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Who were the Xueyantou, and how did they become Tang vassals?
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Taizong
The Taizong emperor, detail of a portrait; in the National Palace Museum, Taipei.
The Xueyantou (also known as the Syr Tardush) were a nomadic people who originally served as vassals to the eastern Turks. Following the collapse of Turkish power, they occupied the region north of the Orhon River and the Ordos (Mu Us) Desert.1
They became vassals of the Tang dynasty in 646 after being defeated by Tang armies.1