U368 Mongol Conquest
Week 11, Wednesday:  The Empire breaks up

 

  1. The two camps form
    1. Möngke and Qubilai lead two armies against the Song:  major armies in east
      1. Qubilai has long had a embryonic court; Ariq-Böke holds Mongolia, ordo
    2. Ariq-Böke 'as assets:  Mongolia, support of Möngke's sons, ordo>>strikes first
      1. Initiative taken by Möngke's officials; Mongol supporters mostly young
      2. Möngke's court tries to raise army in China; fails
      3. Möngke's army moves to Tangut country; Ariq's faction controls it
    3. Qubilai:  battle exp., support of fraternal princes & generals, Chinese officials, goods
      1. Moving to Yanjing, takes over N. China; elected by quriltai
      2. Into Mongolia, cuts off grain, goods from N. China; Ariq's forces weakened
      3. Qubilai's generals defeat Möngke's old army in Tangut
    4. In quriltais, Golden Horde, Il-qan do not participate, only Cha'adaid queen
  2. The competition for the Cha'adaid khanate:  the other source of grain, money, cloth
    1. Orqina Qatun, Mas'ug Beg:  support Ariq, but her husband/puppet dies
    2. Qubilai and Ariq-Böke send candidates (Abishqa vs. Alghu)
      1. Alghu sees Ariq's alliance as costly, turns to Qubilai
      2. Alghu also elimates Jochid appanages, tries to take Khorazm
    3. Without money, Ariq's support dries up, surrenders 1264
  3. Continued war between Mongol uluses:  no real quriltai will ever be called
    1. Hüle'ü, Alghu, Qubilai on one side, Jochids angry over Transoxiana, Rian
      1. 1262, Berke invades Il-qan to recover Georgia, Armenia, Mughan
        1. Hüle'ü had purged Jochid commanders in his armyBerke counterattack against Alghu
      2. Berke counterattach against Alghu
    2. Qaidu and Cha'adaids in opposition:  1266-1301/2
      1. Qaidu (Ögedeid ulus) neutral in Qubilai/Ariq Böke fight
        1. Qaidu's gathers supporters from every ulus
      2. 1266:  new Cha'adaid ruler Barak turns against Toluids, supports Qaidu
      3. Cha'adaids warring on Yuan and Il-qan to get Afghanistan, Uighuristan, etc.
      4. Qaidu holds strong appeal to Qubilai's supporters:
        1. Nomuqan captured in E. Turkistan, 1276, rebellion of Nayan, 1287
        2. Qaidu & Cha'adaids gain Uighuristan 1285
      5. Jochids covertly support Qaidu by 1276, turns hostile in 1284
  4. Conclusions:  Strategic realities of the new era
    1. Mongol nomads need resources of N. China, Transoxiana
      1. Mongol military in N. China already symbiotic with local economy
    2. Cross-cutting appanage system wiped out by purges
    3. "Qa'an" becomes simply honorific title for ruler in East
    4. Would-be ruler from steppe will have to do Chinggis Qan all over again