The Successors of Genghis Khan - Robert Bedrosian's Armenian ...

HISTORY OF CHAGHATAI KHAN
described, and he ruled over his ulus and the army that Chingiz-
Khan had given to him; he was firmly established on the throne of his
kingdom in the region of Besh-Bali'q.36 And in all important affairs
Ogetei Qa'an used to send messengers and consult Chaghatai and
would undertake nothing without his advice and approval. He himself
in all matters trod the path of agreement and co-operation and in
every decision used to say whatever occurred to him. Whenever there
was an important undertaking he would attend the quriltai, and all the
princes and emirs would come to welcome him; he would then enter
the Court of the Qa'an, make obeisance and go into the inner chamber.
During the 13 years that Ogetei was established on the throne, Chaghatai
agreed and co-operated with him in this fashion: he died 7 months
before Ogetei Qa'an, in the year 638/1240-1241.37
HISTORY OF THE ULUS OF CHAGHATAI AFTER HIS
death and the accession
Of his descendants one after another till the present day
After the death of Qa'an and Chaghatai, although Qara-Hulegii
was the most senior of Chaghatai's descendants and the eldest son of
Mo'etiiken (who during his father's lifetime, in the reign of Chingiz-
Khan, had been killed by an arrow before the castle of Bamiyan,
having been the heir-apparent), nevertheless Giiyuk Khan, because
Yesu-Mongke, the fifth son of Chaghatai, was opposed to Mongke
Qa'an, sent him instead to rule over the ulus of Chaghatai. However,
when Mongke Qa'an became Qa'an, he gave Qara-Hulegii a yarligh
commanding him to put Yesii-Mongke to death and, as heir-apparent,
become the ruler of that ulus. Qara-Hulegii died en route before reaching
the ulus, and his wife, Orqi'na Khatun, the daughter of Torelchi
Kiiregen of the Oirat, put Yesu-Mongke to death in accordance with
36 That is, from Besh-Baliq westward. His main residences were in the valley of the
Hi. See//WC, pp. 271-72; also Four Studies, pp. 114-15.
37 Ogedei died on the i ith December, 1241: according to Juvaini (HWC, p. 272),
Chaghatai survived his brother for a brief period.