El Bilga Khatun was the wife of the 8th century Göktürk Turkic Qaghan, Ilterish Qaghan, the founder of the Second Turkic Khaganate, the mother of Bilgä Qaghan, the fourth Qaghan of the same Khaganate,^[3] and also the mother of General Kul Tigin.^[4][5] In history, she has been mentioned in the 8th century Orkhon inscriptions. The one erected in honor of Bilgä Qaghan and his brother^[2] says: "But the Turks’ Heaven above, and the Turks holy Yer-sub did as follows: to the end that the Turkish people should not perish but that it should [again] become a people, they raised up my father Elterish kagan and my mother Elbilga katun, supporting them from the heights of Heaven."^[6]

According to the Orkhon inscriptions, she was the biggest supporter and helper of her husband.^[7] El Bilga Khatun and Ilterish Khagan were known for their great unity which was rare at that time between a husband and wife.^[8] When a shaman was given a goose to eat by her, the shaman said that she and her husband were taken to heaven and brought back to earth.^[9] Another source says that one of the Orkhon inscriptions said, "My father, Ilterish Khagan, grabbed my mother, Ilbilge Khatun, from the top of the sky, so that the Turkish bout (people) would not disappear, so that there would be people."^[10] This indicates that their relationship was extremely strong.^[11] Recent findings and official Chinese sources support the claim that both Ilterish Kagan and El Bilga Khatun worked together in state administration.^[12]

It is unknown how the wife of Ilterish Qaghan died,^[13] the only thing known about her death or disappearance is that it was during the time when Ilterish and Tonyukuk attacked the Yenisei Kyrgyz.^[14] Inel and Tonyukuk were in charge of a special mourning ceremony that was held a while after her death.^[15]

• İlbilge Hatun (fictional character), inspired by the historical person

Books edit

• Pohl, Walter (2018). The Avars: A Steppe Empire in Central Europe, 567–822. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-1-5017-2940-9.  
• Sepetçioğlu, Mustafa Necati [in Turkish] (1981). Sonsuza Uyanan Taşlar (in Turkish). İrfan Yayıncılık. ISBN 9753710151.
• Pınarbaşı, Simge Özer (2004). Çağlar boyu tahtın simgesel anlamları ışığında Türk tahtları (in Turkish). T.C. Ministry of Culture and Tourism. General Directorate of Libraries and Publications. ISBN 978-975-17-3139-5.
• Erverdi, Ezel (1992). Sosyo-kültürel değişme sürecinde Türk ailesi (in Turkish). T.C. Prime Minister's Family Research Institution. ISBN 978-975-19-0637-3.
• Kitapçı, Zekeriya (1988). Türk dünyası araştırmaları (in Turkish). Turkish World Research Foundation. ISBN 978-9754980158.
• Faculty of Language, History and Geography, Ankara University (1952). Dergisi (in Turkish).
• Öztürk, Nurettin (2001). Türk edebiyatında insan (in Turkish). Atatürk Kültür Merkezi Başkanlığı. ISBN 978-975-16-1437-7.

Journals edit

• Denison Ross, Edward (1930). "Early Turkish Inscriptions". Bulletin of the School of Oriental Studies. 5 (4).

Websites edit

• Hürriyet (28 November 2018). "İlbilge Hatun kimdir? Diriliş Ertuğrul karakteri İlbilge Hatun'un hayatı hakkında bilgiler". Hürriyet (in Turkish). Retrieved 18 October 2020.
• Akşam (30 May 2019). "İlbilge Hatun kimdir? Diriliş Ertuğrul'da İlbilge Hatun ve Ertuğrul Bey evlendi mi?". Akşam (in Turkish). Retrieved 18 October 2020.
• Sözcü (21 November 2018). "Tarihte İlbilge Hatun'un hayatı… İlbilge Hatun kimdir?". Sözcü (in Turkish). Retrieved 18 October 2020.
• A Haber (13 December 2018). "İlbilge Hatun kimdir? İlbilge Hatun nasıl öldü? İlbilge Hatun tarihte var mı?". A Haber (in Turkish). Retrieved 17 February 2020.
• Sözcü (6 March 2019). "İlbilge Hatun tarihte kimdir? İlbilge Hatun'un hayatı…". Sözcü (in Turkish). Retrieved 18 October 2020.