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

THE SUCCESSORS OF GENGHIS KHAN
When that year drew to an end, they had sent messengers in every
direction calling upon the princes and their kinsmen to gather together
on the Keliiren. They sent Shilemun Bitikchi to Oghul-Qaimish
and her sons Khwaja and Naqu, and 'Alam-Dar Bitikchi to Yesii
Mongke, with the following message: "Most of the family of Chingiz-
Khan have gathered together and the business of the quriltai has been
delayed until now because of you. There is no more time for excuses
and procrastination. If you have a mind to concord and unity you
must come to the quriltai in order that the affairs of the realm may be
dealt with in unanimity." When they realized that they had no
alternative, Naqu Oghul set out, as did also Qadaq Noyan and some
of the emirs of Giiyiik Khan's Court. Yesiin-To'a, too, the grandson
of Chaghatai, set out from his place of residence and went with them
to Shiremun; and all three gathered together in one place. Then
Khwaja also started out, all of them still imagining that the business
of the quriltai could not proceed without them. Berke now sent the
following message to Batu: "For 2 years we have been waiting to
set Mongke Qa'an on the throne, and the sons of Ogetei Qa'an and
Giiyiik Khan and Yesii-Mongke, the son of Chaghatai, have not
come." Batu sent this reply: "Set him on the throne. Whoever turns
against thejrasa, let him lose his head."30
All the princes and emirs that were with Mongke Qa'an—such as
Berke; Harqasun, one of the great emirs; Yekii and Yesiingge, the
sons of Jochi-Qasar;31 Elchitei, the son of Qachi'un; Taghachar, the
son of Otchi Noyan;32 and the sons of Bilgiitei,33 all of them nephews
of Chingiz-Khan, representing the princes of the left hand;34 and
Qara-Hulegu,35 the son of Chaghatai; Qadan, the son, and Mongedii,
the grandson of Ogetei Qa'an;36 and Hulegii Khan, Qubilai Qa'an,
Moge and Ariq Boke, the brothers of Mongke Qa'an, representing
30 This exchange of messages between Berke and Batu is not mentioned by Juvaini.
31 They are not mentioned by Juvaini as being present.
32 Juvaini (HWC, p. 568) speaks only of the "sons of Otegin." According to the
Tiian shih (Chapitre CVII, pp. 35 and 38, note 11), Taghachar was Temiige-Otchigin's
grandson.
33 Not mentioned by Juvaini. 34 That is, the East.
35 Rashid al-Dm repeats below, p. 207, Juvaini's statement (HWC, p. 573) that
Qara-Hulegii and Qadan arrived after the enthronement ceremony.
36 Juvaini speaks of the sons of Koten (of whom Mongedii was one); also the sons of
Kolgen, who, according to the Titan shih (Chapitre CVII, p. 64), had only one.
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