Altan Khan of the Khalkha
Encyclopedia
The Altan Khans ruled north-western Mongolia from about 1609 to 1691 at the latest. Altan Khan of Khalkha also known as Altan Khan of Khotogoid ruled over the Khotogoids in northwestern Mongolia and belonged to the Left Wing of the Khalkha
(Eastern) Mongols
. Although they claimed to be Khan
, Mongolian
chronicles call them Hun Taij, which meant noble rank equal to Prince at that time.
some time after 1517 his empire was split between his descendents and became a kind of family federation. His grandson, a different Altan Khan
(1507–1582) of Tumet drove the Oirats
west to Kobdo in western Mongolia. Dayan Khaan's youngest son, Gersendze Huangtaizi, was given lands approximately matching the territory of present-day Mongolia. By the early 17th century most of Outer Mongolia was held by his descendents. These formed four Khanates, from west to east:
The Altan Khan was important circa 1609-1682. The Tushetu Khan, with his control of the religious capital, was long the leading figure in Khalkha.
In the 17th century, to the west, the Oirat Zunghar Khanate
was gradually consolidated; to the north, the Russians increased their hold over the Siberian forests and, to the east, the Manchus moved south to conquer China (Qing Dynasty
).
Khalkha
Khalkha is the largest subgroup of Mongol people in Mongolia since 15th century. The Khalkha together with Tsahar, Ordos and Tumed, were directly ruled by the Altan Urag Khans until the 20th century; unlike the Oirat people who were ruled by the Dzungar nobles or the Khorchins who were ruled by...
(Eastern) Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
. Although they claimed to be Khan
Khan (title)
Khan is an originally Altaic and subsequently Central Asian title for a sovereign or military ruler, widely used by medieval nomadic Turko-Mongol tribes living to the north of China. 'Khan' is also seen as a title in the Xianbei confederation for their chief between 283 and 289...
, Mongolian
Mongolian language
The Mongolian language is the official language of Mongolia and the best-known member of the Mongolic language family. The number of speakers across all its dialects may be 5.2 million, including the vast majority of the residents of Mongolia and many of the Mongolian residents of the Inner...
chronicles call them Hun Taij, which meant noble rank equal to Prince at that time.
Background
After the death of Dayan KhanDayan Khan
Dayan Khan , was a Mongol khan who reunited the Mongols under Chinggisid supremacy in the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia...
some time after 1517 his empire was split between his descendents and became a kind of family federation. His grandson, a different Altan Khan
Altan Khan
Altan Khan , whose given name was Anda , was the ruler of the Tümet Mongols and de facto ruler of the Right Wing, or western tribes, of the Mongols...
(1507–1582) of Tumet drove the Oirats
Oirats
Oirats are the westernmost group of the Mongols who unified several tribes origin whose ancestral home is in the Altai region of western Mongolia. Although the Oirats originated in the eastern parts of Central Asia, the most prominent group today is located in the Republic of Kalmykia, a federal...
west to Kobdo in western Mongolia. Dayan Khaan's youngest son, Gersendze Huangtaizi, was given lands approximately matching the territory of present-day Mongolia. By the early 17th century most of Outer Mongolia was held by his descendents. These formed four Khanates, from west to east:
- The Altyn Khan (great grandson of Geresandza) in the far west.
- Dzasagtu-khan, khanate founded by Laikhor-khan, a cousin of the Altyn Khan.
- Tushetu Khan at Ulan Bator founded by Abatai, another grandson. This was the senior branch.
- Sechen-khan at the eastern end of modern Mongolia, founded by Shului, a great-grandson.
The Altan Khan was important circa 1609-1682. The Tushetu Khan, with his control of the religious capital, was long the leading figure in Khalkha.
In the 17th century, to the west, the Oirat Zunghar Khanate
Zunghar Khanate
The Zunghar Khanate was a nomadic power on the Eurasian steppe. It covered the area called Dzungaria and stretched from the west end of the Great Wall of China to present-day eastern Kazakhstan, and from present-day northern Kyrgyzstan to southern Siberia .In 1678 Galdan received from the Dalai...
was gradually consolidated; to the north, the Russians increased their hold over the Siberian forests and, to the east, the Manchus moved south to conquer China (Qing Dynasty
Qing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
).
Rulers
- Ubasi Khong TayijiUbasi Khong TayijiUbasi Khong Tayiji was a 17th century Mongolian prince. He was the first Altan Khan of Khalkha who ruled Khotgoids in northwestern Khalkha See Altan Khan of the Khotgoid....
(Shului Ubasha khongtaiji) (?-1623) was the first to take the name Altyn Khan. About 1609 he occupied the former Oirat heartland around Kobdo and Lake Ubsa NorUvs NuurUvs Lake is a highly saline lake in an endorheic basin - Uvs Nuur Basin in Mongolia with a small part in Russia. It is the largest lake in Mongolia by surface area, covering 3,350 km² at 759 m above sea level....
. He drove the Oirats west into DzungariaDzungariaDzungaria, also called Zungaria, is a geographical region in northwest China corresponding to the northern half of Xinjiang. It covers approximately , lying mostly within Xinjiang, and extending into western Mongolia and eastern Kazakhstan...
in 1620 and 1623. Ubasi was killed by the Oirats in 1623 and was succeeded by his son Badma Erdeni Khong Tayiji. - Badma Erdeni Khong TayijiBadma Erdeni Khong TayijiBadma Erdeni Khong Tayiji was a 17th century Mongol prince of the Altyn Khan dynasty. Son of Ubasi Khong Tayiji, the first Altan Khan of Khalkha. In 1652, he abdicated the throne and his son Erinchin Lobsang Tayiji succeeded.See Altan Khan of the Khotgoid....
(1623-?) his son. In 1652, he abdicated the throne and his son Erinchin Lobsang Tayiji succeeded. - Erinchin Lobsang TayijiErinchin Lobsang TayijiErinchin Lobsang Tayiji was a prince of the Khalkha federation in western Mongolia. See Altan Khan of Khalkha.In 1662 he attacked, captured and put to death his eastern neighbor, the Dzasagtu Khan. This led the senior Tushetu Khan to form a league and drive out the Altan-khan...
(or Lobdzang or Rinchen Sayin Khong Tayiji) (ca.1658-91): In 1662 he attacked, captured and put to death his eastern neighbor, the Dzasagtu Khan. This led the senior Tushetu Khan (Chaghun Dorji) to form a league and drive out the Altan-khan. In 1667 he was captured by Sengge, the DzungarZunghar KhanateThe Zunghar Khanate was a nomadic power on the Eurasian steppe. It covered the area called Dzungaria and stretched from the west end of the Great Wall of China to present-day eastern Kazakhstan, and from present-day northern Kyrgyzstan to southern Siberia .In 1678 Galdan received from the Dalai...
chief and was handed over to the (next) Dzasagtu Khan . With the help of the Dzunghars and Peking (divide and conquer), he was able to reinstate himself, but in 1682 he was captured by the Dzasagtu Khan. In 1691 he, and his khanate, disappear from the records.