Far East Kingdoms

The Mongols

The Great Khans
AD 1206 - 1388

The father of Chingiz Khan, or Temujin as he was known for much of his life, was a powerful general named Yesukhei. He was of noble descent, and led the Borjigin clan, but he died when Temujin was young, poisoned by Tartars who were constant enemies of the Mongols. Temujin attempted to claim his father's position as leader of the Borjigin, but the tribesmen refused to be led by someone so young, and he and his family were cast adrift. Temujin and his brothers grew up in the wilderness, hunting for their own food. A dispute in which he and another brother killed Begter, one of his half-brothers, in a dispute over hunting spoils cemented his position as a ruthless commander.

By the time he was a young man, Temujin commanded a small group of Mongol warriors. He won favour with Toghril Khan of the Kerait tribe and was able to build up his forces into a powerful army. Soon he was strong enough to attack the hated Tartars, defeating them in battle, beheading all their men, and taking their women and children as concubines and slaves. Jamuka, his former childhood friend, now initiated a power struggle against Temujin, apparently betraying a close bond of trust that had been established between them as children. Jamuka persuaded Toghril that Temujin was a threat to them all, and the two teamed up against him. In the resulting close-run campaign, which lasted for a year, Temujin emerged victorious against the odds. Jamuka was on the run, Toghril was dead, and Temujin was a powerful warrior chief. At the age of forty-four, in 1206, he was declared supreme khan. He took a completely unique title, 'Chingiz Khan', which perhaps meant 'the fierce king' and which was selected to single him out as a truly great leader.

(Additional information from the BBC documentary, The Secret History of Genghis Khan, broadcast 28 December 2011.)

1206 - 1227

Temujin / Chingiz Khan / Genghis Khan

Born c.1162. 'Great Khan'. Died following a fall from his horse.

1211 - 1216

The Chin empire in China is attacked.

1217 - 1218

The Qara-Khitaï are overthrown.

1219 - 1221

The eastern section of Khawarizmia / Khwarazm is overcome after the shah decapitates Chingiz's ambassador.

1221

The Indus Valley falls to the Mongols.

1223

The kingdom of Georgia is subordinated. The Alans, living to the north, put up a stiff resistance which sees them driven from their valleys but otherwise undefeated.

1226 - 1227

The Hsi-Hsia are overthrown.

1226

The White Horde continues under separate rule.

1227

The Golden & Blue Hordes continue under separate rule as the Great Khans concentrate on China. Chingiz Khan's second son, Chagatai Khan, inherits Mughulistan. Ögedei Khan inherits the Great Khanate in Central Asia.

1229 - 1241

Ögedei Khan

Son.

1230 - 1234

The Chin are overthrown.

1231

Control over the kingdom of Georgia is reaffirmed by a new invasion which also overruns Khwarazm. The latter becomes part of the Il-Khan controlled territories of Persia. Korea is also invaded.

1241 - 1246

Toregene Khatun

Regent.

1243

The Seljuq Sultanate of Rum is overcome and is reduced to vassal status by the Mongols.

1246 - 1248

Guyuk Khan

1248 - 1251

Oghul Ghaymish

Regent.

1250

Following a siege, Aleppo is captured and destroyed by the Mongols while the sultan of Egypt, al-Muazzam, is commanding there. Unusually, the defeated defenders are allowed to live.

1251 - 1259

Mongke Khan

1254

Mongol dominion is established over Mosul. Badr ad Din Lu'lu is allowed to retain governance of the city as he aids the Mongols in other campaigns in Syria.

1256

The descendents of Chingiz Khan divide up the Mongol empire. The Il-Khans under Hulegu, son of Tolui, son of Chingiz, gain Islamic Persia and Mesopotamia.

1258

Despite being nominally dominated by the Mongols under the Great Khan Mongke, the actions in Syria and against Egypt of Sultan an Nasir II Yusuf of Damascus force a Mongol invasion of Mesopotamia. Mongke decides to conquer the region as far as the Nile and sends a vast Il-Khan Mongol force against Baghdad in 1258. The Abbasid caliph and his family are massacred when Yusuf fails to produce an army to defend him.

1260

The Mongol army marches on Aleppo and it quickly falls (within a week). This time, most of the inhabitants are killed or sold into slavery and the Great Mosque and the defensive Citadel are razed. When the army arrives at Damascus the city surrenders immediately as Yusuf has already fled to Gaza. Samaria is captured, with the garrison of Nablus being put to the sword, and Gaza is taken. Yusuf is captured and killed while a prisoner, but Baybars of Egypt sends a Mameluke army which inflicts a defeat on the Mongols at the Battle of Ain Jalut. Damascus is freed five days later and within a month most of Syria is in Baybars' hands.

1260 - 1294

Kublai Khan / Qubilai Khan

Born 1215. Shih Tsu in China in 1280.

1267 - 1279

The Southern Sung are conquered and with that the Great Khans concentrate their rule almost entirely on China itself (from this point the list of Mongol rulers is repeated under the Chinese Yuan dynasty).

1274

The first Mongol invasion of Japan is defeated through bad weather conditions, with the outnumbered Japanese facing superior and much more modern forces.

1281

The second Mongol invasion of Japan is again defeated through bad weather conditions.

1294 - 1307

Temur Öljeytu Khan

Ch'eng Tsung 1295.

1307 - 1311

Qayshan Guluk / Hai-Shan

Wu Tsung 1308.

1308

The Seljuq sultanate of Rum collapses and the area is ruled through regional governors by the Mongols.

1311 - 1320

Ayurparibhadra / Ayurbarwada

Jen Tsung 1312.

1320 - 1323

Suddhipala Gege'en / Shidebala

Ying Tsung 1321.

1323 - 1328

Yesun-Temur

Tai-ting Ti 1324.

1328

Arigaba / Aragibag

1328 - 1329

Jijaghatu Toq-Temur

1329

Qoshila Qutuqtu

Wen Tsung? 1330.

1329 - 1332

Jijaghatu Toq-Temur

Ming Tsung 1329.

1332 - 1333

Rinchenpal / Irinchibal

1333 - 1370

Toghan-Temur

Shun Ti 1333.

1336

The Mongol Jalayirid Sultanate establishes itself in southern and western Persia, as well as taking control of the areas of former Rum not conquered by the expanding Ottomans.

1368

The Mongols are expelled from China.

1370 - 1388

Togus-Temur

Line continues in Mongolia until 17th century.

The Chaghatayid / Jagatai-id Khans of Mughulistan
AD 1227 - 1363

1227 - 1244

Chaghatay / Jagatai / Chagatai Khan

Son of Chingiz Khan.

1244 - 1246

Qara Hulegu

First rule.

1246 - 1251

Yesu Mongke

1251 - 1252

Qara Hulegu

Second rule.

1252 - 1260

Orqina Khatun

1260 - 1266

Alughu

1266

Mubarak Shah

c.1266 - 1271

Baraq / Ghiyath ad Dîn

1271 - 1272

Negubey

1272 - 1282

Buqa / Toqa Temur

c.1282 - 1306

Du'a

1306 - 1308

Konchek

1308 - 1309

Taliqu

1309

Kebek

First rule.

1309 - 1320

Esen Buqa

c.1320 - 1326

Kebek

Second rule.

1326

Eljigedey

1326

Du'a Temur

1326 - 1334

Tarmashirin Ala ad Din

1334

Buzan

1334 - 1338

Changshi

c.1338 - 1342

Yesun Temur

c.1342 - 1343

Muhammad

1343 - 1346

Qazan

1346 - 1348

Danishmendji

1348 - 1358

Buyan Quli

Killed.

1359

Shah Temur

1359 - 1363

TughlughTemur

1363

While conquering Transoxiana and Khorasan from Khwarazm in the name of the khanate, the Timurids succeed to western Mughulistan, placing figurehead Mongols on the throne. Timur rules from behind the throne as amir.

1364 - 1370

Khabul Shah

Puppet for the western khanate.

1370 - 1384

Soyurghatmïsh Khan / Suurgatmish

Son of Danishmendji. Puppet khan.

1384 - 1402

Sultan Mahmud

Son. Puppet khan.

1402

Mahmud's death marks the end of the Chaghatayid khans, although figurehead puppets continue to be appointed by the Timurids. Many of them are entirely unknown, although one of them, Satuk Khan, attempts to establish the independence of Mughulistan, without success.

The Khans of the Golden Horde (Kipchak Khanate)

The Khans of the Blue Horde

The Golden & Blue Hordes continue under separate rule as the Great Khans concentrated on China. Juchi, son of Chingiz Khan, inherited dominion over the Alans.

Juchi / Jochi

Son of Chingiz Khan. Ruled Central Asia in his name.

1227 - 1256

Batu Khan

Son.

Shiban / Shayban

Brother.

1227

Shiban is too young when his father dies to gain any territories himself, despite being one of Juchi's sub-commanders of the White Horde. Instead, his descendants, the Shaibanids, carve out their own territory in the fifteenth century in Turkestan when they conquer Transoxiana and Khorasan.

1236 - 1239

Russia is conquered.

1239 - 1242

Europe is invaded. In 1241, Batu Khan leads the Mongols into Galicia, capturing the capital and destroying the cathedral. Galicia drives out the Mongols upon Batu Khan's death, but they retain suzerainty.

1256 - 1257

Sartaq

1257

Ulaghchi

1257 - 1267

Berke

1260

A Mameluke who had been born a Kipchak Turk and who had been captured by Mongols and sold as a slave, now becomes sultan of Egypt. Sultan Baybars makes the sultanate a force to be reckoned with against later Mongol incursions.

1267 - 1280

Mongke Temur

1280 - 1287

Tode Mongke

1287 - 1291

Tole Buqa

1291 - 1313

Toqta

1313 - 1341

Muhammad Özbeg

1341 - 1342

Toni Beg

1342 - 1357

Jani Beg

1357 - 1359

Berdi Beg

1357 - 1380

Period of anarchy.

1378

The Blue and Golden Horde is united with the White Horde to form a greater Golden Horde.

The Khans of the White Horde

1226 - 1280

Orda

1280 - 1302

Kochu

1302 - 1309

Buyan

1309 - 1315

Sasibuqa (?)

c.1315 - 1320

Ilbasan

1320 - 1344

Mubarak Khwaja

1344 - 1374

Chimtay

1374 - 1376

Urus

1376 - 1377

Toqtaqiya

1377

Temur Malik

1378

The White Horde unites with the Blue Horde to form a greater Golden Horde.

The Khans of the Golden Horde

1377 - 1378

Toqtamish Khan / Toctamish

1378

The White Horde & Blue Horde unite to form a greater Golden Horde.

1378 - 1395

Toqtamish Khan / Toctamish

1395

The Golden Horde is beaten by Timur of Persia, allowing him to claim complete control of the Caucuses, which probably includes the Alans to its north.

1395 - 1419

Edigu

Vizier

1395 - 1401

Temur Qutlugh

1401 - 1407

Shadî Beg

1407 - 1410

Pulad Khan

1410 - 1412

Temur

1412

Jalal ad Din

1412 - 1414

Karim Berdi

1414 - 1417

Kebek

1417 - 1419

Yeremferden ?

1419 - 1422

Ulugh Muhammad

Rival.

1419 - 1422

Dawlat Berdi

Rival.

1422 - 1433

Baraq

c.1433 - 1435

Sayyid Ahmad I

c.1435 - 1465

Kuchuk Muhammad

c.1465 - 1481

Ahmad

1480

Ivan III refuses tribute to the khans. The independence of Moscow is confirmed.

1481 - 1498

Shaykh Ahmad

1481 - 1499

Murtada

1499 - 1502

Shaykh Ahmad

1502

The Golden Horde is defeated and annexed by the khans of the Crimea.

The Khans of Astrakhan

1466 - 1490

Qasim

1490 - 1504

Abd al Karim

1504 - 1532

Qasay

1532 - 1534

Aq Kobek

1534 - 1538

Abd al Rahman

1541 - 1544

Aq Kobek

1538 - 1541

Shaykh Haydar

1544 - 1554

Yaghmurchi

1554

The khans of Astrakhan are conquered by the Russians under Ivan IV.

1554 - 1557

Darwîsh Alî

Russian vassal.

The Khans of Kazan

1437 - 1445

Ulugh Muhammad

1445 - 1462

Mahmud

1462 - 1467

Khalil

1467 - 1479

Ibrahim

1479 - 1484

Alî

First rule.

1484 - 1485

Muhammad Amin

First rule.

1485 - 1487

Alî

Second rule.

1487 - 1495

Muhammad Amin

Second rule.

1495 - 1496

Mamuq

Siberian Khan.

1496 - 1502

Abd al Latif

1502 - 1518

Muhammad Amin

Third rule.

1508 - 1510

The Shaibanids carry out a number of raids into the khanate from their empire in Transoxiana, but their ruler, Mohammed Shaibani, is killed on one of them in 1510, bringing the prominence of his short-lived empire to an end.

1519 - 1521

Shah Alî

First rule. Khan of Qasimov

1521 - 1524

Shah Alî

Second rule.

1524 - 1531

Safa Giray

First rule

1531 - 1533

Jan Alî

1533 - 1546

Safa Giray

Second rule.

1546

Sahib Giray

1546

Safa Giray

Third rule.

1549 - 1551

Ötemish

1551 - 1552

Shah Alî

Third rule.

1552

Yadigar Muhammad

1552

The khans of Kazan are conquered by the Russians under Ivan IV.

The Khans of Crimea

1449 - 1456

Hajji Giray I

First rule.

1456

Haydar Giray

1456 - 1466

Hajji Giray I

Second rule.

1466 - 1467

Nur Dawlat Giray

First rule.

1467 - 1474

Mengli Giray

First rule.

1474 - 1475

Nur Dawlat Giray

Second rule.

1475

The khanate becomes a vassal of the Ottoman Turks, and remains so until its end.

1475 - 1476

Mengli Giray

Second rule.

1476 - 1478

Nur Dawlat Giray

Third rule.

1478 - 1514

Mengli Giray

Third rule.

1514 - 1523

Muhammad Giray I

1523 - 1524

Ghazî Giray I

1524 - 1532

Sa'adat Giray I

1532

Islam Giray I

1532 - 1551

Sahib Giray I

1551 - 1577

Dawlat Giray I

1577 - 1584

Muhammad Giray II

1584 - 1588

Islam Giray II

1588 - 1596

Ghazi Giray II

First rule.

1596

Fath. Giray I

1596 - 1608

Ghazi Giray II

Second rule.

1608

Toqtamish Giray

1608 - 1610

Salamat Giray I

1610

Muhammad Giray III

First rule.

1610 - 1623

Jani Beg Giray

First rule.

1623 - 1624

Muhammad Giray III

Second rule.

1624

Jani Beg Giray

Second rule.

1624 - 1627

Muhammad Giray III

Third rule.

1627 - 1635

Jani Beg Giray

Third rule.

1635 - 1637

Inayat Giray

1637 - 1641

Bahadur Giray I

1641 - 1644

Muhammad Giray IV

First rule.

1644 - 1654

Islam Giray III

1654 - 1666

Muhammad Giray IV

Second rule.

1666 - 1671

Âdil Giray

1671 - 1678

Salim Giray I

First rule.

1678 - 1683

Murad Giray

1683 - 1684

Hajji Giray II

1684 - 1691

Salim Giray I

Second rule.

1691

Sa'adat Giray II

1691 - 1692

Safa Giray

1692 - 1699

Salim Giray I

Third rule.

1699 - 1702

Dawlat Giray II

First rule.

1702 - 1704

Salim Giray I

Fourth rule.

1704 - 1707

Ghazi Giray III

1707 - 1708

Qaplan Giray I

First rule.

1708 - 1713

Dawlat Giray II

Second rule.

1713 - 1716

Qaplan Giray I

Second rule.

1716 - 1717

Dawlat Giray III

1717 - 1724

Sa'adat Giray III

1724 - 1730

Mengli Giray II

First rule.

1730 - 1736

Qaplan Giray I

Third rule.

1736 - 1737

Fath. Giray II

1737 - 1740

Mengli Giray II

Second rule.

1740 - 1743

Salamat Giray II

1743 - 1748

Salim Giray II

1748 - 1756

Arslan Giray

First rule.

1756 - 1758

Halim Giray

1758 - 1764

Qirim Giray

First rule.

1764 - 1767

Salim Giray III

First rule.

1767

Arslan Giray

Second rule.

1767 - 1768

Maqsud Giray

First rule.

1768 - 1769

Qirim Giray

Second rule.

1769

Dawlat Giray IV

First rule.

1769 - 1770

Qaplan Giray II

1770 - 1771

Salim Giray III

Second rule.

1771 - 1772

Maqsud Giray

Second rule.

1772 - 1775

Sahib Giray II

1775 - 1777

Dawlat Giray IV

Second rule.

1777 - 1782

Shahin Giray

First rule.

1782 - 1783

Bahadur II Giray

1783 - 1787

Shahin Giray

Second rule. Russian vassal

1783

The khanate is annexed by the Russians under Catherine II the Great.