During the reigns of Tufa Wugu and Tufa Lilugu

After Tufa Wugu founded Southern Liang in 397 by breaking away from Later Liang, Tufa Rutan immediately began to play a major role in the military and governmental affairs of the state. In 398, Tufa Wugu sent him to assist the Later Liang rebels Yang Gui (楊軌) and Guo Nen (郭黁). In spring 399, after Tufa Wugu moved the capital from Lianchuan (廉川, in modern Haidong Prefecture, Qinghai) to Ledu (樂都, also in Haidong Prefecture) in a major realignment of his military strengths, Tufa Rutan was put in charge of the important city of Xiping (西平, in modern Xining, Qinghai), and by this time, he was referred to by the title of Duke of Guangwu, a title that Tufa Wugu himself had carried earlier. In summer 399, Tufa Wugu recalled him to Ledu to head his government, while replacing him at Xiping with Tufa Lilugu.

Later in 399, Tufa Wugu suffered a serious injury while horseriding when drunk, and, because his last words were that the state should be entrusted to someone old, was succeeded by Tufa Lilugu. Tufa Lilugu entrusted all important governmental matters to him and effectively designated him as the next prince.

In 400, when the Later Liang emperor Lü Zuan attacked Northern Liang, Tufa Rutan launched a raid at the Later Liang capital Guzang (姑臧, in modern Wuwei, Gansu), entering the city and, while not staying permanently in the city, held a feast in the city and forced 8,000 households to relocate back to Southern Liang with him.

Later in 400, when, in light of defeats by Later Qin, the Western Qin prince Qifu Qiangui surrendered to Tufa Lilugu, Tufa Lilugu sent Tufa Rutan to welcome him. It might have been at this time that Tufa Rutan gave a daughter in marriage to Qifu Qiangui's son Qifu Chipan, but it is not completely clear. What is clear is that later in the year, Qifu Qiangui took flight again and surrendered to Later Qin, and when Qifu Chipan tried to join Qifu Qiangui but was detained, it was at Tufa Rutan's suggestion that killing Qifu Chipan for wanting to join his father would appear narrow-minded that Tufa Lilugu did not execute Qifu Chipan.

It was around this time when Later Liang's general Jiang Ji (姜紀) surrendered to Southern Liang. Tufa Rutan, impressed by Jiang's talent, befriended him and spent much time with him, despite Tufa Lilugu's distrust of Jiang. Jiang, however, soon turned against Southern Liang and fled to Later Qin, offering its emperor Yao Xing strategies on conquering Later Liang and resisting Southern Liang.

Around the new year 402, the Later Liang rebel Jiao Lang (焦朗) sought aid from Southern Liang, and Tufa Lilugu sent Tufa Rutan to aid him, but when Tufa Rutan arrived, Jiao would not receive him. Tufa Rutan initially was angry and wanted to attack Jiao instead, but at the suggestion of his brother Tufa Juyan (禿髮俱延) reconciled with Jiao and jointly attacked Guzang and, while not capturing the city at the time, dealt the Later Liang general Lü Chao (呂超) a major defeat. Later that year, however, when Later Liang was attacked by Northern Liang's prince Juqu Mengxun, Tufa Rutan came to Later Liang's aid. He soon arrested Jiao and delivered him to Tufa Lilugu as well.

Later in 402, Tufa Lilugu died from illness, and he left instructions that the throne be passed to Tufa Rutan. Tufa Rutan accepted, and moved the capital from Xiping (where Tufa Lilugu had moved it) back to Ledu.

Early reign

Tufa Rutan did not relent in his military pressure against Later Liang, and his attacks against Later Liang continued to have a destabilizing effect on Later Liang. He nominally agreed to be a Later Qin vassal, and was created the Duke of Guangwu, although he continued to internally use the title Prince of Hexi, which Tufa Lilugu used.

In summer 402, Qifu Chipan escaped and joined his father Qifu Gangui. Tufa Rutan delivered Qifu Chipan's wife (possibly Tufa Rutan's daughter) and children to him.

In 403, in light of pressure from Tufa Rutan and Juqu Mengxun, Lü Long decided to end his state, surrendering Guzang to Later Qin. Tufa Rutan, apprehensive of Later Qin's power, withdrew his troops to allow Later Qin forces through to Guzang to receive Lü Long and the city. In 404, he further ended his nominal independence (but not actual independence) by ending the use of his own era name and instead using Later Qin's to show allegiance to Later Qin. He stopped using his own princely title, and used only the Later Qin-created title of Duke of Guangwu. He also made a request to Yao Xing that he be allowed to have Guzang, but Yao Xing refused.

Middle reign

While Southern Liang and Northern Liang had both become Later Qin vassals, they started sporadic but incessant warring with each other after their joint enemy, Later Liang, ceased existence. In 406, Tufa Rutan attacked Northern Liang but after Juqu Mengxun refused to engage him, withdrew, and he made a tribute of 3,000 horses and 30,000 cattle to Yao Xing, greatly touching Yao Xing and making him believing in Tufa Rutan's loyalty, and so he commissioned Tufa Rutan with governorship of Liang Province (涼州, at that time only Guzang and its surroundings), giving him Guzang. Later that year, Tufa Rutan moved his capital from Ledu to Guzang. He also entered into an alliance with Western Liáng's duke Li Gao, aimed against Northern Liang.

While Tufa Rutan was nominally a Later Qin vassal, he did not actually wish to serve Yao Xing long, and in 407 he proposed to Qifu Chipan (who had then temporarily taken over his father Qifu Gangui's troops, since Qifu Gangui was detained at the Later Qin capital Chang'an) an alliance, but Qifu Chipan executed his messengers and delivered their heads to Yao Xing. Still, at this time, Southern Liang's power was at its apex.

At this time, though, a major defeat would cause Southern Liang's strength to begin to wane. In winter 407, the Later Qin rebel Liu Bobo, who had earlier that year broken from Later Qin and established Xia, requested to marry Tufa Rutan's daughter. Tufa Rutan refused, and in anger Liu Bobo launched a punitive raid against Southern Liang but then retreated. Tufa Rutan gave chase and, believing that he greatly outpowered Liu Bobo, was careless in his military actions. Liu Bobo led him into a canyon and then blocked the exit with ice and wagons, and then ambushed him—and the defeat was such that it was said that 60% to 70% of Southern Liang's famed officials and generals died in the battle. Tufa Rutan barely escaped capture. In fear, Tufa Rutan ordered that all of the people within 150 kilometers of Guzang be moved into the capital, which immediately led to mass panic and a rebellion by the Chuge chief Cheng Qi'er (成七兒). While Cheng's rebellion was defeated, Tufa Rutan's ___domain had been greatly wounded.

In light of Tufa Rutan's defeat, Yao Xing plotted his destruction, despite the advice of Wei Zong (韋宗), an official of his who had personal knowledge of Tufa Rutan's ability, against such action. In 408, he commissioned his son Yao Bi (姚弼) the Duke of Guangping to lead a large force with generals Lian Cheng (斂成) and Qifu Gangui to make a surprise attack on Southern Liang—tricking Tufa Rutan into initially not resisting by informing him that the army was intended to be part of a pincer movement against Xia. Only when the Later Qin forces reached Guzang's vicinity did Tufa Rutan realize what the purpose of the campaign was, and he defended the city against Yao Bi. When a rebellion inside the city itself, led by Wang Zhong (王鍾), threatened to cause the city to fall, Tufa Rutan buried some 5,000 people alive, and he then defeated Yao Bi. When Yao Xing sent Yao Xian (姚顯) the Duke of Changshan to aid Yao Bi, Tufa Rutan defeated him as well, and Yao Xian, in fear, blamed Lian for the entire campaign and apologized to Tufa Rutan, and then withdrew with Yao Bi. Tufa Rutan also sent a messenger to Chang'an to request forgiveness.

In winter 408, Tufa Rutan again declared independence, and claimed the title of Prince of Liang, in light of Later Qin's defeats at his own hands and at the hands of Liu Bobo. He created his wife Lady Zhejue princess, and his son Tufa Hutai (禿髮虎台) crown prince.

Late reign

The redeclaration of independence might have been intended to show strength, but by this point Southern Liang was in definite trouble, being in constant draining warfare with Northern Liang and (after Qifu Gangui also redeclared independence from Later Qin in 409) Qifu Gangui's Western Qin, and historians generally view Tufa Rutan as responsible for the continued deterioration of Southern Liang's strength by continuing to initiate wars as well despite the obvious fatigue his state was suffering.

In 410, one of Tufa Rutan's campaigns would hurt him greatly. He attacked Northern Liang and forced 1,000 households to move to his state. In retaliation, Juqu Mengxun pillaged a larger number of households from his state, and when Tufa Rutan's brother Tufa Juyan responded, Juqu Mengxun defeated him. When Tufa Rutan himself followed with a larger force, Juqu Mengxun defeated him as well, and then advanced on Guzang and put it under siege. The residents of Guzang, remembering the massacre that Tufa Rutan carried out during Wang Zhong's rebellion, panicked, and a large number surrendered to Juqu Mengxun. With his general Zhequ Qizhen (折屈奇鎮) also rebelling to the south, Tufa Rutan became apprehensive, and moved the capital from Guzang back to Ledu. The general Jiao Lang quickly rebelled and held Guzang, although Juqu Mengxun conquered it in 411, and then advanced on Ledu, sieging it for more than a month before Tufa Rutan submitted by sending his son Tufa Anzhou (禿髮安周) to Juqu Mengxun as a hostage.

However, Tufa Rutan soon again planned revenge, and later that year he launched another attack on Northern Liang, which was initially successful, but his army withdrew at an overly leisurely pace, and when the weather turned against him, Juqu Mengxun caught him and defeated him, again sieging Ledu, forcing him to then send his son Tufa Rangan (禿髮染干) as a hostage so that Juqu Mengxun would withdraw.

In 413, Tufa Rutan launched yet another campaign against Northern Liang, and was again defeated. Juqu Mengxun again put Ledu under siege but could not capture it. However, Tufa Rutan's general Tufa Wenzhi (禿髮文支) then rebelled, encouraging Juqu Mengxun to launch a new attack. Tufa Rutan was forced to send his brother Tufa Juyan to Northern Liang as a hostage.

In 414, the Tuoqihan (唾契汗) and Yifu (乙弗) tribes rebelled, and despite the state of desperation Southern Liang was in, Tufa Rutan, leaving his crown prince Tufa Hutai in command at Ledu, launched an attack against Yifu—which was quite successful. However, Qifu Chipan, who had by this point succeeded Qifu Gangui as Western Qin's prince, launched an attack on Ledu, sieging it. Tufa Hutai panicked, and forced the Han in the city into the inner citadel because he distrusted them, greatly weakening his own defense force, and Ledu fell. Tufa Hutai was captured.

Tufa Rutan's nephew Tufa Fani (禿髮樊尼, Tufa Wugu's son) escaped and informed Tufa Rutan what had happened. Tufa Rutan informed his troops that his plans were then to attack the Tuoqihan tribe, and then use the proceeds from the pillaging to ransom the people of Ledu from Western Qin. However, the troops, upon hearing the news, collapsed and deserted him. Tufa Rutan was forced to surrender to Western Qin as well.

After end of Southern Liang

Qifu Chipan initially treated Tufa Rutan as an honored guest. He created Tufa Rutan the Duke of Zuonan and Tufa Rutan's daughter (whom he might have married far earlier, but could have also married at this time) his princess. However, in 415, he secretly had Tufa Rutan poisoned. After he was poisoned, Tufa Rutan realized what was happening, and refused all treatment. He died soon thereafter. In 423, Tufa Hutai and Princess Tufa, who plotted to try to avenge him, were discovered and executed by Qifu Chipan as well.

Personal information

• Father

　• Tufa Sifujian (禿髮思復犍), Xianbei tribal chief

• Wife

　• Princess Zhejue (created 408)

• Children

　• Tufa Hutai (禿髮虎台), the Crown Prince (killed by Qifu Chipan 423)

　• Tufa Mingdegui (禿髮明德歸)

　• Tufa Anzhou (禿髮安周)

　• Tufa Rangan (禿髮染干)

　• Tufa Baozhou (禿髮保周)

　• Tufa He (禿髮賀), later changed name to Yuan He (源賀)

　• A daughter, later Princess Tufa of Western Qin (killed by Qifu Chipan 423)

　• A daughter, later Qifu Chipan's Left Consort

生平

禿髮傉檀機警有才略。太初三年（399年），自稱武威王的禿髮烏孤移都樂都（今青海樂都），以傉檀為車騎大將軍、廣武公，鎮守西平（治今青海西寧），不久又改讓禿髮利鹿孤鎮守西平，召還傉檀錄府國事。同年去世，傳位予利鹿孤。

掌軍國事

建和元年（400年），後涼王呂纂進攻南涼，利鹿孤以傉檀抵抗，傉檀在三堆（大通河以南，今甘肅永登縣境）擊敗後涼軍隊，殺二千多人。不久，呂纂又攻北涼王段業，傉檀聞訊就率一萬騎兵進襲後涼都城姑臧（今甘肅武威市）。當時呂纂弟呂緯據北城防禦，傉檀就置酒於姑臧南門朱明門，嗚鐘鼓，大宴將士並在東門青陽門展示兵力，終掠奪八千戶回去。呂纂知姑臧受襲，亦得退兵撤還。

建和二年（401年），利鹿孤稱河西王，以傉檀為都督中外諸軍事、涼州牧、錄尚書事。同年，後涼呂超攻擊據有魏安的焦朗。焦朗派了侄兒焦嵩為質向南涼求援，利鹿孤就是派傉檀率軍救援。但傉檀到後，呂超已撤退，焦朗卻閉門拒守。傉檀因而大怒，打算攻城，但為鎮北將軍俱延所諫止，於是改與焦朗連和，接著又到姑臧展示兵力，並在姑臧西的胡阬駐防。傉檀知道呂超必定會來攻，於是準備好火把。呂超隨後果然派了王集領二千精兵進攻傉檀，傉檀待王集闖進傉檀營壘中時命營壘內外將士都舉起燃著的火把，令營中十分光亮，接著就命軍隊進攻王集軍，絡終斬殺王集及殺三百多人。後涼王呂隆聞訊恐懼，於是假意與傉檀通和，並請他到苑內結盟。傉檀於是派了俱延去參加結盟，但遭呂超伏兵襲擊。傉檀因而大怒，進攻後涼昌松太守孟禕所駐的顯美（今甘肅永昌縣東南），呂隆雖派苟安國及石可救援，但二人都因表懼傉檀兵強而撤還。傉檀攻下顯美後生擒孟禕，初怪摃他不早早投降，但孟緯辯解說他只是盡了為後涼呂氏守衞疆土的職責，令傉檀改以禮待。接著傉檀遷二千多戶回國，想以孟禕為左司馬，又因孟禕表示想為國盡忠到最後，不欲失守城池反獲對方授予顯職而將其送還後涼。建和三年（402年），北涼沮渠蒙遜進攻後涼，後掠因而向利鹿孤求援，利鹿孤就派傉檀領兵一萬救援。傉檀到昌松時知沮渠蒙遜已退兵，就是遷涼澤、段塚五百多戶人回國。不久又受命進攻魏安的焦朗，逼令其出降。

繼位為王

傉檀父親禿髮思復鞬在傉檀年輕時就已喜愛他，更向其諸子說：「傉檀明識榦藝，非汝等輩也。」因此其兄禿髮烏孤以立長君為由命弟禿髮利鹿孤繼位，利鹿孤就在建和三年（402年）病逝前遺命傉檀繼位，兩兄皆傳弟不傳子，最終將君主之位傳傉檀。而其實利鹿孤在位時，軍國大事都交了給傉檀處理。傉檀繼位後，自稱涼王，改元弘昌，並把都城遷回樂都，並在次年正月大肆修築樂都城。後秦王姚興遣使拜傉檀為車騎將軍、廣武公。

暫事後秦

傉檀繼位當年十月就率軍進攻後涼，至次年（403年），呂隆因不堪沮渠蒙遜及傉檀的接連進攻，認為再難固守姑臧，決定投歸後秦，向後秦請兵迎接。後秦王姚興於是派了齊難等領兵迎接，並吞併後涼領地，設置守宰。傉檀則攝昌松及魏安二戍作迴避。於傉檀進攻後涼時，其弟禿髮文真曾魏安攻擊後秦派往為後涼協防姑臧的王松怱軍，並俘擄王松怱。傉檀得知後大怒，送王松怱回長安並懇切地向後秦道歉。及至弘昌三年（404年）二月，傉檀更因畏懼後秦強大，自去年號，罷去尚書各官，並派參軍關尚出使後秦。姚興當時曾經以傉檀擅興戰事及大築城池而向關尚表示傉檀無為臣之道；關尚則答禿髮傉檀有羌人及沮渠蒙遜等強敵在附近，這些舉動都是為了守著後秦的門戶，希望姚興不要疑忌。姚興也對這答覆甚為滿意。後傉檀派禿髮文支大破南羌、西虜，接著就上表求姚興讓他領涼州，但被拒絕。後獲加官散騎常侍及增食邑二千戶，更於後秦弘始八年（406年）率兵進攻沮渠蒙遜。沮渠蒙遜當時嬰城固守，傉檀則割了其莊稼，攻至赤泉退兵。接著，傉檀又向後秦進獻三千匹馬及三萬頭羊。姚興至此認為傉檀是忠心的，於是以傉檀為使持節、都督河右諸軍事、車騎大將軍、領護匈奴中郎將、涼州刺史，鎮守姑臧，並召還涼州刺史王尚。傉檀終於得到涼州治權，但其時涼州人申屠英等派了主簿胡威力勸姚興不要召還王尚，放棄河西土地，終令姚興後悔，命車普阻止王尚離開，又派使者告知傉檀。傉檀率其三萬兵到姑臧南的五澗時遇上車普並得知情況，於是立即逼走王尚，還是得以成功入主涼州。原涼州別駕宗敞送王尚回去，傉檀一直都很欣賞他，而臨行前宗敞進薦了多位文武人材，亦得傉檀接納。同年八月，傉檀命禿髮文支留守姑臧，自回都城樂鄉，至十一月正式遷都至姑臧。而傉檀當時雖然是受後秦任命的官員，但車駕、服飾及禮儀都是國王格式。

及後，傉檀進襲西平、湟河各個羌人部落，並遷他們到武興、番禾、武威及昌松四郡。後又於弘始九年（407年）徵集士兵五萬多人，在方亭閱兵後就進攻沮渠蒙遜。沮渠蒙遜率兵迎擊，兩軍在均石（今甘肅張掖市東）交戰，傉檀戰敗。接著傉檀率二萬騎兵運四萬石穀到西郡，但蒙遜就進攻西郡治所日勒（今甘肅山丹縣東南），西郡太守楊統投降。

同年，夏國君主赫連勃勃因向傉檀求結姻親不遂，自率二萬兵進攻傉檀，進軍至支陽（今甘肅會寧縣）時已殺傷一萬多人，並掠二萬七千多人及數十萬頭牲畜回去。傉檀當時親自率兵追擊，焦朗認為赫連勃勃不可輕視，建議經媼圍水北渡黃河，奪萬斛堆（今寧夏中衛市與甘肅靖遠縣交界），並阻水結營，扼其咽喉；不過將領賀連卻以為赫連勃勃只是烏合之眾，根本不需迴避其軍，應該快點追擊。傉檀聽從賀連所言但在陽武（今甘肅靖遠縣）遭赫連勃勃擊敗，更被追擊了八十多里，死傷數以萬計，損失了南涼六至七成的名臣勇將。傉檀自己就帶著數個騎兵逃至枝陽以南的南山，差點還被追兵抓住。此戰大敗後，傉檀恐懼外離侵逼，於是逼遷方圓三百里以內所有平民到姑臧城內，此舉令人民既驚且怨。故此屠各成七兒就乘著百姓混亂而起兵叛變，一夜之間部眾增至數千人。其時殿中都尉張猛勸說眾人，請其懸崖勒馬，竟成功令眾人散去，成七兒逃亡時間被殺。另一方面，軍諮祭酒梁裒及輔國司馬邊憲等共七人亦謀反，被傉檀誅殺。

再稱涼王

弘始十年（408年），姚興見傉檀剛剛大敗給赫連勃勃，又接連發生內亂，想乘機內憂外患的時機消滅他，於是就派了姚弼、斂成領兵三萬進攻傉檀。其時姚興也派了齊難進攻赫連勃勃，姚興因而寫信給傉檀，聲稱姚弼等軍只是用來截擊可能西逃的赫連勃勃。傉檀信以為真，沒有對姚弼軍設防。姚弼於是一直率大軍進攻，俘殺了昌松太守蘇霸並進攻至姑臧，屯兵西苑，傉檀只能嬰城固守。當時涼州人王鍾、宋鍾及王娥等人偷偷去為後秦做內應，但東窗事發，傉檀原本只想殺主事的幾個人，但終也接納伊力延侯的建議，將涉及事件的共五千人全部殺害，並將他們的妻女賞給將士。傉檀又下令郡縣都將牛羊放出城外，引誘了斂成出兵搶掠，傉檀將俱延及敬歸於是趁機進攻，大敗秦軍，殺了七千多人。姚弼此時只得堅守營壘，傉檀主動進攻，但未能攻下。七月，領二萬騎兵作為後援的姚顯還在高平（今甘肅固原），知姚弼進攻失敗，於是加速趕到姑臧。姚顯派了孟欽等五個神射手在涼風門挑戰，但箭還未射就被傉檀的材官將軍宋益擊殺。姚顯見無法取勝，唯有將罪責推給斂成，派使者向傉檀道歉，並在安撫河西人民引兵退還。傉檀亦派使者徐宿到後秦謝罪。可是，同年十一月，傉檀就再度稱涼王，並設年號「嘉平」，又設百官。

屢戰蒙遜

及後，傉檀與沮渠蒙遜互相攻伐，至嘉平三年（410年），傉檀又自率五萬騎進攻沮渠蒙遜，但在窮泉大敗，只得隻身騎馬逃歸姑臧；蒙遜更乘勝進攻姑臧。當時姑臧人仍想起兩年前傉檀大殺王鍾等五千人的事，都十分恐懼，於是漢、胡共一萬多戶人都向蒙遜投降。傉檀恐懼之下派了敬歸及敬佗父子作為人質，向蒙遜請和。蒙遜走時雖然敬歸逃回姑臧，但仍強遷八千多戶人。另一方面，右衞將軍折掘奇鎮據石驢山（今青海西寧北川西北）叛變。傉檀害怕沮渠蒙遜進逼，又怕南部領地被折掘奇鎮佔領，於是遷都回樂都，讓成公緖留守姑臧。可是傉檀甫出城，侯諶等人就閉門作亂，推了焦朗為主，向沮渠蒙遜投降。及後沮渠蒙遜於411年攻克姑臧。

沮渠蒙遜乘著取姑臧威勢，於是進攻傉檀，傉檀派將段苟及雲連出兵番禾襲其後方，遷了三千多戶到西平，但蒙遜依然進圍樂都。傉檀堅守三十日仍未失守，蒙遜就是派使者誘傉檀以寵愛的兒子作人質換取自己退兵，但遭傉檀拒絕。蒙遜憤怒之下決定建屋並進行耕作，預備持久圍困樂都。群臣於是請傉檀考慮蒙遜的條件，最終傉檀被逼以兒子禿髮安周為人質，蒙遜亦退兵。不久，傉檀不聽孟愷諫言進攻沮渠蒙遜，五路俱進，掠番禾、苕藋兩地共五千多戶人回國。當時將軍屈右顧慮蒙遜輕兵來襲，建議傉檀加快行軍，早早回到險要能守之地。不過傉檀聽伊力延所言，認為沮渠蒙遜的步兵趕不上傉檀的騎兵，且快速行軍會丟損戰利品，並非良策。可是一夜就遇上迷霧和風雨，沮渠蒙遜大軍趕到，又打得傉檀大敗。蒙遜再次圍攻樂都，傉檀唯有再以兒子禿髮染幹為人質求和。

嘉平六年（413年），傉檀再攻蒙遜，在若厚塢兵敗，蒙遜於是又再圍攻樂都，攻了二十日未能攻克就退兵。但時為鎮南將軍、湟河太守的兒子禿髮文支卻向蒙遜投降。不久蒙遜再攻，傉檀只得以太尉俱延為質請和。

遠征失國

嘉平七年（414年），乙弗部落叛變，傉檀堅持進攻乙弗，當時孟愷以當時南涼國內連年糧食失收，而且南有乞伏熾磐，北有沮渠蒙遜這些大敵，都令百姓不安，認為這次遠征即使克捷，但也是後患無窮，建議與乞伏熾磐結盟，請其資給糧食以解厄困，並積聚實力，待合適時機才出兵。但傉檀並不聽信。於是傉檀親領七千騎大破乙弗部，奪得牛馬羊共四十多萬頭。不過，臨行前傉檀曾囑咐留守的太子禿髮虎台要小心的乞伏熾磐果然來攻，虎台試圖據守城池但遭熾磐四面攻擊，十日就已告失陷。

傉檀得知樂都陷落後，對部眾說希望借著從乙弗部奪取的物資攻取契汗部，並贖回眾人被乞伏熾磐俘擄的妻兒，否則投降乞伏熾磐就只成奴僕。接著傉檀就率眾西進，但很多部眾知樂都陷落都逃走了，連傉檀派去追回逃兵的段苟也逃了，於是傉檀部眾幾乎全部潰散。傉檀至此，唯有向乞伏熾磐投降。傉檀到西平時，乞伏熾磐遣使出城迎接，並以上賓之禮接待，又拜其為驃騎大將軍，封左南公，南涼亡。

一年多後，乞伏熾磐毒死傉檀，當時身邊的人都給傉檀找解藥，但傉檀卻說：「我的病哪該醫治呀！」於是中毒去世，享年五十一歲。其死後獲諡為景王。

家庭

妻子

• 折掘王后

子女

• 太子禿髮虎台，王后所生，423年被乞伏熾磐所殺

• 禿髮明德歸

• 禿髮安周

• 禿髮染幹

• 禿髮破羌

• 禿髮保周，後歸北魏

• 西秦禿髮王后，423年被乞伏熾磐所殺

• 禿髮左夫人

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