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

BEGINNING OF THE HISTORY OF QUBILAI QA'AN
all.) When the messengers reached Qubilai Qa'an from that direction,
the princes Taghachar, Yesiingge, Narin-Qadan, and the others and
the tiimen commanders had joined him in the town of Jungdu. The
messengers delivered their message, and they all declared as one
man: "These words are true, and it is the height of expedience. To go
is both right and necessary. But we have not yet returned from the
campaign. First let us go to our homes and then let us assemble and go
together." Dorji said: "My nokers will return with this message and I
will remain here until I may go in your company." He dispatched
his nokers accordingly. Qubilai Qa'an then sent a messenger to the army
which had invaded Nangiyas under Mongke Qa'an and also gave a
message to Asutai, bidding him come quickly. As for Moge he had
died during the campaign.
When the nokers of Dorji came to Ariq Boke and delivered their
message, the princes who were present exclaimed as one man: "How
long can we wait for them ? " And some of those that were there reached
an agreement among themselves and set Ariq Boke on the throne of the
Khanate in the Altai summer residence.36 That group consisted of
Orghana Qiz,37 the wife of Qara-Hiilegu, Asutai and tJrung-Tash,
the sons of Mongke Qa'an, Alghu, the grandson of Chaghatai,
Naimadai, the son of Taghachar, Yesii, the younger brother of Jibik-
Temiir, Durchi, the son of Qadan, Qurumshi, the son of Orda, Qarachar,
and one son of Bilgiitei Noyan. And since they had brought Asutai
from the army, they sent 'Alam-Dar as commander and shahna over
the army in order that by [gaining their] confidence he might protect
them and show them kindness so that they might not disperse. They
then dispatched to the ordo of Ogetei Qa'an, to the sons of Koten and
Jibik-Temiir, and to the countries of the Mongols, Tangqut, and
Jauqut, and [they] sent yarlighs and spread rumors to the following
effect: " Hiilegii, Berke, and the [other] princes had agreed together and
raised me to the Khanate. You must pay no attention to the words of
Qubilai, Taghachar, Yesiingge, Yeke-Qadan, and Narin-Qadan, nor
must you listen to their commands." They composed false words to
this effect and wrote and dispatched them. Jibik-Temiir and the
36 This was Ariq Boke's own residence. See below, p. 31 o.
37 The corrupt form is so read by Blochet, who sees it as T. qiz "daughter," in the
sense of "princess." On Orq'ina (Orghana) Khatun, see above, pp. 149—51.
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