07.04.2013 Views

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

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

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

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

Create successful ePaper yourself

Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.

THE SUCCESSORS OF GENGHIS KHAN<br />

and yosun <strong>of</strong> every matter, to go and administer his grandfather's<br />

residence and ulus and so sent us assistance and provisions and arms<br />

and guard the frontier along the Oxus so that the army <strong>of</strong> Hiilegii<br />

and the army <strong>of</strong> Berke cannot come to the aid <strong>of</strong> Qubilai Qa'an from<br />

that direction." With this idea in mind, he spoke kindly to him and<br />

sent him on his way. Alghu leapt forth like an arrow from a bow and<br />

took his own head. When he reached Kashghar nearly 150,000<br />

mounted warriors were gathered around him, and he rose in revolt and<br />

insurrection.<br />

Meanwhile, the Qa'an had set out upon the campaign and proceeded<br />

at great speed until he came to Qanqi Daban^s where he heard how<br />

Ariq Boke had put to death Abishqa and the two princes that were<br />

with him and the hundred envoys. He was incensed and had Durchi<br />

Noyan, whom he was holding in custody, put to death. Before setting<br />

out on the campaign, he had sent the princes Yeke-Qadan and Qaralju,<br />

the son <strong>of</strong> Jochi-Qasar, with several other princes and Buri, from<br />

amongst the emirs, with a great army into the Tangqut country,<br />

because it had been reported that Ari'q Boke had sent 'Alam-Dar<br />

and Qundaqai as emir and shahna respectively, at the head <strong>of</strong> the army<br />

which had been with Mongke Qa'an in Nangiyas and which, after<br />

his death, had been commanded by Asutai, who had come post-haste<br />

to join him; and they were now in the Tangqut region. When Yeke-<br />

Qadan and Qaralju came upon them, they joined battle and 'Alam-<br />

Dar was killed in that engagement; and part <strong>of</strong> the army was slain<br />

and part scattered, and the survivors fled to join Ariq Boke in the<br />

Qirqi'z country.<br />

As for Qubilai Qa'an, having reached the neighborhood <strong>of</strong> Qara-<br />

Qorum, he found the four ordos <strong>of</strong> Ariq Boke and the ordos <strong>of</strong> Kolgen<br />

and restored them and then wintered on the River Ongq'i Moren.46<br />

Meanwhile, Ariq Boke, distraught and bewildered, with a lean and<br />

hungry army, was on the borders <strong>of</strong> Kem-Kemchi'ut on the River<br />

*Yus.47 Fearing the approach <strong>of</strong> the Qa'an, he sent messengers and<br />

45 QJVQY DYAN. <strong>The</strong> second element <strong>of</strong> the name is Mo. dabagh-a(n), "mountain<br />

pass." This is apparently the modern <strong>Khan</strong>gin-Daba, 35 kilometers southwest <strong>of</strong><br />

Ulan Bator. See Thiel, p. 113.<br />

46 <strong>The</strong> River Onqin, the modern Ongin Gol, which rises in the <strong>Khan</strong>gai and in<br />

wet years reaches and replenishes the Ulan Nur. See Thiel, pp. 39 and 409.<br />

47 So Hambis (1956, p. 300, note 69) suggests that this corrupt name should be<br />

254

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!