Köke Temür
Encyclopedia
Köke Temür also known as Wang Baobao , was a Han
-Naiman general of the Yuan Dynasty
. His mother was the daughter of a Mongolian prince while his father was an ethnic Han Chinese with the surname Wang. Before he was given the Mongolian name by the Yuan court in the early 1360s, he was known by his Chinese name as Wang Baobao. He is notable as the "best-known Mongol general" and "one of the greatest Yuan generals".
province. He was a nephew of and was adopted by Chaghan Temür, a pro-dynasty warlord who fought against the Red Turban Rebellion
. When his uncle died in war in Shandong
in 1362, he succeeded Chaghan Temür's post and corps, and soon demonstrated military talent in battles with the Red Turban Rebels in Shandong.
He intensified a feud with Bolad Temür a Datong-based warlord, and entered Taiyuan
to confront him. He took the side of Crown Prince
Ayushiridar
against the faction of Toghun Temur Khan
in a factional dispute in Dadu since Bolad Temür supported the anti-crown prince faction.
In 1364, Bolad Temür advanced from Datong on Dadu and seized the reins of the central government under the khan. Crown Prince Ayushiridar fled to Taiyuan to seek support from Köke Temür. The Crown Prince struck back with Köke Temür, and Bolad Temür was betrayed when Köke Temür attacked Dadu in 1365. He reinstated the Crown Prince, and was appointed as vice minister of the Secretariat and the king of Henan in return. However, this conflict helped Zhu Yuanzhang rise into power in southern China.
Köke Temür commanded the Yuan army against anti-Yuan rebels, but faced betrayal by subordinates including Chinese officers who had followed him since the very early stage. What was worse was that he got alienated from Ayushiridar, who was given political and military controls by Toghun Temür Khan. After two major defeats (he fled alone in both occasions), he lost Henan and Taiyuan to the rising Ming corps and fled to Gansu
. The Yuan Dynasty was forced to retreat from China in 1368.
In 1370 when Toghun Temur died and Ayushiridar succeeded to the throne, Koke Temur entered the Mongolian Plateau
from Gansu
and joined the new khan, who was based on Khara Khorum. He undertook the defense of the khan. Ming Emperor Hongwu
invited him 7 times and offered bribes. But Koke Temur did not abandon his khagan
in his misfortune. The most notable service was an overwhelming desert victory over a Ming army led by Xu Da
in 1372. It is said that he killed 20,000 Ming soldiers. But in a further encounter against Xu Da in Gansu, Köke Temür's army was badly mauled by the Chinese and forced to flee across the Gobi desert
.
He advanced southward with the Yuan troops to take China back for the Mongols, and expanded his influence to Shanxi
. However, he died in 1375 and was followed by Ayushiridar in 1378. Their deaths radically weakened the Mongol state, extinguishing any hope of recapturing China.
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
-Naiman general of the Yuan Dynasty
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...
. His mother was the daughter of a Mongolian prince while his father was an ethnic Han Chinese with the surname Wang. Before he was given the Mongolian name by the Yuan court in the early 1360s, he was known by his Chinese name as Wang Baobao. He is notable as the "best-known Mongol general" and "one of the greatest Yuan generals".
History
He lived in HenanHenan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
province. He was a nephew of and was adopted by Chaghan Temür, a pro-dynasty warlord who fought against the Red Turban Rebellion
Red Turban Rebellion
The Red Turban Rebellion was an uprising much influenced by the White Lotus Society members that targeted the ruling Yuan Dynasty.- Causes :...
. When his uncle died in war in Shandong
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
in 1362, he succeeded Chaghan Temür's post and corps, and soon demonstrated military talent in battles with the Red Turban Rebels in Shandong.
He intensified a feud with Bolad Temür a Datong-based warlord, and entered Taiyuan
Taiyuan
Taiyuan is the capital and largest city of Shanxi province in North China. At the 2010 census, it had a total population of 4,201,591 inhabitants on 6959 km² whom 3,212,500 are urban on 1,460 km². The name of the city literally means "Great Plains", referring to the location where the Fen River...
to confront him. He took the side of Crown Prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
Ayushiridar
Biligtü Khan
Biligtü Khan, born Ayushiridara , was a ruler of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia...
against the faction of Toghun Temur Khan
Ukhaatu Khan
Toghun Temür , also known as Ukhaantu Khan , or Emperor Huizong of Yuan , was a son of Kuśala to rule as Emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, and he is considered as the last Khagan of the Mongol Empire...
in a factional dispute in Dadu since Bolad Temür supported the anti-crown prince faction.
In 1364, Bolad Temür advanced from Datong on Dadu and seized the reins of the central government under the khan. Crown Prince Ayushiridar fled to Taiyuan to seek support from Köke Temür. The Crown Prince struck back with Köke Temür, and Bolad Temür was betrayed when Köke Temür attacked Dadu in 1365. He reinstated the Crown Prince, and was appointed as vice minister of the Secretariat and the king of Henan in return. However, this conflict helped Zhu Yuanzhang rise into power in southern China.
Köke Temür commanded the Yuan army against anti-Yuan rebels, but faced betrayal by subordinates including Chinese officers who had followed him since the very early stage. What was worse was that he got alienated from Ayushiridar, who was given political and military controls by Toghun Temür Khan. After two major defeats (he fled alone in both occasions), he lost Henan and Taiyuan to the rising Ming corps and fled to Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
. The Yuan Dynasty was forced to retreat from China in 1368.
In 1370 when Toghun Temur died and Ayushiridar succeeded to the throne, Koke Temur entered the Mongolian Plateau
Mongolian Plateau
The Mongolian Plateau is part of the larger Central Asian Plateau and has an area of approximately 2,600,000 square kilometres. It is occupied by Mongolia in the north and Inner Mongolia in the south. The plateau includes the Gobi Desert as well as dry steppe regions...
from Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
and joined the new khan, who was based on Khara Khorum. He undertook the defense of the khan. Ming Emperor Hongwu
Hongwu Emperor
The Hongwu Emperor , known variably by his given name Zhu Yuanzhang and by his temple name Taizu of Ming , was the founder and first emperor of the Ming Dynasty of China...
invited him 7 times and offered bribes. But Koke Temur did not abandon his 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...
in his misfortune. The most notable service was an overwhelming desert victory over a Ming army led by Xu Da
Xu Da
Xu Da was a Chinese military general who lived in the early Ming Dynasty and contributed to the founding of the dynasty. Apart from being a friend of the Hongwu Emperor, founding emperor of the dynasty, Xu was also the father of Empress Xu, who would marry the third ruler of the Ming, the Yongle...
in 1372. It is said that he killed 20,000 Ming soldiers. But in a further encounter against Xu Da in Gansu, Köke Temür's army was badly mauled by the Chinese and forced to flee across the Gobi desert
Gobi Desert
The Gobi is a large desert region in Asia. It covers parts of northern and northwestern China, and of southern Mongolia. The desert basins of the Gobi are bounded by the Altai Mountains and the grasslands and steppes of Mongolia on the north, by the Hexi Corridor and Tibetan Plateau to the...
.
He advanced southward with the Yuan troops to take China back for the Mongols, and expanded his influence to Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
. However, he died in 1375 and was followed by Ayushiridar in 1378. Their deaths radically weakened the Mongol state, extinguishing any hope of recapturing China.