Kebek
Encyclopedia
Kebek was khan of the Chagatai Khanate
from 1309 until 1310, and again from c. 1318 until his death.
, who was khan from 1282 until 1307. During his father's reign Kebek participated in the Mongol invasions of India
, leading a punitive expedition
against the Sultanate of Delhi in 1305 in retaliation for the destruction of a Mongol army the previous year. He devastated the Punjab region
, especially around Multan, but on the return journey his army was attacked on the banks of the Indus River
by a force sent from Delhi and suffered a high number of losses. This was one of the last Chagatayid campaigns against India to take place before a temporary cessation of the Mongol raids (1307–1327, when they were resumed under Khan Tarmashirin
).
The situation in the Chagatai Khanate following the death of Duwa in 1307 turned volatile, with two of his successors reigning within one year and with the sons of Kaidu
still hoping to regain control over the khans. By 1308 Taliqu
was in charge of the khanate but his rule was quickly contested. His enemies rallied among Kebek, and they defeated and overthrew Taliqu in 1308 or 1309. As a result Kebek became khan of the ulus.
At this point the sons of Kaidu decided to make their move against the Chagatayids. Having recently come off his war with Taliqu, Kebek found himself facing an invasion by Yangichar, Orus, Chapar and Tügme. The two sides met near Almaliq, where Kebek's forces ultimately won a pitched battle. Following this, Chapar decided to surrender to the Yuan
Khagan
Khayisan Wuzong, permanently ending the threat against the Chagatayids by Kaidu's sons.
With Yangichar and his brothers defeated, Kebek held a quriltai to decide on a future of the khanate. At the quriltai the Mongol princes agreed to recognize Kebek's brother Esen Buqa
as khan. Esen Buqa was summoned to take control of the Chagatai ulus, and Kebek stepped down in his favor.
. In January Kebek, together with allied Neguderi forces, crossed the Amu Darya
into Ilkhanid territory and defeated an enemy army on the Murghab
. The Chagatayid army then advanced as far as Herat
, but then Kebek received an urgent summons from Esen Buqa, who needed help in repelling an invasion from the east by the Yuan Mongols
. Soon afterwards a Chagatayid prince, Yasa'ur
, defected from Kebek's side and assisted the Ilkhans in defeating the Chagatayids. As a reward Yasa'ur was given lands in Afghanistan
by the Ilkhan Öljeitü.
Kebek is known to have married two princess from the court of the Khagan
. He also sent annual tributes to the latter from 1323 onwards. Unlike his brother, Esen Buqa, Kebek avoided any conflict with Khagan and surrendered to Gegeen Khan, Emperor Yingzong of Yuan when the border skrimish broke out in 1323.
Aside from this early conflict, Kebek's second reign was largely peaceful. The adoption of a standard coinage for the entire khanate started at the latest under Kebek; in any case he supported its use. He was also interested in establishing a capital for himself, something his nomadic predecessors had seldom done. Qarshi
became the capital city of the khanate during his lifetime.
In around 1326 Kebek died and was succeeded by his brother Eljigidey
.
Chagatai Khanate
The Chagatai Khanate was a Turko-Mongol khanate that comprised the lands ruled by Chagatai Khan , second son of the Great Khan Genghis Khan, and his descendents and successors...
from 1309 until 1310, and again from c. 1318 until his death.
First Reign
Kebek was the son of DuwaDuwa
Duwa , also known as Du'a, was khan of the Chagatai Khanate . He was the second son of Baraq. He was the longest reigning monarch of the Chagatayid Khanate and accepted the Great Khan's supremacy...
, who was khan from 1282 until 1307. During his father's reign Kebek participated in the Mongol invasions of India
Mongol invasions of India
The Mongol Empire launched several Mongol invasions into the Indian subcontinent from 1221 to 1327. The Mongols made Kashmir their vassal state. However, the campaigns against the Delhi Sultanate proved unsuccessful, in spite of constant Mongol incursions....
, leading a 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...
against the Sultanate of Delhi in 1305 in retaliation for the destruction of a Mongol army the previous year. He devastated the Punjab region
Punjab region
The Punjab , also spelled Panjab |water]]s"), is a geographical region straddling the border between Pakistan and India which includes Punjab province in Pakistan and the states of the Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Chandigarh and some northern parts of the National Capital Territory of Delhi...
, especially around Multan, but on the return journey his army was attacked on the banks of the Indus River
Indus River
The Indus River is a major river which flows through Pakistan. It also has courses through China and India.Originating in the Tibetan plateau of western China in the vicinity of Lake Mansarovar in Tibet Autonomous Region, the river runs a course through the Ladakh district of Jammu and Kashmir and...
by a force sent from Delhi and suffered a high number of losses. This was one of the last Chagatayid campaigns against India to take place before a temporary cessation of the Mongol raids (1307–1327, when they were resumed under Khan Tarmashirin
Tarmashirin
Tarmashirin Khan was the khan of the Chagatai Khanate following Duwa Timur.Tarmashirin is famous for his campaign in India in 1327 before he was enthroned. He destroyed every army on his way to Delhi. The Delhi Sultan gave him a large tribute to spare his life...
).
The situation in the Chagatai Khanate following the death of Duwa in 1307 turned volatile, with two of his successors reigning within one year and with the sons of Kaidu
Kaidu
Kaidu was the leader of the House of Ogedei and the de facto khan of the Chagatai Khanate. He ruled part of modern-day Xinjiang and Central Asia during the 13th century, and actively opposed his uncle, Kublai Khan, who established the Yuan Dynasty in China until his death in 1301...
still hoping to regain control over the khans. By 1308 Taliqu
Taliqu
Taliqu was Khan of the Chagatai Khanate . He was the son of Qadaqchi and a princess of Kerman, and a grandson of Büri.Following the death of Könchek, Taliqu seized power and became Khan. As a Muslim, he attempted to convert his subjects; this move was unpopular. This, combined with resentment that...
was in charge of the khanate but his rule was quickly contested. His enemies rallied among Kebek, and they defeated and overthrew Taliqu in 1308 or 1309. As a result Kebek became khan of the ulus.
At this point the sons of Kaidu decided to make their move against the Chagatayids. Having recently come off his war with Taliqu, Kebek found himself facing an invasion by Yangichar, Orus, Chapar and Tügme. The two sides met near Almaliq, where Kebek's forces ultimately won a pitched battle. Following this, Chapar decided to surrender to the Yuan
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
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...
Khayisan Wuzong, permanently ending the threat against the Chagatayids by Kaidu's sons.
With Yangichar and his brothers defeated, Kebek held a quriltai to decide on a future of the khanate. At the quriltai the Mongol princes agreed to recognize Kebek's brother Esen Buqa
Esen Buqa I
Esen Buqa I was Khan of the Chagatai Khanate . He was the son of Duwa.In 1309 Esen Buqa's brother Kebek ordered a meeting to determine the future of the khanate following his seizure of power...
as khan. Esen Buqa was summoned to take control of the Chagatai ulus, and Kebek stepped down in his favor.
Under Esen Buqa
In 1314 Esen Buqa put Kebek in charge of an army that was to invade the IlkhanateIlkhanate
The Ilkhanate, also spelled Il-khanate , was a Mongol khanate established in Azerbaijan and Persia in the 13th century, considered a part of the Mongol Empire...
. In January Kebek, together with allied Neguderi forces, crossed the Amu Darya
Amu Darya
The Amu Darya , also called Oxus and Amu River, is a major river in Central Asia. It is formed by the junction of the Vakhsh and Panj rivers...
into Ilkhanid territory and defeated an enemy army on the Murghab
Murgab River (Afghanistan)
The Morghāb River , also transliterated as Murgab from Russian Мургаб, is an 850 km long river in Central Asia...
. The Chagatayid army then advanced as far as Herat
Herat
Herāt is the capital of Herat province in Afghanistan. It is the third largest city of Afghanistan, with a population of about 397,456 as of 2006. It is situated in the valley of the Hari River, which flows from the mountains of central Afghanistan to the Karakum Desert in Turkmenistan...
, but then Kebek received an urgent summons from Esen Buqa, who needed help in repelling an invasion from the east by the Yuan Mongols
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
. Soon afterwards a Chagatayid prince, Yasa'ur
Yasa'ur
Yasa'ur was a Chagatai prince who launched a revolt against the Ilkhan Abu Sa'id. He was the son of Chübei, and a great-great-grandson of Chagatai Khan.Yasa'ur had originally resided within the Chagatai ulus...
, defected from Kebek's side and assisted the Ilkhans in defeating the Chagatayids. As a reward Yasa'ur was given lands in Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
by the Ilkhan Öljeitü.
Second Reign
Esen Buqa died some time around 1320 and Kebek succeeded him as khan. One of first acts was to move against Yasa'ur, who had unsuccessfully rebelled against the Ilkhans and was therefore in a weak position; Kebek's forces defeated and killed him in June of 1320.Kebek is known to have married two princess from the court of 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...
. He also sent annual tributes to the latter from 1323 onwards. Unlike his brother, Esen Buqa, Kebek avoided any conflict with Khagan and surrendered to Gegeen Khan, Emperor Yingzong of Yuan when the border skrimish broke out in 1323.
Aside from this early conflict, Kebek's second reign was largely peaceful. The adoption of a standard coinage for the entire khanate started at the latest under Kebek; in any case he supported its use. He was also interested in establishing a capital for himself, something his nomadic predecessors had seldom done. Qarshi
Qarshi
Qarshi is a city in southern Uzbekistan. It is the capital of Qashqadaryo Province and has a population of 197,600 . It is about 520 km south-southwest of Tashkent, and about 335 km north of Uzbekistan's border with Afghanistan. It is located at latitude 38° 51' 48N; longitude 65° 47'...
became the capital city of the khanate during his lifetime.
In around 1326 Kebek died and was succeeded by his brother Eljigidey
Eljigidey
Eljigidey was khan of the Chagatai Khanate, a division of the Mongol Empire in 1326-1329. He was the son of Duwa. After the death of his brother Kebek, Eljigidey took control of the Chagatai Khanate. He was involved in the succession struggles of Yuan court from 1327 to 1328. His friend Kusala was...
.