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Why was Taizong called the heavenly khan by the eastern Turks?
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Taizong
The Taizong emperor, detail of a portrait; in the National Palace Museum, Taipei.
Taizong was recognized as the "heavenly khan" by the eastern Turks in 630 following a decisive military victory.12
After the eastern Turks were weakened by internal leadership dissension and the rebellion of their subject peoples, Chinese forces invaded their territories and successfully defeated them. Upon capturing their khan, Taizong was acknowledged by the eastern Turks as their supreme sovereign, a title reflecting his new status as the leader of both the Chinese and the nomadic peoples of the steppe. Following this event, many of the surrendered Turks were settled along the Chinese frontier and integrated into the Tang armies.12