THE PERIOD OF MONGOL EMPIRE 

• The formation of the Mongol Khanligs

At the beginning of the 12th century the various developments of Mongol society brought about the establishment of Khanates or petty states. There were Khanates of Kereid and Naiman living from the three rivers and over the Altai mountains. There was the confederation of three Merkid living in the Selenge river in the north. There was big Khanate of the Tatar tribe in the lake of Buir in the east. The Onggud tribal confederation was in south Mongolia. But the all Mongol Khanlig was established in the 1230¡¯s through gradual expansion. The first Khan of the all Mongol Khanlig was Khabula, of noble Mongol dynastical origin. The All Mongol Khanate consisted of the Mongols of three rivers, the Tayichiud living up and middle stream of the Onan river and the Jalair tribe living at the low stream of the Onan and Kerulen rivers. These areas were populous. At the end of the 1150¡¯s Khabula Khan died without leaving a will. Yesugei, the brave grandson of the Khabula Khan was overall ruler of the Khanlig (confederation of Kingdoms). In 1170 Yesugei , the brave, was killed with poison by the Tatar tribe, there was now no Khan who was to rule the Khanlig. The confederation of Khanates disintegrated due to the absence of leadership. At the start of the 13th century the internal situation in Mongolia was instable. At this period there was a strong struggle for power among the blue blood families of all Mongol, Naiman and Kereyid tribes. In the process of the power struggle Temujin the son of Yesugei and grandson of Khabula Khan was singled out for his intelligence and leadership skill. Temujin started his mission to restore the confederation of all Mongol Khanligs again.

• The formation of the all Mongol State

As Temujin was elevated as Khagan of all Mongols and gained the tittle Chinggis Khaan, he became more powerful and did his best to unify and organise the Mongol State. The first fierce struggle so called" The 13 battles of circle" started between Jamugha and Chinggis Khaan both of whom were influential. The battle was in the year 1190. But many Scholars consider that Chinggis Khan was defeated in this battle. However Chinggis Khan defeated the Tatar tribe in 1202, the Tayichiud in the winter of 1202 and the Kereyid tribe in 1203. Chinggis Khaan realised that there was a conspiracy headed by the Khan of the Naiman tribe with several other influential noblemen and he defeated them in the summer of 1204. In such a manner Chinggis Khan subordinated all Mongol Khanates to himself in the year 1205. In the year 1206 he summoned the Khuraltai, then the parliament of all Mongol States, and solemnly proclaimed that all the people of Mongol origin were unified. He acceded to the throne of the unified Mongol States as the Chinggis Khaan and the political structure was established. He was recorded in world literature as the Mongol Emperor, at the source of Onan river.

Remark: Chinggis Khan, the wise diplomat.

Chinggis Khan was not only a glorious general and far sighted policy maker, but also an eminent diplomat. His activities to unite all Mongol tribes and to establish

an Empire were not only quite specific and novel in terms of policy making, but also in the maintenance of external relations. We maintain that his foreign policy was based on confidence and his main method was to wait and see. His imitiatives and proposals played a influential role in regulating international relations and reforming trade standards, military conduct and diplomacy.

• Formation of the Mongol Empire

Since the establishment of Mongol Empire Chinggis Khaan had been conducting various battles over the 16 years between 1211-1227 and then he participated in conquering the Golden State, central Asia and Tanggud (Lia in Chinese) which were under the China. Chinggis Khaan first conquered and destroyed the Tanggud State in the year 1209, and Golden State in 1215. This was start of the Chinese who gradually had come under the subjugation of the Mongol Empire, as a result of various wars. Chinggis Khaan engaged in war at Sartual or the Khwarezm Empire for 7 years. It was a very important factor forming the Mongol Empire. Chinggis Khaan defeated and annexed the Naiman tribe of Mongolia in 1204. But Khuchuluge, son of Tayankhan of the Naiman, fled with his residual soldiers and arrived at the Khar Kidan State. He overthrew the Ghur Khan of the Khar Kidan and took the power of the Khar Kidan. He contacted the King of Khwarezm and fortified his position. Then he started his subversion against Chinggis Khaan. Chinggis Khaan, therefore, occupied the Khar Kidan in the year 1218. The territory of east Turkestan and some areas of the middle Asia belonged to the Mongol Empire. Then Mongolia bordered directly with the Khwarezm Empire. Chinggis Khaan pursued a policy to maintain good relations with the Khwarezm Empire and have trade. In the year 1215 Mukhamed sent his envoy and proposal to have good trade relations. This proposal was accepted with warm feeling by Chinggis Khaan. After welcoming the envoy, Chinggis Khaan sent his own envoy in reply. But the King of the Khwarezm ordered the killing of the envoy of Chinggis Khaan. As ordered by the King, the envoys were executed. As a result Chinggis Khaan was compelled to fight with the Khwarezm Empire in the year 1219. The Khwarezm Empire was completely defeated in the year 1222. During this war against Khwarezm, Chinggis Khaan fought with Caucasia and South Russia and defeated them. At the start of the year 1225 he came back to his birthplace. The final conquest of Chinggis Khaan started in the year 1226. Chinggis Khaan got the news that the Golden State had conspired with the Tanggud State and prepared a war against Mongolia in May, 1227. Then he conquered and occupied the Tanggud State. After the conquest of the Tanggud State when he was 66 years old, he passed away. Before his conquest to the west Chinggis Khaan summoned the Khuraltai( the Mongolian parliament) in the year 1219 and bequeathed his third son Ogodei Khan to accede to the throne. So after his death his son Ogodei Khan became Khaan and was elevated as King like an ocean at the Khuraltai in 1228, Ogodei Khaan reigned the Mongolian Empire from 1228 to 1241 until his death and conquered the whole Golden State. At that period the magnitude of Mongolia was enormous. The Mongol Empire comprised northern China, Turkestan, Middle Asia, the territory from the Irtish river to the Volga river, Russia, Ukrain, Kiev area, Caucasia, Iran, Tegeran and Bagdad. Bat, son of Jochi or grandson of Chinggis Khaan reached Hungary, Poland and Morav 1241-1242. After the death of Ogodei his elder son Guyuk acceded to the throne, and died in 1248. After Guyuk, Mongke, elder son of Tolui who was the youngest son of Chinggis Khaan, acceded to the throne and reigned over the Mongolian Empire between 1251-1259. When Mongke Khaan was ruling he started two new conquests. One was done by his younger brother Kubilai. He conquered and completely defeated China. Another younger brother Khulagu conquered the whole of Iran. There was a policy of the Khan which attached more importance to controlling Mongolia and China since 1260. There were the Golden Horde of Batukhan and the country of Khulagu. They were comparatively independent and payed their tribute to the central government. After the death of Mongke, his younger brother Kubilai acceded to the throne and was elevated as King. Kubilai was favoured by his grandfather Chinggis Khaan. Kubilai was ruling between 1260-1294. He was the King who remained in the court longer than other Kings. Kubilai conquered the whole of China and started construction of a new capital city called Jundu, the capital city of the Golden State. He called his Empire the Yuan Dynasty in 1271. The Mongol Empire existed for nearly 150 years up to the end of the 14th century.

                                     

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