Adai Khan
Encyclopedia
Adai was the Mongol Khan
of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia
. After the prominent eastern Mongolian chancellor, Arughtai
, threw his allegiance to him, he briefly reunited most of the Mongols
under his banner.
and Hasar due to the interfamily marriages within the Borjigin
clan. Mongolian sources also say Adai was a son of Örüg Temür Khan
.
Adai’s family was a member of eastern Mongol clans, Khorchin
, originated in the region of Nen River
to the east of Greater Khingan
Range.
Even before his proclamation as the Khagan, Adai almost succeed in unifying western Mongol territory by defeating Oirats
. Alarmed by the possible resurgence of another Genghis Khan
’s era, the Ming Dynasty
provided support to the Oirats
and their allies of western Mongol clans, successfully turning the tide by first recovering and then launching counteroffensives against eastern and central Mongol clans.
Arughtai
chingsang installed Adai on the throne as Khagan
of the Great Yuan
after discussing with the family of Khasar.
and both sided continued the war for unification for decades. Riding on the success of unifying central and eastern Mongol territories, Adai proclaimed himself as Khagan with support of central and eastern Mongol clans in 1425, the same year his rivalry khan in the west, Oyiradai was killed. Adai and Arughtai crushed the Oirats and killed several leaders of them. After capturing the Oirat nobles, Adai, married Gulichi's wife, Öljeitü the Beauty, who had been a consort of Elbeg Khan (r.1392–1399) and enslaved Bahamu's son (future Toghan taishi). Although Adai Khan’s authority did not fully reach western Mongols who did not recognize him as supreme ruler, western Mongol clans did not have a khan of their own so Adai Khan remained as the sole Mongol ruler for the next eight years at least in name. Elbeg's daughter and the Oirat taishi Bahamu's widow, Samar, persuaded the Khan to release her son now named Toghan to western Mongolia. However, in 1433, Toghan raised a rebellion and western Mongols finally crowned Toghtoa Bukha (or Toγtoγa Buqa) with the title of Tayisung Khan as their next new khan, which resulted in half a decade of the simultaneous existence of two khans supported by opposing Mongol clans.
After two decisive campaign in 1422 and 1423, Adai Khan lost all of the territory gained in the past and when in 1430, the third Oirat victory wiped out his major strength, after which he could no longer mount any effective offensives and was forced to be on the defensive. Both side attempted to utilize the stalemate to prepare for the next stage but Adai Khan could not recover from the previous loss suffered earlier. The Oirats soon launched another round of offensive and in the fourth decisive Oirat victory in 1434 in which Adai Khan’s major advisors, Arughtai and others, were killed, Adai Khan’s downfall was certain.
of Genghis Khan
, however, being unarmed, he was murdered by Toghan taishi
of the Oirat.
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...
of the Northern Yuan Dynasty 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...
. After the prominent eastern Mongolian chancellor, 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....
, threw his allegiance to him, he briefly reunited most of the 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...
under his banner.
Lineage and early life
The origin of Adai’s family lineage traced back to KadanKadan
Kadaň , is a city in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic.The city lies on the banks of the river Ohře. Although it is situated in an industrial part of the Czech Republic there is no major industry within the city and people usually work in offices or have to commute. There are two...
and Hasar due to the interfamily marriages within the Borjigin
Borjigin
Borjigin , also known as the Altan urug , were the imperial clan of Genghis Khan and his successors....
clan. Mongolian sources also say Adai was a son of Örüg Temür Khan
Örüg Temür Khan
Örüg Temür or Gulichi was a Mongol leader who temporarily throned himself Khan of the Mongols in the early 15th century. He might be the same person, Ugechi Khashikha who appeared in Mongolian history. Khashikha means prince or duke in Tungusic languages...
.
Adai’s family was a member of eastern Mongol clans, Khorchin
Khorchin
Khorchin is a subgroup of the Mongols that speak the Khorchin dialect of Mongolian and predominantly live in southeastern Inner Mongolia....
, originated in the region of Nen River
Nen River
Nen River or Nenjiang , or Nonni is a river in Northeast China. The Nen River flows through the northern part of Heilongjiang Province and the northeastern section of Inner Mongolia, some parts of the river forming the border between the two regions...
to the east of Greater Khingan
Greater Khingan
The Greater Khingan Range , also called the Greater Hing'an Range or Greater Hinggan Range, is a volcanic mountain range in the northeastern part of the People's Republic of China. The range extends roughly 1,200 km from north to south, narrowing towards the south...
Range.
Even before his proclamation as the Khagan, Adai almost succeed in unifying western Mongol territory by defeating 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...
. Alarmed by the possible resurgence of another Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
’s era, the Ming Dynasty
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...
provided support to 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...
and their allies of western Mongol clans, successfully turning the tide by first recovering and then launching counteroffensives against eastern and central Mongol clans.
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....
chingsang installed Adai on the throne as 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...
of the Great Yuan
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...
after discussing with the family of Khasar.
Reign
During his rule, Adai was able to consolidate and expand his power, eventually unifying both the central and eastern Mongol territories in 1425. However, his conquest of western Mongol territory was checked by the OiratsOirats
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...
and both sided continued the war for unification for decades. Riding on the success of unifying central and eastern Mongol territories, Adai proclaimed himself as Khagan with support of central and eastern Mongol clans in 1425, the same year his rivalry khan in the west, Oyiradai was killed. Adai and Arughtai crushed the Oirats and killed several leaders of them. After capturing the Oirat nobles, Adai, married Gulichi's wife, Öljeitü the Beauty, who had been a consort of Elbeg Khan (r.1392–1399) and enslaved Bahamu's son (future Toghan taishi). Although Adai Khan’s authority did not fully reach western Mongols who did not recognize him as supreme ruler, western Mongol clans did not have a khan of their own so Adai Khan remained as the sole Mongol ruler for the next eight years at least in name. Elbeg's daughter and the Oirat taishi Bahamu's widow, Samar, persuaded the Khan to release her son now named Toghan to western Mongolia. However, in 1433, Toghan raised a rebellion and western Mongols finally crowned Toghtoa Bukha (or Toγtoγa Buqa) with the title of Tayisung Khan as their next new khan, which resulted in half a decade of the simultaneous existence of two khans supported by opposing Mongol clans.
After two decisive campaign in 1422 and 1423, Adai Khan lost all of the territory gained in the past and when in 1430, the third Oirat victory wiped out his major strength, after which he could no longer mount any effective offensives and was forced to be on the defensive. Both side attempted to utilize the stalemate to prepare for the next stage but Adai Khan could not recover from the previous loss suffered earlier. The Oirats soon launched another round of offensive and in the fourth decisive Oirat victory in 1434 in which Adai Khan’s major advisors, Arughtai and others, were killed, Adai Khan’s downfall was certain.
Death
In 1438, Adai Khan was defeated in Ejene when his territory was overran by the Oirats and their allies. Adai sought refuge in the Eight White TentsMausoleum of Genghis Khan
The Mausoleum of Genghis Khan is located along a river in Kandehuo Enclosure, Xinjie Town, Ejen Khoruu Banner, Ordos Prefecture-Level City , Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. The Mausoleum is a cenotaph, where the coffin contains no body, but only headdresses and accessories, because...
of Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
, however, being unarmed, he was murdered by Toghan taishi
Mongolian nobility
The Mongolian nobility arose in the 10-12th centuries, became prominent in the 13th century, and essentially governed Mongolia until the early 20th century....
of the Oirat.