Delbeg Khan
Encyclopedia
Delbeg was the Mongol Khan
of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia
. The Oirats
finally installed the young Delbeg in 1412 as their puppet Mongol Khan, but this was not recognized by most of Mongol clans in the central and eastern Mongol territories.
According to Saghan Secen, Delbeg was a son of Öljei Temür Khan Buyanshir who had instructed the Oirat
leader Bahamu to made Delbeg the new Khan. Delbeg became Khagan
in 1412. Whatever of his origin, Delbeg was a direct descendant of Ariq Böke
, and this blood lineage able to rally some support from Mongol populace in west. However, his authority only prevailed in less than a third of Mongol territory, the western parts, while the eastern and central parts were under the control of Arughtai
, and the two sides fought continuously for more than two decades. The Oirats forced Arughtai to seek refuge in the lands near China in 1414.
In 1415, the western Mongols led by Bahamu, Delbeg and Bolad were defeated by the Ming
army which penetrated as far as Tuul River
. However, it was a pyrrhic victory
and the number of killed was about the same on both sides. The Ming Emperor was persuaded to return by his followers while the Mongols retired northwards.
Although Adai Khan
did not proclaim the throne of Great Khan until 1425, he was able to first unify the eastern part and then the central part of the Mongol territory while denouncing the legitimacy of Delbeg Khan, and carried on campaigns against Delbeg, eventually succeeding in defeating and killing Delbeg Khan in 1415, along with many of his Oirats
supporters. Delbeg Khan was succeeded by another direct descendant of Ariq Böke
, Oyiradai Khan
, chosen by the Oirats
to boost the legitimacy of their rule.
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
. The Oirats
Oirats
Oirats are the westernmost group of the Mongols who unified several tribes origin whose ancestral home is in the Altai region of western Mongolia. Although the Oirats originated in the eastern parts of Central Asia, the most prominent group today is located in the Republic of Kalmykia, a federal...
finally installed the young Delbeg in 1412 as their puppet Mongol Khan, but this was not recognized by most of Mongol clans in the central and eastern Mongol territories.
According to Saghan Secen, Delbeg was a son of Öljei Temür Khan Buyanshir who had instructed the Oirat
Oirats
Oirats are the westernmost group of the Mongols who unified several tribes origin whose ancestral home is in the Altai region of western Mongolia. Although the Oirats originated in the eastern parts of Central Asia, the most prominent group today is located in the Republic of Kalmykia, a federal...
leader Bahamu to made Delbeg the new Khan. Delbeg became Khagan
Khagan
Khagan or qagan , alternatively spelled kagan, khaghan, qaghan, or chagan, is a title of imperial rank in the Mongolian and Turkic languages equal to the status of emperor and someone who rules a khaganate...
in 1412. Whatever of his origin, Delbeg was a direct descendant of Ariq Böke
Ariq Boke
Ariq Böke , the components of his name also spelled Arigh, Arik, Bukha, Buka , was the youngest son of Tolui , a son of Genghis Khan. After the death of his brother the Great Khan Mongke, Ariq Boke briefly took power while his brothers Kublai and Hulagu were absent...
, and this blood lineage able to rally some support from Mongol populace in west. However, his authority only prevailed in less than a third of Mongol territory, the western parts, while the eastern and central parts were under the control of Arughtai
Arughtai
Arughtai, also known as Alutai , was a chingsang of the Mongol Dynasty, who fought against the Yongle Emperor of Ming Dynasty China and the Four Oirats....
, and the two sides fought continuously for more than two decades. The Oirats forced Arughtai to seek refuge in the lands near China in 1414.
In 1415, the western Mongols led by Bahamu, Delbeg and Bolad were defeated by the Ming
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
army which penetrated as far as Tuul River
Tuul River
Tuul River is a river in central and northern Mongolia considered sacred by the Mongols. It is 704 km long and drains an area 49,840 square km. The river is called the "Duluo river" in the Suishu, a Chinese historical work completed in 636 AD...
. However, it was a pyrrhic victory
Pyrrhic victory
A Pyrrhic victory is a victory with such a devastating cost to the victor that it carries the implication that another such victory will ultimately cause defeat.-Origin:...
and the number of killed was about the same on both sides. The Ming Emperor was persuaded to return by his followers while the Mongols retired northwards.
Although Adai Khan
Adai Khan
Adai was the Mongol Khan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia. After the prominent eastern Mongolian chancellor, Arughtai, threw his allegiance to him, he briefly reunited most of the Mongols under his banner.- Lineage and early life :...
did not proclaim the throne of Great Khan until 1425, he was able to first unify the eastern part and then the central part of the Mongol territory while denouncing the legitimacy of Delbeg Khan, and carried on campaigns against Delbeg, eventually succeeding in defeating and killing Delbeg Khan in 1415, along with many of his Oirats
Oirats
Oirats are the westernmost group of the Mongols who unified several tribes origin whose ancestral home is in the Altai region of western Mongolia. Although the Oirats originated in the eastern parts of Central Asia, the most prominent group today is located in the Republic of Kalmykia, a federal...
supporters. Delbeg Khan was succeeded by another direct descendant of Ariq Böke
Ariq Boke
Ariq Böke , the components of his name also spelled Arigh, Arik, Bukha, Buka , was the youngest son of Tolui , a son of Genghis Khan. After the death of his brother the Great Khan Mongke, Ariq Boke briefly took power while his brothers Kublai and Hulagu were absent...
, Oyiradai Khan
Oyiradai Khan
Oyiradai was the Mongol Khan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia. Oyiradai ascent to the throne of khagan in 1415 with the help of the Oirats after Delbeg Khan was killed by eastern Mongols led by Adai Khan or perished in a battle with the Ming Dynasty in the same year, to legitimize...
, chosen by the Oirats
Oirats
Oirats are the westernmost group of the Mongols who unified several tribes origin whose ancestral home is in the Altai region of western Mongolia. Although the Oirats originated in the eastern parts of Central Asia, the most prominent group today is located in the Republic of Kalmykia, a federal...
to boost the legitimacy of their rule.