Mongol Empire: Encyclopedia II - Mongol Empire - After Genghis Khan

Mongol Empire - After Genghis Khan

At first, the Mongol Empire was ruled by Ogedei Khan,Genghis Khan'a third son and designated heir. But after his death in 1241, the fractures which would ultimately crack the Empire began to show. Emnity between the grandchildren of Genghis Khan resulted in a 5 year regency by Ogedei's widow until she finally got her son Guyuk Khan confirmed as Great Khan. But he only ruled two years, and following his death -- he was on his way to confront his cousin Batu Khan, who had never accepted his authority -- another regency followed until finally a period of stability came with the reign of Monke Khan, from 1251-1259. The last universally accepted Great Khan was his brother Kublai Khan, from 1260-1294. Despite his recognition as Great Khan, he was unable to keep his cousin Berke and his brother Hulagu from open warfare in 1263, and after his death, there was not an accepted Great Khan. Ultimately, the Mongol Empire fragmented.

Following are the Khanate in the way in they emerged during the reign of the regency following Ogedei Khan's death, up to the reign of Kublai Khan, and formally independant after his death:

• Blue Horde and White Horde (combined into the Golden Horde) - Batu Khan and Orda Khan, with Batu Khan emerging as Khan.
• Il-Khanate - Hulegu Khan
• Empire of the Great Khan (China) - Kublai Khan
• Mongol homeland (present day Mongolia, including Kharakhorum) - Tolui Khan
• Chagadai Khanate - Chagatai Khan

The empire's expansion continued for a generation or more after Genghis's death in 1227 — indeed, it was under Genghis's successor Ögedei Khan that the speed of expansion reached its peak. Mongol armies pushed into Persia, finished off the Xia and the remnants of the Khwarezmids, and came into conflict with the Song Dynasty of China, starting a war that would last until 1279 and that would conclude with the Mongols' successful conquest of China.

Then, in the late 1230s, the Mongols under Batu Khan invaded Russia and Volga Bulgaria, reducing most of its principalities to vassalage, and pressed on into Eastern Europe. In 1241 the Mongols may have been ready to invade western Europe as well, having defeated the last Polish-German and Hungarian armies at the Battle of Legnica and the Battle of Mohi. Batu Khan and Subutai were preparing to invade western Europe, starting with a winter campaign against Austria and Germany, and finishing with Italy. The following year would see France and Iberia fall, as Batu swore to conquer all the way to the "Great Sea, (the Atlantic Ocean). However, at this point, news of Ögedei's death led to first the partial suspension of the invasion and then to its effective conclusion as Batu's attention switched to the election of the next Great Khan. Only the death of Ogedei spared western Europe, which would have fared no better against the Mongol armies than had their eastern comrades at Mohi. Indeed, Knights Templer and the Teutonic Order were at the Battle of Legnica and were slaughtered to a man.

During the 1250s, Genghis's grandson Hulegu Khan, operating from the Mongol base in Persia, destroyed the Abbasid Caliphate in Baghdad and destroyed the cult of the Assassins, moving into Palestine towards Egypt. The Great Khan Möngke having died, however, he hastened to return for the election, and the force that remained in Palestine was destroyed by the Mamluks under Baibars in 1261 at Ayn Jalut.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "After Genghis Khan", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki