Sengge
Encyclopedia
Sengge was a Choros-Oirat
prince and the successor to his father Erdeni Batur
as ruler of the Dzungar Khanate. Sengge ruled the Dzungar state from 1653 until his murder in 1671 by his two older half-brothers Tseten
and Tsobda Batur. Sengge is best known for defeating Erincin Lobsang Tayishi
, the third Altan Khan, in 1667 and eliminating the Altan Khanate
as a potential future threat to the Dzungar Khanate. While being Khong Tayiji
of the Oirats, during one of his raids against Kirgizs, Sengge was captured by his enemies and said to have spent two to three years as a war prisoner.
Before his death in 1653 Erdeni Batur named his third son Sengge as his successor to the consternation and disbelief of Tseten and Tsobda Batur. Erdeni Batur's decision to name Sengge as the next ruler of the Dzungar Khanate was based on solely on his belief that Sengge was the ablest of his eight sons. For being the ablest Sengge was given the southern half of the Khanate. The northern half would be split among Erdeni Batur's remaining seven sons. The fourth son, Galdan, transferred his rights to Sengge.
Sengge's brothers were not content with their small land inheritance and were also jealous that Sengge was Khong Tayiji of the Dzungar Khanate. To gain a larger share for themselves both Tseten and Tsobda Batur made several attempts to assassinate Sengge. Though they did not succeed until 1671, 18 years after Sengge was enthroned, the continuous internecine warfare generated by their jealousy and hatred for their brother resulted in Sengge neglecting the legacy of his father and grandfather Khara Khula
in building the Dzungar Khanate into a powerful Central Asian nation-state.
Since Sengge was not able to immediately exert control of the northern half of the Dzungar Khanate the commercial trading agreements between Russia and the Dzungar Khanate were no longer honored by the Oirat tribes roaming the northern border. Instead these tribes returned to the traditional nomadic practice of banditry crossing into Russian territory in southern Siberia
to raid nearby Russian outposts and steal the items they previously had to acquire by trade.
Sengge was powerless to enforce the agreement his father, Erdeni Batur, had signed with Russia years earlier and honored throughout his reign. As a result Russia was compelled to engage in dialogue with numerous chiefs of small Oirat clans to no avail. Yet Sengge demanded from Russia that it stop claiming tribute from the small Siberian tribes that he deemed to be the vassals of only the Dzungar Khanate. This issue would cause several skirmishes between the Cossacks and the Dzungar forces during Sengge’s reign and would remain unresolved at the time of his death.
Choros
Choros was the ruling clan of the Zungars and Dorbets and once ruled the whole Four Oirats. They founded the Zunghar Empire in the 17th century. According to a myth, their chiefs reckoned their descent from a boy nourished by a sacred tree, a legend shared with the Uyghur royal family.In the late...
prince and the successor to his father Erdeni Batur
Erdeni Batur
Erdeni Batur was a Choros-Oirat prince and is generally considered the founder of a new Oirat state in Central Asia known as the Dzungar Khanate....
as ruler of the Dzungar Khanate. Sengge ruled the Dzungar state from 1653 until his murder in 1671 by his two older half-brothers Tseten
Tseten
Tseten was a Choros-Oirat prince and the eldest son of Erdeni Batur, the ruler of the Dzungar Khanate from 1634 until his death in 1653. Tseten is best known for murdering his younger half-brother Sengge who bypassed him in the line of succession to become the ruler of the Dzungar Khanate....
and Tsobda Batur. Sengge is best known for defeating Erincin Lobsang Tayishi
Erinchin Lobsang Tayiji
Erinchin Lobsang Tayiji was a prince of the Khalkha federation in western Mongolia. See Altan Khan of Khalkha.In 1662 he attacked, captured and put to death his eastern neighbor, the Dzasagtu Khan. This led the senior Tushetu Khan to form a league and drive out the Altan-khan...
, the third Altan Khan, in 1667 and eliminating the Altan Khanate
Altan Khan of the Khalkha
The Altan Khans ruled north-western Mongolia from about 1609 to 1691 at the latest. Altan Khan of Khalkha also known as Altan Khan of Khotogoid ruled over the Khotogoids in northwestern Mongolia and belonged to the Left Wing of the Khalkha Mongols...
as a potential future threat to the Dzungar Khanate. While being Khong Tayiji
Khong Tayiji
Khong Tayiji is a title of the Mongols.Khong Tayiji derives from Chinese Huangtaizi . At first it also meant crown prince in Mongolian. It was originally given only to descendants of Genghis Khan...
of the Oirats, during one of his raids against Kirgizs, Sengge was captured by his enemies and said to have spent two to three years as a war prisoner.
Before his death in 1653 Erdeni Batur named his third son Sengge as his successor to the consternation and disbelief of Tseten and Tsobda Batur. Erdeni Batur's decision to name Sengge as the next ruler of the Dzungar Khanate was based on solely on his belief that Sengge was the ablest of his eight sons. For being the ablest Sengge was given the southern half of the Khanate. The northern half would be split among Erdeni Batur's remaining seven sons. The fourth son, Galdan, transferred his rights to Sengge.
Sengge's brothers were not content with their small land inheritance and were also jealous that Sengge was Khong Tayiji of the Dzungar Khanate. To gain a larger share for themselves both Tseten and Tsobda Batur made several attempts to assassinate Sengge. Though they did not succeed until 1671, 18 years after Sengge was enthroned, the continuous internecine warfare generated by their jealousy and hatred for their brother resulted in Sengge neglecting the legacy of his father and grandfather Khara Khula
Khara Khula
Khara Khula was a Choros-Oirat prince and tayishi of the Choros tribe. He is best known for forming and leading a coalition of the Four Oirats in battle against Ubasi Khun Tayishi, the Khalkha prince who ruled the Altan Khanate in present-day northwest Mongolia.At the beginning of the 17th...
in building the Dzungar Khanate into a powerful Central Asian nation-state.
Since Sengge was not able to immediately exert control of the northern half of the Dzungar Khanate the commercial trading agreements between Russia and the Dzungar Khanate were no longer honored by the Oirat tribes roaming the northern border. Instead these tribes returned to the traditional nomadic practice of banditry crossing into Russian territory in southern Siberia
Siberia
Siberia is an extensive region constituting almost all of Northern Asia. Comprising the central and eastern portion of the Russian Federation, it was part of the Soviet Union from its beginning, as its predecessor states, the Tsardom of Russia and the Russian Empire, conquered it during the 16th...
to raid nearby Russian outposts and steal the items they previously had to acquire by trade.
Sengge was powerless to enforce the agreement his father, Erdeni Batur, had signed with Russia years earlier and honored throughout his reign. As a result Russia was compelled to engage in dialogue with numerous chiefs of small Oirat clans to no avail. Yet Sengge demanded from Russia that it stop claiming tribute from the small Siberian tribes that he deemed to be the vassals of only the Dzungar Khanate. This issue would cause several skirmishes between the Cossacks and the Dzungar forces during Sengge’s reign and would remain unresolved at the time of his death.