Career under Sui dynasty

Shi Dinai submitted to Chinese rule as early as reign of Emperor Yang of Sui in 611. He and his followers were granted Loufan County in the northern province of Shanxi. He took part in the Goguryeo–Sui War from 612 to 614.

Career under Gaozu of Tang

He later joined Emperor Gaozu of Tang in his campaign against the Sui dynasty's region of Guanzhong in 617. His 500-strong Turkic cavalry was instrumental in defeating Sui general Sang Xianhe (桑显和) during the Battle of Yinma Spring from an attack on his rear, for which he was rewarded with the honorific title Grand Master for Splendid Happiness (c=光祿大夫|s=|t=|p=Guānglù Dàfū). He was bestowed a Chinese surname Shi (史) after Li Yuan entered Chang'an same year. Following the establishment of the Tang dynasty, he participated in battles against Xue Ju, Wang Shichong, Dou Jiande and Liu Heita under the command of Emperor Taizong.

Later life

He retired in the early reign of Emperor Taizong and was appointed Right Wuwei General of the Tang army. He was also granted governorship of Fengzhou and named Duke Dou (竇国公) by Taizong with 300 people assigned to his household. He died in 638 and was buried in the Zhao Mausoleum.

Family

He had two sons. Shi Renbiao (史仁表) married Princess Pu'an (普安公主), the eighth daughter of Taizong of Tang. The other was Shi Renji (史仁基).

In literature and media

• Text on his death stele was found in Dunhuang Manuscript S.2078, part of a student writing practice sample.

• Shi Danai is a character in Tale of Tang (说唐), a Qing era novel.

• He was portrayed by Jiang Diwu in the Chinese TV series Heroes in Sui and Tang Dynasties (2013).

• He was portrayed by Zhao Qiusheng in the Chinese TV series Heroes of Sui and Tang Dynasties (2012).

生平

隋大業七年（611年），隨泥撅處羅可汗入隋朝，仕于隋煬帝。次年，從軍遠征高句麗因功受金紫光祿大夫之位，分領樓煩郡部衆。617年，李淵太原起兵，史大奈率部衆歸屬李淵麾下。隋將桑顯和在飲馬泉與唐軍交戰，唐諸軍退卻，史大奈與柴紹聯兵率騎兵數百攻擊桑顯和背後，大破隋軍。因此功績李淵賜他光祿大夫之位。跟從李淵平定長安，受賞賜帛五千匹，賜史姓。唐朝建立後，史大奈在秦王李世民麾下與薛舉、王世充、竇建德、劉黑闥作戰，屢建戰功。貞觀三年（629年），累進右武衛大將軍、檢校豐州都督、封竇國公，受食封三百戶。貞觀十三年（638年），卒，贈位輔國大將軍。

子嗣

• 子：史仁表

文學作品中的史大奈

清代小說《說唐》中史大奈是燕山王羅藝部下，因武藝高強，任右領軍。後隨羅成前往山東給秦叔寶母親拜壽，參加了山東起義。總是跟張公謹同時出現，最後參加了李世民紫主關對劉黑闥的決戰。再之後下落不明。有些版本說他是隋唐十八好漢第十五。在《說唐後傳》裡，于鳳凰山和眾多結拜老弟兄一道，被蓋蘇文的飛刀奪命。