Battle of Kherlen
Encyclopedia
The battle of Kherlen was a battle between Borjigin Mongolia
and Ming China that took place at the banks of Kherlen River
(Kerulen) in Mongolia
on 23 September 1409.
After Bunyashiri
had been crowned with the title of Öljei Temür in 1403, the Yongle Emperor
sent an envoy to congratulate and demand submission of him in 1409. Öljei Temür Khagan Bunyashiri detained the envoy to express he was not willing to join the tributary relationship with the Ming
. The Asud
leader, Arughtai
, beheaded another envoy of Yongle in the same year and declared his allegiance to the Khagan
. Yongle in return dispatched a large punitive expedition
of 100,000 men to Mongolia
.
Lured deep into the steppe of Mongolia
, the Ming army was completely routed and defeated. Qiu Fu, with several other commanders, was killed by Arughtai west of Onohu.
This victory postponed any immediate invasion of Mongolia by Ming China for more than 3 years.
Post-imperial Mongolia
The Northern Yuan Dynasty refers to the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty which continued to rule Mongolia after the expulsion of the Mongol court from China in 1368, until the emergence of the Qing Dynasty in the 17th century. The period was marked by factional struggles and the often only nominal...
and Ming China that took place at the banks of Kherlen River
Kherlen River
Kherlen River is a river of 1,254 km length in Mongolia and China.-Course:The river has its origin in the south slopes of the Khentii mountains, near the Burkhan Khaldun mountain in the Khan Khentii Strictly Protected Area, about 180 km northeast of Ulaanbaatar...
(Kerulen) in Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
on 23 September 1409.
After Bunyashiri
Öljei Temür Khan
Öljei Temür Khan was the Mongol khan of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia. He was a son of Elbeg Nigülesügchi Khan and younger brother of Gün Temür Khan...
had been crowned with the title of Öljei Temür in 1403, the Yongle Emperor
Yongle Emperor
The Yongle Emperor , born Zhu Di , was the third emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China from 1402 to 1424. His Chinese era name Yongle means "Perpetual Happiness".He was the Prince of Yan , possessing a heavy military base in Beiping...
sent an envoy to congratulate and demand submission of him in 1409. Öljei Temür Khagan Bunyashiri detained the envoy to express he was not willing to join the tributary relationship with the Ming
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
. The Asud
Asud
Asud were a guard and military group of Alani origin. The Mongol clan Asud is the plural of As, the Arabic name for the Alans.After the Mongol invasion of Rus, many Alans submitted to the Mongol Empire. Some of them resisted the Golden Horde longer. Many warriors moved from Northern Caucasia to...
leader, Arughtai
Arughtai
Arughtai, also known as Alutai , was a chingsang of the Mongol Dynasty, who fought against the Yongle Emperor of Ming Dynasty China and the Four Oirats....
, beheaded another envoy of Yongle in the same year and declared his allegiance to the Khagan
Khagan
Khagan or qagan , alternatively spelled kagan, khaghan, qaghan, or chagan, is a title of imperial rank in the Mongolian and Turkic languages equal to the status of emperor and someone who rules a khaganate...
. Yongle in return dispatched a large punitive expedition
Punitive expedition
A punitive expedition is a military journey undertaken to punish a state or any group of persons outside the borders of the punishing state. It is usually undertaken in response to perceived disobedient or morally wrong behavior, but may be also be a covered revenge...
of 100,000 men to Mongolia
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
.
Lured deep into the steppe of Mongolia
Dornod Province
Dornod is the easternmost of the 21 aimags of Mongolia. Its capital is Choibalsan.- Population :Halh are the ethnic majority of the Dornod aimag, but Buryat ethnic group is 22.8% of population total concentrated in the north-eastern sums of Dashbalbar, Tsagaan-Ovoo, Bayan-Uul, Bayandun and...
, the Ming army was completely routed and defeated. Qiu Fu, with several other commanders, was killed by Arughtai west of Onohu.
This victory postponed any immediate invasion of Mongolia by Ming China for more than 3 years.