Taisun Khan
| Taisun Khan 岱總汗 ᠳᠠᠶᠢᠰᠤᠩ ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠨ | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bogd Great Yuan[1] | |||||
| Khagan of the Northern Yuan dynasty | |||||
| Reign | 1433–19 January 1452 | ||||
| Coronation | 1433 | ||||
| Predecessor | Adai | ||||
| Successor | Agbarjin | ||||
| Born | 1416 | ||||
| Died | 1452 (aged 35–36) Khentii, Outer Mongolia | ||||
| Spouse | A daughter of Toghon Taishi Altagana Samar taifu | ||||
| |||||
| House | Borjigin | ||||
| Dynasty | Northern Yuan | ||||
| Father | Ajai | ||||
Taisun Khan (Mongolian script:ᠳᠠᠶᠢᠰᠤᠩ Mongolian: Тайсун хаан; Chinese: 岱總汗), born Toghtoa Bukha (Chinese: 脫脫不花), (1416–1452) was a khagan of the Northern Yuan dynasty, reigning from 1433 to 1452. Under his nominal rule, the Oirats successfully reunited the Mongol tribes and threatened the Ming dynasty to their south for the first time since the Battle of Kherlen in 1409.
Early life
After the previous khan
Toghtoa Bukha was the eldest son of Ajai who was a
Reign
Toghtoa Bukha Khan was an ambitious leader who aspired to gain real power and regaining the former glory of the
In 1439 Toghan installed Toghtoa Bukha as leader of the eastern Mongols under the title of Bogd Khagan Taisun of the Northern Yuan before the eight white yurts of Genghis Khan. Taisun Khan felt that the Ming was already weak enough to be dismissed, and openly proclaimed the Yuan dynasty with himself as Taisun (Taizong; 太宗), a move supported by most Mongols except the Oirats, who felt more time was needed to consolidate their gains. Fortunately, the Ming were indeed too weak to strike into the Mongol heartland like the deceased Yongle Emperor had done in the past. Ming showed its disapproval by calling Taisun Khan of the Northern Yuan instead of Taizong (太宗) of the Great Yuan.
After Toghan died, Taisun Khan made Toghan's son Esen Taishi a taishi, and his younger brother Agbarjin a jinong.[citation needed]
During the reign of Taisun Khan, Esen Taishi subjugated the
Conflict with Ming dynasty
Despite his ambitions, Taisun Khan was still far more inclined towards peaceful relations with the Ming dynasty than his commander Esen. He kept a friendly relationship with the Ming court. His taishi, Esen, was even more ambitious and wanted to restore the glory of the Mongol Empire in name and territory. Esen first directed his attention to the Hami Oasis where the Ming ally, Borjigin prince descended from Chagatai Khan, ruled. Repeated raids and threats by Esen forced him to surrender in 1448.
Esen then attacked the Gansu region where the Mongol satellite states of the Ming, known collectively as the Three Guards, were located. The Fuyu guard was forced to flee, and Esen appointed his own governor in the area. Taisun Khan personally led the attack on the Taining guard. After that, Esen also plundered the Doyin Uriankhai guard, forcing them to surrender. With the submission of the Three Guards, the revived Yuan dynasty became a direct threat to Ming.
When the Ming refused the Mongols their request to allow additional Mongol envoys to China and a Chinese princess, Esen decided to invade the Ming. Taisun Khan was apprehensive of this and did not support Esen at first. However, he was induced to lead the easternmost force of Uriankhais to
After defeating the Ming army during the
Decline
Taisun Khan's consort, the elder sister of Esen, attempted to persuade the khan to make his sister's son the designated heir. The request was denied, causing Taisun and Esen to go to war in 1451. Esen promised Taisun Khan's brother, Agbarjin, the title of khan instead. Esen and Agbarjin besieged
Wives and children
His known wives and children included:
- An Oirat princess, daughter of Toghan taishi. She bore a son named Abdan.
- Altagana of the Khorlad tribe. The Khan and her son was Molon (Mulan).
- Samar taifu who bore Markörgis.
See also
- List of khans of the Northern Yuan dynasty