Ögedei Khan

Ögedei Khan
Khagan of the Mongol Empire (Supreme Khan of the Mongols) King of Kings Emperor of China
A portrait of Ögedei during the Great Yuan.
Great Khan
Reign	13 September 1229 – 11 December 1241 (&1000000000000001200000012 years, &1000000000000008900000089 days)
Coronation	September 13, 1229 in Khuruldai at the Kherlen's Khödöö Aral, Mongolia
Predecessor	Tolui as Regent
Successor	Güyük Khan
Consort	Töregene
Issue
Guyuk Khuden Khochu Khashi Khadan
Posthumous name
Yingwen (英文皇帝)
Temple name
Tai Zong of Yuan (元太宗)
Clan	Borjigin (Боржигин)
Father	Genghis Khan
Mother	Borte Ujin
Born	c. 1186
Died	11 December 1241 (aged 55) Mongolia
Religion	Tengriism

Ögedei Khan (also Ogodei, Mongolian: Ögedei Khaan; Mongolian Cyrillic: Өгөдэй хаан) born Ögedei (Temple name: Chinese: 元太宗; traditional Chinese: 元太宗; pinyin: Yuán Tàizōng; Wade–Giles: T'ai-Tsung) (c. 1186 – December 11, 1241) was the third son of Genghis Khan and second Great Khan (Khagan) of the Mongol Empire by succeeding his father. He continued the expansion of the empire that his father had begun, and was a world figure when the Mongol Empire reached its farthest extent west and south during the invasions of Europe and Asia.^[1] Like all of Genghis' primary sons, he participated extensively in conquests in China, Iran and Central Asia.

Background

Ögedei was the third son of Genghis Khan and Börte Ujin. He participated in the turbulent events of his father's rise. When he was 17 years old, Genghis Khan experienced the disastrous defeat of Khalakhaljid Sands against the army of Jamukha. Ögedei was heavily wounded and lost on the battlefield.^[2] His father's adopted brother and companion Borokhula rescued him. Although already married, in 1204 his father gave him Toregene, the wife of a defeated Merkit chief. The addition of such a wife was not uncommon in steppe culture.

Genghis Khan and three of his four sons.

After Genghis was proclaimed Emperor or Khagan in 1206, myangans (1000's) of the Jalayir, Besud, Suldus, Khongqatan clans were given to him as his appanage. Ögedei's territory occupied the Emil and Hobok rivers. According to his father's wish, Ilugei, the commander of the Jalayir, became Ögedei's tutor.

Ögedei, along with his brothers, campaigned independently for the first time in November, 1211 against the Jin Dynasty (1115–1234). He was sent to ravage the land south through Hebei and then north through Shanxi in 1213. Ögedei's force drove the Jin garrison out of the Ordos and he rode to the juncture of the Xi Xia, Jin and Song domains.^[3]

During the Mongol conquest of Eastern Persia, Ögedei and Chagatai massacred the residents of Otrar after a five-month siege in 1219-20 and joined Jochi who was outside the walls of Urganch.^[4] Because Jochi and Chagatai were quarreling over the military strategy, Ögedei was appointed by Genghis Khan to oversee the siege of Urganch.^[5] They captured the city in 1221. When the rebellion broke out in south east Persia and Afghanistan, Ögedei also pacified Ghazni.^[6]

Ascendancy to Supreme Khan

Coronation of Ögedei in 1229. Rashid al-Din, early 14th century.

The Empress Yisui insisted that Genghis Khan designate an heir before the invasion of Khwarezmid Empire in 1219. After the terrible brawl between Jochi and Chagatai, they agreed that Ögedei was to be chosen as heir. Genghis confirmed their decision.

Genghis Khan died in 1227, and Jochi had died a year or two year earlier. Ögedei's younger brother held the regency until 1229.

He was elected supreme khan in 1229, according to the kurultai held at Kodoe Aral on the Kherlen River after Genghis' death, although this was never really in doubt as it was Genghis' clear wish that he be succeeded by Ögedei. After ritually declining three times, Ögedei was proclaimed Khagan of the Mongols on September 13, 1229.^[7] Chagatai continued to support his younger brother's claim.

Genghis Khan saw Ögedei's characteristic as courtesy and generosity.^[8] His charisma is partially credited for his success in keeping the Empire on his father's path. Thanks mostly to the organization left behind by Genghis Khan, and the personal charisma of Ögedei, the affairs of the Mongol Empire remained for the most part stable during his reign. To this it must again be added that Ögedei was an extremely pragmatic man, however, he made some mistakes during his reign. He had no delusions that he was his father's equal as a military commander or organizer, and used the abilities of those he found most capable.

World conquests

Expansion in the Middle East

Main article: Mongol conquest of Persia

After destroying the Khwarazmian empire, Genghis Khan was free to move against Western Xia in 1226. In 1226, however, Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu, the last of the Khwarizm monarchs, returned to Persia to revive the empire lost by his father, Muhammad ‘Ala al-Din II. The Mongol forces sent against him in 1227 were defeated at Dameghan. Another army that marched against Jalal al-Din scored a pyrrhic victory in the vicinity of Isfahan, but was unable to follow up that success.

With Ögedei’s consent to launch a campaign at last, Chormaqan left Bukhara at the head of 30 to 50,000 Mongol soldiers. He occupied Persia and Khorasan, two long-standing bases of Khwarazmian support. Crossing the Amu Darya River in 1230 and entering Khorasan without encountering any opposition, Chormaqan passed through it quickly. He left a sizable contingent behind under the command of Dayir Noyan, who had further instructions to invade western Afghanistan. Chormaqan and the majority of his army then entered the northern section of Persia known as Mazandaran in the autumn of 1230. In doing so, he avoided the mountainous area south of the Caspian Sea. That region was controlled by the Ismailis.

Upon reaching the city of Rey, Chormaqan made his winter camp there and dispatched his armies to pacify the rest of northern Persia. In 1231, he led his army southward and quickly captured the cities of Qum and Hamadan. From there, he sent armies into the regions of Fars and Kirman, whose rulers quickly submitted, preferring to pay tribute to their Mongol overlords rather than to see their states ravaged. Meanwhile further east, Dayir steadily achieved his goals in capturing Kabul, Ghazni, and Zawulistan. With the Mongols already in control of Persia, Jalal al-Din was isolated in Transcaucasia where he was banished. Thus all of Persia was added to the Mongol Empire.

The fall of the Jin Dynasty

See also: Mongol-Jin War

At the end of 1230, responding to the Jin's unexpected defeat of the Mongol general Doqulkhu, the Khagan went south to Shanxi province with Tolui, clearing the area of the Jin forces and taking the city of Fengxiang. After passing the summer in the north, they again campaigned against the Jin in Henan, cutting through territory of South China to assault the Jin's rear. By 1232 the Jin Emperor was besieged in his capital of Kaifeng. Ögedei soon departed, leaving the final conquest to his generals. After taking several cities, the Mongols, with the belated assistance of the Song Dynasty, destroyed the Jin in February 1234. However, a viceroy of the Song murdered a Mongol ambassador and the Song armies recaptured the former imperial capitals of Kaifeng, Luoyang, and Chang'an which were now ruled by the Mongols.

In addition to the Mongol-Jin War, Ögedei crushed the Eastern Xia Dynasty in 1233, pacifying southern Manchuria. Ögedei subdued the Water Tatars in northern part of the region and suppressed their rebellion in 1237.

Conquest of Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia

Main article: Mongol invasion of Georgia and Armenia

Ögedei conquered the Kingdom of Georgia (including its subordinate Armenia) and Azerbaijan

The Mongols under Chormaqan returned to Caucasus in 1232. Ganjak’s walls were breached by catapult and battering ram in 1235. The Mongols eventually withdrew after the citizens of Irbil agreed to send a yearly tribute to the court of the khagan. Chormaqan waited until 1238, when the force of Mongke was also active to the north Caucasus.^[9] After subduing Azerbaijan and Armenia, Chormaqan took Tiflis. In 1238, the Mongols captured Lorhe whose ruler, Shahanshah, fled with his family before the Mongols arrived, leaving the rich city to its fate. After a putting up a spirited defense at Hohanaberd, the city’s ruler, Hasan Jalal, submitted to the Mongols. Another column then advanced against Gaian, ruled by Prince Avak. The Mongol commander Tokhta ruled out a direct assault and had his men construct a wall around it and its prince Avak surrendered soon. By 1240, Chormaqan had completed the conquest of Transcaucasia, forcing the Georgian nobles to surrender.

Invasion of Korea

Main article: Mongol invasions of Korea

In 1224 a Mongol envoy was killed in obscure circumstances and Korea stopped paying tribute.^[10] Ögedei dispatched Saritai (Sartaq) to subdue Korea and avenge the dead envoy in 1231. Thus, Mongol armies began to invade Korea in order to subdue the kingdom. The Goryeo King temporarily submitted and agreed to accept Mongol overseers. When they withdrew for the summer, however, Choe U moved the capital from Kaesong to Ganghwa Island. Saritai was hit with a stray arrow and died as he campaigned against them.

Ögedei announced plans for the conquest of the Koreans, the Southern Song, the Kipchaks and their European allies, all of whom killed Mongol envoys at the kurultai in Mongolia in 1234. Ögedei appointed Danqu commander of the Mongol army and made Bog Wong, the defected Korean general, governor of 40 cities with their subjects. When the court of Goryeo asked the peace treaty in 1238, Ögedei demanded the king to summon before him in person. The Goryeo king finally sent his relative Yeong Nong-gun Sung with 10 noble boys to Mongolia as hostages, temporarily ending the war in 1241.^[11] It is said that Ögedei recruited his kheshig with Koreans.

Europe

Main article: Mongol invasion of Europe

The Mongol army captures a Rus' city

The Mongol Empire expanded westward under the command of Batu Khan to subdue the Russian steppe and the rest of Europe. Their western conquests included almost all of Russia (save Novgorod, which became a vassal), Hungary, and Poland. During the siege of Kolomna, the Khagan's half brother Khulgen^[12] was killed by an arrow.

After the conquest of Volga-Bulgaria, Alania, and Rus principalities, Ögedei's son Güyük and Chagatai's grandson Buri ridiculed Batu and the Mongol camp suffered dissention. The Khagan harshly criticized Guyuk that "You broke the spirit of every man in your army...Do you think that the Russians surrendered because of how mean you were to your own men".Then he sent Guyuk back to continue the conquest of Europe. Ögedei's sons Kadan and Güyük attacked Poland and Transylvania, respectively.

Ögedei Khan had granted permission to invade the remainder of Europe, all the way to the "Great Sea," the Atlantic Ocean, and only his death prevented the possible invasions of Austria, Germany, Italy, France, and Spain, and the remaining small European principalities. Indeed, Mongol forces were moving on Vienna, launching a fierce winter campaign against Austria and Germany in the first wave into Western Europe, when Ögedei died.^[13]

Conflict with the Song China

Main article: Mongol conquest of the Song Dynasty

In a series of razzias from 1235 to 1245, the Mongols commanded by Ögedei's sons penetrated deep into the Song Dynasty and reached Chengdu, Xiangyang and Yangtze River. But they could not succeed in completing their conquest due to climate and number of the Song troops. However, Ögedei's son Khochu died in the process. In 1240, Ögedei's other son Khuden dispatched a subsidiary expedition to Tibet. The situation between the two nations worsened when the Song officers murdered Ögedei's envoys headed by Selmus.^[14]

The Mongol expansion throughout the Asian continent under the leadership of Ögedei helped bring political stability and re-establish the Silk Road, the primary trading route between East and West.

India

Main article: Mongol invasion of India

Ögedei appointed Dayir commander of Ghazni and Menggetu commander in Qonduz. In winter 1241 the Mongol force invaded the Indus valley and besieged Lahore. Dayir died storming the town, however, on December 30, 1241, and the Mongols butchered the town before withdrawing from the Delhi Sultanate.^[15]

Some time after 1235 another Mongol force invaded Kashmir, stationing a darughachi there for several years. Soon Kashmir became a Mongolian dependency.^[16] Around the same time, a Kashmiri Buddhist master, Otochi, and his brother Namo arrived at the court of Ögedei.

Administration

Portrait of Ögedei Khan (the 14th century). Recreation of a Yuan portrait in the National Palace Museum in Taipei.

Ögedei began bureaucratization of Mongol administration. Three culture constituted his administration:

• the Christian eastern Turks, represented by Chinqai, the Uyghur scribe and the Keraits.
• the Islamic cycle, represented by two Khorazmians, Mahumud Yalavach and Masud Beg
• the North Chinese Confucian circle, represented by Yelu Chucai, a Kidan, and Nianhe Zhong-shan, a Jurchen.

Mahamud Yalavach promoted a system in which the government would delegate tax collection to tax farmers who collect payments in silver. Yelu Chucai encouraged Ögedei to institute a traditional Chinese system of government, with taxation in the hands of government agents, and payment in a government issued currency. The Muslim merchants, working with capital supplied by the Mongol aristocrats, loaned at higher interest the silver needed for tax payments. At the same time the Mongols began circulating paper currency backed by silver reserves.

Ögedei abolished the branch departments of state affairs and divided the areas of the Mongol ruled China into 10 routes according to the suggestion of Yelü Chucai. He also divided the empire into Beshbalik administration, Yanjing administration while the Headquarter in Karakorum directly dealt with Manchuria, Mongolia and Siberia. Late in his reign, Amu Darya administration was established. Turkestan was administered by Mahamud Yalavach while Yelu Chucai administered North China from 1229 to 1240. Ögedei appointed Shigi Khutugh chief judge in China. In Iran, Ögedei appointed first Chin-temur, a Kara-kitai, and then Korguz, an Uyghur who proved to be honest administrator. Later, some of Yelu Chucai's duties were transferred to Mahamud Yalavach and taxes were handed over to Abd-ur-Rahman, who promised to double the annual payments of silver.^[17] The Ortoq or partner merchants lent Ögedei's money at exorbitant rates of interest to the peasants, however, Ögedei considerably banned higher rates. Despite it proved profitable, many people fled their homes to avoid the tax collectors and their strong-arm gangs.

Ögedei had imperial princes tutored by the Christian scribe Qadaq and the Taoist priest Li Zhichang and built schools and academy. Ögedei Khan also decreed to issue paper currency backed by silk reserves and founded a Department which was responsible for destroying old notes. Yelu Chucai protested to Ögedei that his large-scale distribution of appanages in Iran, Western and North China, and Khorazm, could lead to a disintegration of the Empire.^[18] Ögedei thus decreed that the Mongol nobles could appoint overseers in the appanages, but the court would appoint other officials and collect taxes.

The Khagan proclaimed the Great Yassa as integral body of precedents, confirming the continuing validity of his father's commands and ordinances, while adding his own. Ögedei codified rules of dress, conduct during the kurultais. Throughout the Empire, in 1234, he created postroad stations (Yam) with a permanent staff who would supply post riders' needs.^[19] Relay stations were set up every 25 miles and the yam staff supplied remounts to the envoys and served specified rations on them. The attached households were exempt from other taxes but they had to pay a qubchuri tax to supply the goods. Ögedei ordered Chagatai and Batu to control their yams separately. The Khagan prohibited the nobility from issuing paizas (tablet that gave the bearer authority to demand goods and services from civilian populations) and jarliqs. Ögedei decreed that within decimal units one out of every 100 sheep of the well-off should be levied for the poor of the unit, and that one sheep and one mare from every herd should be forwarded to form a herd for the imperial table.^[20]

Karakorum

Stone tortoise of Karakorum

Main article: Karakorum

From 1235-38 Ögedei constructed a series of palaces and pavilions at stopping places in his annual nomadic route through central Mongolia. The first palace Wanangong was constructed by North Chinese artisans. The Emperor urged his relatives build residences nearby and settled the deported craftsmen from China near the site. The construction of the city, Karakorum (Хархорум), was finished in 1235, assigning different quarters to Islamic and North Chinese craftsmen, who competed to win Ögedei's favor. Earthen walls with 4 gates surrounded a city. Attached were private apartments, while in front of stood a giant stone tortoise bearing an engraved pillar, like those that were commonly used in East Asia. There was a castle with doors like the gates of the garden and a series of lakes where many water fowl gathered. Ögedei erected several houses of worship for his Buddhist, Muslim, Taoist, and Christian followers. In the Chinese ward, there was a Confucian temple where Yelu Chucai used to create or regulate a calendar on the Chinese model.

Character

Statue of Ögedei Khan in Mongolia

He was considered to be his father's favorite son, ever since his childhood. As an adult Ögedei was known for his ability to sway doubters in any debate in which he was involved, simply by the force of his personality. He was a physically big, jovial and very charismatic man, who seemed mostly to be interested in enjoying good times. He was intelligent and steady in character. His charisma was partially credited for his success in keeping the Mongol Empire on the path that his father had set.

To encourage trade caravans he paid extremely high prices for all manner of goods whether he needed them or not. Ögedei squandered much of his wealth, passing out pearls, golds, coins and other precious stones to the people. The constant outflow from the Imperial treasury had to be made up by taxes, principally on North China.

Ögedei kept peace among his family, criticizing his son and Chagatai's grandson. The sudden death of Tolui seems to have affected him deeply. According to some sources, Tolui sacrificed his own life, having a drink in shamanist ritual in order to save Ögedei who was suffering from illness.^[21] Ögedei fell victim to alcoholism. Chagatai entrusted an official to watch his habit, but Ögedei managed to drink anyway. When he died at dawn on December 11, 1241, after a late-night drinking bout with Abd-ur-Rahman, the people blamed the sister of Tolui's widow and Abd-ur-Rahman. The Mongol aristocrats recognized, however, that the Khagan's own lack of self control had killed him.

Ögedei was also known to be a humble man, who did not believe himself to be a genius, and was willing to listen and use the great generals that his father left him, as well as those he himself found to be most capable. He was the Emperor (Khagan) but not a dictator.^[22] Like all Mongols at his time, he was raised and educated as a warrior from childhood, and as the son of Genghis Khan he was a part of his father's plan to establish a world empire. His military experience was notable for his willingness to listen to his generals, and adapt to the circumstances. He was an extremely pragmatic person, much like his father, and looked at the end, rather than the means. His steadiness of character and dependability were the traits that his father most valued, and that gained him the role of successor to his father, despite his two older brothers.

However, he used violence to strengthen his authority. In 1237 Ögedei dispatched his imperial army to punish the Oirat and seize their lands after the forest people refused to give tributes. Around 4,000 young girls became subject to war violence.^[23]

Aftermath of Ögedei's death

Ögedei had nominated his grandson Shiremun as his heir, but Güyük eventually succeeded him after the five-year regency of his widow Töregene Khatun. However, Batu, the Khan of the Kipchak Khanate (the Ulus of Jochi) in Russia, nominally accepted Guyuk, who died on the way to confront Batu. It was not until 1255, well into the reign of Mongke Khan, that Batu felt secure enough to again prepare to invade Europe. Fortunately for the Europeans, he died before his plans could be implemented.

When Kublai Khan established the Yuan Dynasty in 1271, he had Ögedei Khan placed on the official record as Taizong (Chinese: 太宗).

Children

Ögedei had many khatuns and concubines. Ögedei married first Borakchin and then Toregene. Other wives included Mukha and Jachin.

He had 7 sons:

• Guyuk, the 3rd Great Khan of the Mongols
• Khuden, the first Buddhist Mongol prince
• Khochu, died during the campaign in Song China.
• Khorachar
• Khashi, the father of Kaidu
• Khadan
• Melig

Ancestry

See also: Family tree of Genghis Khan

Hoelun

Yesugei Baghatur

Börte

Temüjin (Genghis Khan)

Hasar

Hachiun

Temüge

Belgutei

Behter

Jochi

Chagatai

Ögedei

Tolui

Memorial

Mongolian Airlines named its Boeing 737-800 EI-CSG Ogoodei Khan.

Author J.T Riley has named a character Ögedei Khan in his latest novel

See also

• House of Ögedei

Notes

1. ^ John Joseph Saunders-The History of the Mongol Conquests, p.74
2. ^ Secret history of the Mongols, $3, II
3. ^ Marvin C Whiting-Imperial Chinese Military History, p.355
4. ^ John Joseph Saunders-The History of the Mongol Conquests, p.57
5. ^ John Powell-Magill's Guide to Military History: Jap-Pel, p.1148
6. ^ Richard Ernest Dupuy, Trevor Nevitt Dupuy-The encyclopedia of military history, p.336
7. ^ Michael Prawdin, Gerard (INT) Chaliand, The Mongol empire, p.237
8. ^ The Secret history of the Mongols
9. ^ Timothy May-Mongol Empire: Chormaquan and the Mongol Conquest of the Middle East
10. ^ Michel Hoàng, Ingrid Cranfield-Genghis Khan, p.159
11. ^ J.Bor-Mongol hiigeed Eurasiin diplomat shashtir, vol.II, p.197
12. ^ he was the son of Genghis Khan by Khulan khatun of the Merkid clan
13. ^ The alterante history trilogy "The Year of Longdirk" by Ken Hood depicts a history where Ögedei Khan did survive and did indeed conuer the whole of Europe by 1244 [1]
14. ^ Herbert Franke, Denis Twitchett, John King Fairbank -The Cambridge History of China: Volume 6, Alien Regimes and Border States, p.263
15. ^ Islamic Culture Board-Islamic culture, p.256
16. ^ Thomas T. Allsen-Culture and Conquest in Mongol Eurasia, p.84
17. ^ David Morgan-The Mongols, p.102
18. ^ Chunjiang Fu, Asiapac Editorial, Liping Yang-Chinese History, p.148
19. ^ Josef W. Meri, Jere L. Bacharach-Medieval Islamic Civilization, p.632
20. ^ Mongolia Society - Occasional Papers - p.17
21. ^ Denis Sinor, John R. Krueger, Rudi Paul Lindner, Valentin Aleksandrovich-The Uralic and Altaic Series, p.176
22. ^ David Morgan-The Mongols, p.104
23. ^ Jack Weatherford - The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan Rescued His Empire, p.91

References

• Amitai-Preiss, Reuven, The Mamluk-Ilkhanid War, 1998
• Chambers, James, The Devil's Horsemen: The Mongol Invasion of Europe
• Hildinger, Erik, Warriors of the Steppe: A Military History of Central Asia, 500 B.C. to A.D. 1700
• Morgan, David, The Mongols, ISBN 0-631-17563-6
• Nicolle, David, The Mongol Warlords Brockhampton Press, 1998
• Reagan, Geoffry, The Guinness Book of Decisive Battles , Canopy Books, NY (1992)
• Saunders, J.J., The History of the Mongol Conquests, Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, 1971, ISBN 0-8122-1766-7
• Sicker, Martin, The Islamic World in Ascendancy: From the Arab Conquests to the Siege of Vienna, Praeger Publishers, 2000
• Soucek, Svatopluk, A History of Inner Asia, Cambridge, 2000

External links

• Medieval History: Mongol Invasion of Europe
• The Islamic World to 1600: The Golden Horde

Ögedei Khan House of Borjigin (Боржигин) (1206–1634) Born: 1186 Died: 1241
Regnal titles
Preceded by Tolui	Great Khan of the Mongol Empire 1229–1241	Succeeded by Töregene Khatun (regent)

Persondata
Name	Ogedei Khan
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1186
Place of birth
Date of death	December 11, 1241
Place of death	Mongolia