Battle of Ming Sha

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The battle of Ming Sha was a major battle between the Tang dynasty and Second Turkic Khaganate which occurred in 707.

Battle

Kul Tigin and Bilge Qaghan were also present in the Göktürk army under the command of Qapaghan Qaghan. The Göktürks attacked them. Here, the 80.000 strong Tang army under the command of Caca^[who?], sent by the Tang dynasty against the Göktürks in Kul Tigin inscription, Kul Tigin's role in the war is described as follows:

During the battle, Kul Tigin mounted first on Tadık Çor's gray horse, then on Isbara’s gray horse, and then on Yiğin Siliğ Bey’s dressed doru horses and attacked the Chinese, but all horses were dead. They shot Kul Tigin with more than 100 arrows from his armor and robe, but the arrows didn’t touch Kul Tigin's Face and head^[5]

When Caca realized that he would be defeated, he fled from the battle. Some sources mentioned that 13.000 Chinese soldiers died, also Bilge Qaghan said that he destroyed his army. This battle is mentioned in Kul Tigin inscription.^[6]

In another Göktürk inscription, the Bilge Qaghan inscription, this battle is mentioned as follows:

At the age of 22 I went on a campaign against the Chinese. I fought Caca’s army of 80.000 and killed them!^[7]

References

Ahmetbeyoglu, Ali (2014). Sorularla Eski Türk Tarihi [Ancient Turkish History with Questions]. Yeditepe Yayinevi. p. 111. ISBN 9786055200411.