Emperor Mingzong of Yuan China
Encyclopedia
Khutughtu Khan also known as Emperor Mingzong of Yuan (Chinese
: 元明宗, December 22, 1300 – August 30, 1329), born Kuśala (Qošila, Küsala, Küsele, Хүслэн Höslen), was a son of Khayishan who briefly ascended to the throne of the Yuan Dynasty
in 1329, but died soon after he seized the throne of Great Khan
of the Mongols
and Emperor of China
.
of the Khunggirad clan, Khayishan appointed Ayurbarwada as Crown Prince on the condition that he would pass the status to Kuśala after succession.
However, after Khayishan's death Ayurbarwada succeeded to the throne in 1311, Dagi, Temüder and other members of the Khunggirad faction installed Ayurbarwada's son Shidebala as the new ruler instead of Kuśala because his mother came from the Ikhires clan, not the Khunggirad clan.
To ensure Shidebala's succession, he was rewarded with the title of king of Chou and relegated to Yunnan
in 1316; but fled to Esen Bukha
-ruled Chagatai Khanate
in Central Asia
, as a pro-Khayisan official advised, after a failed revolt in Shaanxi
. When the Chagatayid Khan Esen bukha heard that Kuśala was living near his realm, he came to greet him. Since then, Kusala had been backed by the Chagatayid princes. While his exile in Central Asia, he married Mailaiti, a daughter of Temuder of the Qarluq
.
(Emperor Taiding) when Shidibala Khan (Emperor Yingzong) was assassinated, he remained in Central Asia. He extended his influence in his stronghold which was located to the west of Altai Mountains.
In 1328 when Yesün Temür Khan died, a civil war erupted between Shangdu-based Ragibagh
and Dadu
-based Tugh Temür
. The former was a son of Yesün Temür and backed up by the former Yesün Temür administration led by Dawlat Shah, and the latter was Kuśala's younger brother who was supported by the former Khayishan faction led by the Qipchaq commander El Temür and the Merkit
commander Bayan, a governor in Henan
. This ended in the victory of Tugh Temür since he secured support from most of the princes, aristocrats and warlords in the south of the Gobi Desert
. Tugh Temür summoned his brother to come to Dadu.
At the same time, Kuśala, with the support from Chaghadayid leaders, Eljigidey
and Duwa Temür
, entered Mongolia
from Tarbagatai
region. He also got support from princes and generals of Mongolia, and with overwhelming military power in the background, put pressure on Tugh Temür, who had already ascended to the throne. Kuśala enthroned himself on 27 February 1329 north of Karakorum
.
Tugh Temür declared abdication. In the next year, El Temür brought the imperial seal to Kuśala in Mongolia and announced Dadu's intent to welcome him. Kuśala in response made Tugh Temür his heir apparent. Kuśala had proceeded to appoint his own loyal followers to important posts in the Secretariat, the Bureau of Military Affairs, and the Censorate.
On his way to Dadu, in 26 August Kuśala, who brought with him 1,800 men, met with Tugh Temür in Ongghuchad (Onggachatu) where Tugh Temur built the city of Chung-tu. He suddenly died only 4 days after a banquet with Tugh Temür. The Yuan shi
states that the luckless Kuśala Khan died of violence. It seems that Kuśala was poisoned by El Temür since he feared being lost power to princes and officers of the Chagatai Khanate
and Mongolia, who followed Kuśala. Tugh Temür was restored to the throne on 8 September.
Khutughtu Khan married Mailaiti, a descendant of the famous Qarluq
chief, Arslan, who submitted to Genghis Khan
:
Their children included:
His another wife was Babusha
of the Naiman who gave birth to:
Standard Mandarin
Standard Chinese or Modern Standard Chinese, also known as Mandarin or Putonghua, is the official language of the People's Republic of China and Republic of China , and is one of the four official languages of Singapore....
: 元明宗, December 22, 1300 – August 30, 1329), born Kuśala (Qošila, Küsala, Küsele, Хүслэн Höslen), was a son of Khayishan who briefly ascended to the throne of the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
in 1329, but died soon after he seized the throne of Great Khan
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...
of the Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
and Emperor of China
Emperor of China
The Emperor of China refers to any sovereign of Imperial China reigning between the founding of Qin Dynasty of China, united by the King of Qin in 221 BCE, and the fall of Yuan Shikai's Empire of China in 1916. When referred to as the Son of Heaven , a title that predates the Qin unification, the...
.
Early life and exile
He was the eldest son of Khayishan (Külüg Khan or Emperor Wuzong) and a Mongol-Ikhires woman. Since the Khayishan administration was founded on the unstable balance between Khayishan, his younger brother Ayurbarwada and their mother DagiDagi
Dagi was an Ancient Egyptian vizier of the Eleventh Dynasty. He was in office under Mentuhotep II in the Eleventh Dynasty, around 2000 BC. The vizier was the most important official at Egyptian royal court....
of the Khunggirad clan, Khayishan appointed Ayurbarwada as Crown Prince on the condition that he would pass the status to Kuśala after succession.
However, after Khayishan's death Ayurbarwada succeeded to the throne in 1311, Dagi, Temüder and other members of the Khunggirad faction installed Ayurbarwada's son Shidebala as the new ruler instead of Kuśala because his mother came from the Ikhires clan, not the Khunggirad clan.
To ensure Shidebala's succession, he was rewarded with the title of king of Chou and relegated to Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
in 1316; but fled to Esen Bukha
Esen Buqa I
Esen Buqa I was Khan of the Chagatai Khanate . He was the son of Duwa.In 1309 Esen Buqa's brother Kebek ordered a meeting to determine the future of the khanate following his seizure of power...
-ruled Chagatai Khanate
Chagatai Khanate
The Chagatai Khanate was a Turko-Mongol khanate that comprised the lands ruled by Chagatai Khan , second son of the Great Khan Genghis Khan, and his descendents and successors...
in Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
, as a pro-Khayisan official advised, after a failed revolt in Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
. When the Chagatayid Khan Esen bukha heard that Kuśala was living near his realm, he came to greet him. Since then, Kusala had been backed by the Chagatayid princes. While his exile in Central Asia, he married Mailaiti, a daughter of Temuder of the Qarluq
Qarluq
The Karluks were a prominent nomadic Turkic tribe residing in the regions of Kara-Irtysh and the Tarbagatai Mountains west of the Altay Mountains...
.
Brief accession and sudden death
Although the rival faction was purged by Yesün Temür KhanYesün Temür Khan
Yesün Temür was a great-grandson of Kublai Khan to rule as Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty from 1323 to 1328. He is regarded as the 10th Khagan of the Mongols in Mongolia...
(Emperor Taiding) when Shidibala Khan (Emperor Yingzong) was assassinated, he remained in Central Asia. He extended his influence in his stronghold which was located to the west of Altai Mountains.
In 1328 when Yesün Temür Khan died, a civil war erupted between Shangdu-based Ragibagh
Ragibagh Khan
Ragibagh , also known as Emperor Tianshun of Yuan , was a son of Yesün Temür who was briefly installed to the throne of the Yuan Dynasty in Shangdu in 1328...
and Dadu
Khanbaliq
Khanbaliq or Dadu refers to a city which is now Beijing, the current capital of the People's Republic of China...
-based Tugh Temür
Jayaatu Khan
Jayaatu Khan , born Tugh Temür, also known as Emperor Wenzong of Yuan , was an Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, and is regarded as the 12th Great Khan of the Mongols in Mongolia.He first ruled from October 16, 1328 to April 3, 1329,second ruled from September 8, 1329 to September 2,...
. The former was a son of Yesün Temür and backed up by the former Yesün Temür administration led by Dawlat Shah, and the latter was Kuśala's younger brother who was supported by the former Khayishan faction led by the Qipchaq commander El Temür and the Merkit
Merkit
The Mergid was one of the five major tribal confederations in Mongolian plateau in the 12th century.The Mergids inhabited in basins of the Selenge River and lower Orkhon River...
commander Bayan, a governor in Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
. This ended in the victory of Tugh Temür since he secured support from most of the princes, aristocrats and warlords in the south of the Gobi Desert
Gobi Desert
The Gobi is a large desert region in Asia. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China, and of southern Mongolia. The desert basins of the Gobi are bounded by the Altai Mountains and the grasslands and steppes of Mongolia on the north, by the Hexi Corridor and Tibetan Plateau to the...
. Tugh Temür summoned his brother to come to Dadu.
At the same time, Kuśala, with the support from Chaghadayid leaders, Eljigidey
Eljigidey
Eljigidey was khan of the Chagatai Khanate, a division of the Mongol Empire in 1326-1329. He was the son of Duwa. After the death of his brother Kebek, Eljigidey took control of the Chagatai Khanate. He was involved in the succession struggles of Yuan court from 1327 to 1328. His friend Kusala was...
and Duwa Temür
Duwa Temür
Duwa Temür or Tore Temur was khan of the Chagatai Khanate for a period in 1329/1330. He was the son of Duwa.He surrendered to the Yuan army in 1313 when Esen Buqa I revolted against Ayurbarwada Khagan whom he had paid tributes before. Duwa Temür became khan by overthrowing his brother Eljigidey...
, entered 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...
from Tarbagatai
Tarbagatai
Tarbagatai or Tarbagatay may refer to:Mountain ranges:*The Tarbagatai Mountains between Xinjiang, China and Kazakhstan*In Mongolia, a part of the Khangai range along the border of Zavkhan, Arkhangai, and Khövsgöl Province aimags is called Tarvagatai...
region. He also got support from princes and generals of Mongolia, and with overwhelming military power in the background, put pressure on Tugh Temür, who had already ascended to the throne. Kuśala enthroned himself on 27 February 1329 north of Karakorum
Karakorum
Karakorum was the capital of the Mongol Empire in the 13th century, and of the Northern Yuan in the 14-15th century. Its ruins lie in the northwestern corner of the Övörkhangai Province of Mongolia, near today's town of Kharkhorin, and adjacent to the Erdene Zuu monastery...
.
Tugh Temür declared abdication. In the next year, El Temür brought the imperial seal to Kuśala in Mongolia and announced Dadu's intent to welcome him. Kuśala in response made Tugh Temür his heir apparent. Kuśala had proceeded to appoint his own loyal followers to important posts in the Secretariat, the Bureau of Military Affairs, and the Censorate.
On his way to Dadu, in 26 August Kuśala, who brought with him 1,800 men, met with Tugh Temür in Ongghuchad (Onggachatu) where Tugh Temur built the city of Chung-tu. He suddenly died only 4 days after a banquet with Tugh Temür. The Yuan shi
History of Yuan
The History of Yuan is one of the official Chinese historical works known as the Twenty-Four Histories of China. The historical work consists of 210 chapters chronicling the history of the Genghisid Yuan Dynasty from the time of Genghis Khan to the flight of the last Yuan Emperor Huizong from...
states that the luckless Kuśala Khan died of violence. It seems that Kuśala was poisoned by El Temür since he feared being lost power to princes and officers of the Chagatai Khanate
Chagatai Khanate
The Chagatai Khanate was a Turko-Mongol khanate that comprised the lands ruled by Chagatai Khan , second son of the Great Khan Genghis Khan, and his descendents and successors...
and Mongolia, who followed Kuśala. Tugh Temür was restored to the throne on 8 September.
Family and children
Khutughtu Khan had two wives. They gave birth to two future Mongol emperors, including Toghan Temur, the last Yuan emperor in China.Khutughtu Khan married Mailaiti, a descendant of the famous Qarluq
Qarluq
The Karluks were a prominent nomadic Turkic tribe residing in the regions of Kara-Irtysh and the Tarbagatai Mountains west of the Altay Mountains...
chief, Arslan, who submitted to Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
:
Their children included:
- Toghan Temur
His another wife was Babusha
Babusha
Empress Babusha was a Chinese Empress consort of the Yuan Dynasty, married to the Khutughtu Khan, Emperor Mingzong of Yuan.- Sources :...
of the Naiman who gave birth to:
- Rinchinbal