The three princes were spared by Mangu in view of their kinship: Khodja
was sent to Suligai, east of Kara Kurum; Nagu and Shiramun were ordered
to the army. When Kubilai was going, some time later, to China, Mangu
as a favor let him take Shiramun on that journey, but when Mangu
himself went to China he had Shiramun drowned, through mistrust of this
young man, who had been destined to the throne by his grandfather. The
greater part of Ogotai’s descendants were sent to various places and
deprived of the troops which were theirs by inheritance. Mangu gave
those troops to other princes devoted to his person. He spared only
Kadan Melik and the sons of Prince Kutan, who had come with good grace
to give homage. He not only left them their troops, but gave each man
one of Ogotai’s ordus, and one of his widows.
Not content with punishing the highest, Mangu wished to strike down
throughout the empire all who had signified attachment to Ogotai. He
had the power to act thus, for his armies formed one immense chain from
Eastern Mongolia to Otrar. Belu, a judge, was despatched to discover
offenders, and punish them with death, in the countries of Jagatai,
while a second inquisitor was sent to the armies in China. Two corps
were sent at the same time to the Kirghis and the Kemjuts.
Strong now on his throne through destruction of enemies, Mangu
dismissed all the princes and generals who had come to the Kurultai.
Berkai and Togha Timur received splendid gifts for themselves, and for
Batu, their brother. Kara Hulagu received the inheritance of Jagatai,
his grandfather, and was charged to put to death Yissu, his uncle,
placed on the throne by Kuyuk, the late sovereign. Kara Hulagu died on
the way to his possessions, but Organa, his widow, carried out the
sentence on Yissu, and took the inheritance.
Mangu, to reward the mule driver Kishk, made him a Terkhan, and gave
him much treasure.
The fate of the Uigur sovereign shows how Mongol Khans treated their
vassals. We remember Bardjuk, the Idikut, very well in connection with
Jinghis, whom he followed most faithfully. As recompense Jinghis gave
the Idikut his daughter Altun Bighi in marriage. This marriage was
deferred by the death of the conqueror. Ogotai wished to carry out the
desire of his father, but before he could do so Altun Bighi herself
died, and Bardjuk died soon after. Bardjuk’s son Kishmain went to
Ogotai’s court and received his father’s title of Idikut, or sovereign
among the Uigurs. He too died soon after, and Turakina, the regent,
appointed her brother Salendi to the Uigur dynasty.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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