The royal Aje clan, which Bars Bek was a member of, claimed descent from the Han dynasty general Li Ling.

[5][6][7] During his reign, he was believed to be hostile to the Göktürks until he married with one of the daughters of Ilterish Qaghan and was appointed as a lesser khagan ruling over Az and Kyrgyz tribes.

[1][2][8] In the late 7th century, according to Takeshi Osawa, Bars Bek mediated talks between Suoge and the Emperor Zhongzong of Tang.

[9] According to Klyashtorny, he sent an ambassador named Eren Ulug to the Tibetan Empire in an attempt to form an alliance but was unsuccessful.

[10] According to Sergei Klyashtorny, Bars Bek's anointed name was Inanch Alp Bilge and was mentioned as such in Yenisei inscriptions.