Sandilch (Σάνδιλ, Σάνδιλχος; Turkic: "boat") was a chieftain of the Utigurs in the 6th century.
[3][4] Although he initially protested against leading the Utigurs into war against a related people, the Kutrigurs, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I (527–565) convinced him to do so through diplomatic persuasion and bribery.
[5][6] The Utigurs led by Sandilch attacked the Kutrigurs, who suffered great losses.
[5][6] Sandilch's own words: "It is neither fair nor decent to exterminate our tribesmen (the Kutrigurs), who not only speak a language, identical to ours, who are our neighbours and have the same dressing and manners of life, but who are also our relatives, even though subjected to other lords".
[7] After decimating each other, the remnant of Zabergan's and Sandilch's Bulgars acquired Dacia during the reign of Emperor Maurice.