He took the regnal name Illig Kül Shad Bagha Ishbara Khagan (Chinese: 伊利俱盧設莫何始波羅可汗; pinyin: Yīlì Jùlú Shè Mòhé Shǐbōluó Kèhàn) and started to rule from Ötüken.
He created his predecessor Anluo as Dier Khagan (Chinese: 第二可汗; pinyin: Dìèr Kèhán) and granted him the Tuul River valley (now in Mongolia).
[6] Talopien also demanded a title and as a result he was created Apa Khagan (Chinese: 阿波可汗; pinyin: Ābō Kèhán) and was granted the steppe between northern Mongolia and the Altai Mountains.
There was another lesser khagan under Ishbara called Tamgan (Chinese: 貪汗可汗; pinyin: Tānhàn Kèhán) who could be a younger brother of Talopien.
Ishbara created his younger brother Ashina Chuluohou as Töli shad (Chinese: 突利設), thus granting viceroyalty over eastern wing of the empire.
He was allied with Gao Baoning (高寶寧), the former Northern Qi general who was still holding Ying Province (營州, roughly modern Zhaoyang, Liaoning).
In response, under advice from the general Zhangsun Sheng (長孫晟), the new Emperor Wen carried out the strategy of placating Ishbara's subordinates Tardu, Apa and Bagha.
This highly unstable situation quickly became a smoldering civil war, which the Sui Chinese took advantage of in every way possible to weaken the Göktürks.
Ashina Rangan, who was approached by Zhangsun Sheng sent a false news about alleged revolt of the Tiele to Ishbara, causing him to retreat.
Settling in Ili Valley, he increased his power to the point of appointing a lesser khagan to west wing of his territories.
He appointed his younger brother Chuluohou as his successor, however he refused the throne, instead submitting to Tulan, Ishbara's eldest son.