

Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu from c. 59 to 63 AD

Wulei (; - died 18 AD), born Xian, was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire. The brother and successor of Wuzhuliu, he reigned from 13 to 18 AD. Xian took part in subjugating Wuhuan lands and as a result upset the Han dynasty. Han envoys attempted to split up the Xiongnu by creating 15 different chanyus. Xian was one of them, the Xiao Chanyu. He sent his two sons to be educated in Chang'an. When Wuzhuliu died in 13 AD, the Xiongnu Princess Xubu Juci Yun wished to maintain good relations with the Han, so she arranged for the succession to go to Xian, who became Wulei Chanyu. Wulei initially acquiesce

Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu from c. 63 to 85 AD

Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu from 172 to 178

Jucheer (居車兒) was a Xiongnu of unknown relationship to the royal dynastic lineage who succeeded Doulouchu as chanyu in 147 AD. In 166 AD, Jucheer joined the Xianbei and Wuhuan in raiding Han territory. When the Wuhuan and Xiongnu were confronted by Han forces they immediately surrendered. Zhang Huan wanted to have Jucheer dismissed, but Emperor Huan of Han was unwilling to remove an established ruler and deemed Jucheer to be an innocent party forced into rebellion. Jucheer died in 172 AD and was succeeded by his son Tute Ruoshi Zhujiu.

Xiuli (休利), the Qute Ruoshi Zhujiu Chanyu (去特若尸逐就單于), was the son of Huxie Shizhu Houdi. He succeeded his brother Wujihoushizhudi in 128 AD and ruled until 142 AD.

Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu from c.85 to 88 AD

Wujihoushizhudi (), born Ba, was the son of Huxie Shizhu Houdi. He succeeded his brother Wanshishizhudi in 124 AD and ruled until 128 AD. He was succeeded by his brother Xiuli.

Wanshishizhudi (), born Tan (), was the son of Huxie Shizhu Houdi. He succeeded Shizi in 98 AD and ruled until 124 AD. He was succeeded by his brother Wujihoushizhudi.

Doulouchu ( < Eastern Han Chinese: *to-lo-ḍiɑ) was a Xiongnu prince of unknown relationship to the Southern Xiongnu dynastic line who was proclaimed chanyu by the Han dynasty in 24 July 143 AD. Toulouchu resided in the Southern Xiongnu capital of Meiji in Xihe Commandery. It is doubtful whether he wielded any real power over his nominal subjects. He died four years later in 147 AD and was succeeded by Jucheer.

Huzheng succeeded his father Tute Ruoshi Zhujiu as chanyu of the Xiongnu in 178 AD. He was killed by the Han emissary Zhang Xiu in 179 AD. The title of chanyu passed to the Western Tuqi Prince Qiangqu.

Chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu from c. 57 to 59 AD

Late first century Chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire

Yuchujian (; - died 93 AD) was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire. He succeeded his brother, the Northern Chanyu, upon his defeat in 91 AD by the Han dynasty. Yuchujian settled at Yiwu near modern Hami and surrendered to the Han dynasty. In 93 AD, Yuchujian rebelled and fled to the north. He was convinced to return by Ren Shang and Wang Fu but died on the way back.

Youliu (; , died 87 AD) was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire. Although he was a descendant of his predecessor Punu, it is not known what their exact relationship was. He succeeded Punu at an uncertain date and was killed by the Xianbei in 87 AD.

Cheniu (; Eastern Han Chinese: *tśʰa-ṇuB ) was chieftain of the Goulong clan and chanyu of the Southern Xiongnu from 142 to 143 AD.