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

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THE SUCCESSORS OF GENGHIS KHAN<br />

And he said to him: "Thou citedst a Mongol proverb, the meaning <strong>of</strong><br />

which was that we had done something and must not now abandon it<br />

or fail in it. That was thy great crime for which thou must die."<br />

Bulgha Noyan did not deny this but confirmed to him that it was so.<br />

And when those words <strong>of</strong> his were reported to the Qa'an he said:<br />

"Since it is so let him be executed."<br />

As for Elchitei, his guilt was greater than the others' since he had<br />

made false accusations against Qurumshi, the son <strong>of</strong> Qadan, so that<br />

they put him to death. Toquz's guilt was heavy also, for he had<br />

striven to put many members <strong>of</strong> the Qa'an's ulus to death. All the<br />

above-mentioned emirs were executed. As for Hoqu, the son <strong>of</strong> Guyiik<br />

<strong>Khan</strong>, Chabat, the son <strong>of</strong> Naqu, and Totoq, the son <strong>of</strong> Qarachar,<br />

they were sent by the Qa'an along with some other princes to Turkistan.<br />

<strong>The</strong>n he wished to examine Ariiq Boke, for which purpose he was<br />

awaiting the arrival <strong>of</strong> Hiilegii <strong>Khan</strong>, Berke, and Alghu. However,<br />

since they were exceedingly far away and time was passing, the princes<br />

in that region, viz. Taghachar, Yesiingge, Yeke-Qadan, Hulaqur,<br />

Jibik-Temiir, and the other Mongol and Khitayan princes and emirs<br />

gathered together and examined Ariq Boke and Asutai.<br />

And when ten <strong>of</strong> Ar'iq Boke's emirs had been put to death and he<br />

himself had been examined, a royal yarligh was dispatched to all parts<br />

<strong>of</strong> the Empire [telling <strong>of</strong> these matters]. And the emirs all consulted<br />

together, saying: "How shall we look at the crime <strong>of</strong> Ariiq Boke and<br />

Asutai? Shall we spare their lives for the Qa'an's sake?" And they<br />

sent messengers to Hulegii, Berke, and Alghu, saying: "Since your<br />

presence was not possible because <strong>of</strong> the distance <strong>of</strong> the road and the<br />

multiplicity <strong>of</strong> your preoccupations, and since to wait longer might<br />

have introduced into the affairs <strong>of</strong> the Empire such weakness and<br />

confusion as might not be put to rights, we have therefore executed<br />

their emirs and have examined them both. We now consult you on<br />

this matter. We, that is all the aqa and ini, are agreed that we should<br />

spare Ari'q Boke's life and release Asutai. What do you say to this?"<br />

<strong>The</strong> messengers came first to Alghu and delivered their message.<br />

He replied: "I too succeeded Chaghatai without consulting the<br />

Qa'an and Hiilegii Aqa. When all the aqa and ini are assembled and<br />

question me as to whether I am right or wrong, if they approve <strong>of</strong> me,<br />

I shall say whether I think well or ill <strong>of</strong> it." <strong>The</strong> messengers then came<br />

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