Güyük Khan

Reign (1246–1248) Güyük interrogates Djamâl al-Dîn Mahmûd Hudjandî. Tarikh-i Jahangushay-i Juvaini

Güyük reversed several unpopular edicts of his mother the regent and made a surprisingly capable khan, appointing Eljigidei in Persia in preparation for an attack on Baghdad and the Ismailis and pursuing the war against the Song Dynasty. He was, nevertheless, insecure and won the disapproval of his subjects by executing several high-ranking officials of the previous regime for treason. The Seljuk princes struggled incessantly for the throne of the Sultanate of Rum. Despised by Kaykaus II, Kilij Arslan IV came to Mongolia. Güyük ordered Kilij Arslan enthroned in Kaykaus II's place, and a darughachi with 2,000 Mongol troops was sent to enforce this decision.

When both David Narin and David Ulu were summoned before Güyük in Karakorum, he made David Ulu the senior king and divided the Kingdom of Georgia between them. After the treaty signed by the Mongols and Cilician Armenia in 1243, the king Hetoum I sent his brother Sempad to the Mongol court in Karakorum and made a formal agreement in 1247 in which Cilician Armenia would be considered a vassal state of the Mongol Empire. Due to Armenia's voluntary surrender, Sempad received a Mongol wife, and his kingdom was spared Mongol overseers and tax. Güyük demanded full submission of the Abbasids and the Ismailis. Güyük Khan blamed Baiju for the irritated resistance of the Abbasid Caliphate.

Güyük ordered an empire-wide census. In 1246, by the decree of Güyük, taxes amounting between to of value were imposed on everything and a heavy head tax of 60 silver drams was collected from males in Georgia and Armenia. Giovanni da Pian del Carpine reported the presence of saracens in southwestern Russia who drafted people into service and recorded the population of those who remained. The Great Khan separated the position of the great darughachi from that of chief scribe. Güyük took half of his father's kheshig for himself. Under his rule, the Uyghur officials increased their dominance, sidelining the North Chinese and the Muslims. Güyük was a strict and intelligent person, though rather morose and sickly, and his bad drinking habit worsened his health.

Güyük sent Amuqan to Korea and the Mongols camped near Yiom-ju in July 1247. After the king Gojong of Goryeo refused to move his capital from Ganghwa Island to Songdo, Amuqan's force pillaged the Korean Peninsula until 1250.

Although Batu did not support Güyük's election, he respected the Great Khan as a traditionalist and sent Andrey and Alexander Nevsky to Karakorum in Mongolia in 1247 after their father's death. Güyük appointed Andrey as the grand prince of Vladimir and gave Alexander the princely title of Kiev. He also appointed his own governors to oversee the Russian principalities. The tribute was known as the dan by the Russians; its main purpose was not only to tax subjects but also to conscript young men into the Mongol armies. The grand princes of Vladimir ultimately became responsible for delivering the Russian tribute to the khan. The Jochids viewed Güyük's appointment of his own governors as direct interference in their power. Tensions between Batu and Güyük reached new heights, and in 1248, Güyük launched a military expedition to take control of the ulus of Jochi, later known as the Golden Horde.

Güyük never made it to the lower Volga; instead, he died on the outskirts of Samarkand. Some sources say that Güyük might have been poisoned by the Jochids; however, some modern historians believe that he died of natural causes because his health deteriorated. According to William of Rubruck, he was killed in a violent brawl with Shiban. His widow Oghul Qaimish took over as regent, but she would be unable to keep the succession within her branch of the family. Möngke succeeded as the great khan in 1251 after being nominated by Batu.

Wives, concubines, and children

It was common for powerful Mongol men to have many wives and concubines, but it is unknown how many wives or concubines Güyük had.

Primary Consort Wuwuerheimishi (元妃烏兀儿黑迷失), of the Merkit tribe (蔑兒乞氏) Empress Naimanzhen (乃蠻真皇后), of the Namaizhen tribe (乃蠻真氏) Empress Qinshu (欽淑皇后, d.1251), of the Merkit tribe (蔑兒乞氏) Khoja (忽察), first son Naqu (腦忽), second son Unknown wife or concubine: Khokhoo, third son Babahaer (公主 巴巴哈爾), first daughter Yelimishi (趙國公主 葉里迷失), second daughter Married Junbuhua (君不花) and had issues (three sons)

Legacy The death of Güyük had a profound effect on world history. Güyük wanted to turn the Mongol power against Europe, but his premature death prevented Mongol forces from trying to move further west into Europe. Subsequent to Güyük's death, Mongol family politics caused the Mongol efforts to be instead directed against southern China, which was eventually conquered during the rule of Kublai Khan.

When Kublai Khan established the Yuan dynasty in 1271, he had Güyük Khan placed on the official record as Dingzong .