istemi

Istemi, also written Itilmi or Istemi Yabgu, is a name associated with a 6th-century Turkic ruler who features prominently in early Turkic historiography. In medieval Turkic chronicles and the Orkhon inscriptions, Istemi Yabgu is described as the brother of Bumin Qaghan and a senior ruler responsible for governing the western frontier of the Göktürk state. Alongside his brother, he is credited with consolidating the empire's western territories and extending influence into the Pontic-Caspian steppe, the Volga region, and adjacent zones. The title Yabgu denotes a high-ranking noble or viceroy within the Turkic khaganates.

The historical record places Istemi as a key figure in the early expansion of Turkic power following the establishment of the Göktürk state. His leadership helped lay the foundations for the Western Turkic Khaganate's administrative structure, military organization, and diplomacy with neighboring polities, including both sedentary realms and other nomadic groups. Details about his life, reign, and death vary across sources, and some aspects blend legend with history.

In contemporary usage, Istemi is a Turkish given name for males. It appears in Turkish literature and, less frequently, in modern media and history-related works as a personal name. The name is of Turkic origin and is sometimes rendered as Itilmi in older sources.