ᠴᠠᠭᠠᠲᠠᠶ ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠨ
Chagatai Khan
Khan
Statue of Chagatai Khan in Mongolia
Khan of the Chagatai Khanate
Reign18 August 1227 –
1 July 1242
SuccessorQara Hülëgü
Viziers
  • Qarachar
  • Habash Amid
  • Vajir
  • Baha al-Din Marghinani
Born22 December 1183
Khamag Mongol
Died1 July 1242
(aged 58)
Almaligh, Chagatai Khanate
Consort
  • Yesulun Khatun
  • Togan Khatun
  • Sevinch Khatun
Issue
HouseBorjigin
FatherGenghis Khan
MotherBörte
ReligionTengrism

Chagatai Khan (Mongolian script: ᠴᠠᠭᠠᠲᠠᠶ; Čaɣatay; Mongolian: Цагадай, romanized: Tsagadai; Chagatay: چغتای, Čaġatāy; Uyghur: چاغاتاي خان, Chaghatay-Xan; Chinese: 察合台, Chágětái; Persian: جغتای, Joghatây; 22 December 1183 – 1 July 1242) was the second son of Genghis Khan and Börte. He inherited most of what are now five Central Asian states after the death of his father.[1] He was also appointed by Genghis Khan to oversee the execution of the Yassa, the written code of law created by Genghis Khan.[2]

Under Genghis Khan

Very little is known about Chagatai's earlier life. He was the second son of Genghis Khan and Börte. Chagatai was considered hot-headed and somewhat temperamental by his relatives, because of his attitude of non-acceptance of Jochi as a full-brother. He was the most vocal about this issue among his relations.[3] He was assigned 4 mingghans (led by Qarachar of Barlas, Kököchü of Baarin, Müge of Jalairs and Idiqudai Noyan) and an appanage around Altai Mountains in 1206 by his father.[4]

He joined the invasion of Jin Empire in 1211 with Jochi and Ögedei, capturing several cities and invading Shaanxi and Henan in 1213, also plundering Yanggu.[5] Later Chagatai appeared at campaign against Khwarazmian Empire with his father and brothers, capturing Otrar in 1218, Samarkand in 1220, Urgench in March-April 1221. The Urgench campaign was noticeably harder because Chagatai and Jochi failed to co-operate.[4] After this incident Ögedei was appointed commander of the besieging forces and Chagatai was given task of maintaining communication between Mongol forces with building bridges and restoring roads. He returned to his father's side during his siege of Talaqan.[6][4] Chagatai was greatly affected when his son Mutukan was killed during the siege of Bamiyan in 1221.[7]

He was present at the battle where Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu was defeated near the Indus River. He later commanded the rear guard during conquest of Western Xia.

During reign of Ögedei and Töregene

Chagatai succeeded Genghis Khan in his domains in what came to be known as Chagatai Khanate in 1227 with its capital in Almaliq city, in the valley of the Upper Ili, near the site of the present Kulja, and consequently in the extreme east of his dominion. According to Edward Ross, "his reason for fixing it in that remote position, instead of at Bukhara or Samarkand, was probably one of necessity. His Mongol tribesmen and followers—the mainstay of his power—were passionately fond of the life of the steppes."[8] As the eldest surviving son and head of the house, he was present at the enthronement ceremony of Ögedei on 13 September 1229 and supported his reign. Ögedei in his turn sent Güyük as Chagatai's ward. Although Rashidaddin claimed that Chagatai died shortly before Ögedei, Juvayni told of further activities of Chagatai, such as strong support to regency of Töregene. However, he soon died.[9]

Administration

His known viziers include Vajir, Baha al-Din Marghinani and Habash Amid. Vajir was described as Turkish, Uyghur[4] and Khitan[10] by different authors. He was employed by Qushuq Noyan from Jalayir tribe to court of Chagatai. Having written a book about history of Mongol Empire, he was regarded highly by Chagatai. He even let him to execute one of his daughters-in-law in charges of adultery. After Chagatai's death, Vajir was executed for treason alongside Chagatai's physician Majd al-Din, since his widow Yesülün charged them with poisoning of Chagatai.[11] Habash Amid was a Muslim Khwarazmian[12] from Otrar and a secretary originally.[13] He was assigned to Chagatai in 1218 and survived the purge thanks to his support for Qara Hülegü.[14] Baha al-Din Marghinani also survived Chagatai, being a friend of his son Yesü Möngke although he was purged later.

Family

The Chagatay Khan and His Consort, Jāmiʿ al-tavārīkh of Rashid al-Din, Iran, late 14th century.
The Chagatai Khan and His Consort, Jāmiʿ al-tavārīkh of Rashid al-Din, Indian copy 1590–1595.
The funeral of Chagatai Khan.

Chagatai had two principal wives along other wives and concubines:

Legacy

According to Rashidaddin, he was a just and competent ruler. Minhaj-i-Siraj Juzjani also considered him to be dignified and open hearted.[21] Muslims viewed Chagatai Khan with negativity and hostility because Chagatai Khan strictly enforced Mongol Yasa law against Islamic Shariah law banning Halal animal slaughter and Islamic prayer ritual ablution as well as the Islamic legal system.[21][22] The Chagatai language takes its name from him, as well as people surnamed Chughtai, city of Joghatai in Iran and Ciğatay village in Azerbaijan.

Ancestry

See also: Family tree of Genghis Khan
HoelunYesugei Baghatur
BörteTemüjin (Genghis Khan)HasarHachiunTemügeBelguteiBehter
JochiChagataiÖgedeiTolui

References

  1. ^ Ross 1895, p. 30.
  2. ^ Boyle 1971, p. 18.
  3. ^ Boyle 1971, p. 98.
  4. ^ a b c d May, Timothy (2016). "Individuals Chagatai Khan (d. 1242)". In May, Timothy (ed.). The Mongol Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia [2 volumes]: A Historical Encyclopedia. Empires of the World (illustrated, annotated ed.). ABC-CLIO. p. 139. ISBN 978-1610693400.
  5. ^ Boyle 1971, p. 146.
  6. ^ Boyle 1971, p. 118.
  7. ^ Ratchnevsky, Paul (1991) Genghis Khan: His Life and Legacy Blackwell, Oxford, UK, page 164, ISBN 0-631-18949-1
  8. ^ Ross 1895, p. 32.
  9. ^ Boyle 1958, p. 240.
  10. ^ Boyle 1971, p. 154.
  11. ^ Boyle 1958, p. 272.
  12. ^ Grousset, René (1970). The Empire of the Steppes: A History of Central Asia. Rutgers University Press. p. 328. ISBN 978-0-8135-1304-1.
  13. ^ Boyle 1971, p. 156.
  14. ^ Boyle 1958, p. 273.
  15. ^ Lane, George E. (2003-09-01). Early Mongol Rule in Thirteenth-Century Iran: A Persian Renaissance (1 ed.). Routledge. doi:10.4324/9780203417874. ISBN 978-0-203-41787-4.
  16. ^ Ross 1895, p. 33.
  17. ^ Voitovycz, L. King of Poland Casimir III and a struggle for Romanovichi heritage (Польський король Казимир ІІІ і боротьба за спадщину Романовичів). Lviv University Herald (Вісник Львівського університету). Lviv 2011. page 8.
  18. ^ da Pian del Carpine, G. History of Mongols whom we call Tatars (История Монголов, которых мы называем Татарами) Archived 2012-02-04 at the Wayback Machine. Translated by Aleksandr Malein. State Publishing of Geographic Literature. 1957.
  19. ^ Aksenov, S. V.; Yurchenko, A. G. (2002). Христианский мир и 'Великая монгольская империя': материалы францисканской миссии [Christendom and the 'Great Mongol Empire': Materials of the Franciscan Mission]. St Petersburg: Евразия. p. 257. ISBN 5-8071-0111-1. OCLC 52692529.
  20. ^ a b Arom, Na’ama O. (2020-04-24). "'In-Ger' and 'Outer' Diplomacy – Ilkhanid Contacts with the Mongols and the Outside World, 1260–1282". Eurasian Studies. 17 (2): 286–309. doi:10.1163/24685623-12340077. ISSN 2468-5623. S2CID 219057516.
  21. ^ a b McLynn, Frank (2015-07-02). Genghis Khan: The Man Who Conquered the World. Random House. p. 456. ISBN 978-1-4464-4929-5.
  22. ^ "CHAGHATAYID DYNASTY". Encyclopædia Iranica Foundation, Inc. V (4): 343–346. December 15, 1991.

Sources

 This article incorporates text from The Tarikh-i-rashidi: A History of the Moghuls of Central Asia, by Edward Denison Ross, a publication from 1895, now in the public domain in the United States.

Preceded byChagatai khanate established Khan of Chagatai Khanate 1225–1242 Succeeded byQara Hülëgü
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