Qutuqa Beki


Qutuqa Beki was a leader of the Oirats in the early 13th century. Although Qutuqa Beki resisted the rise of Genghis Khan in 1201 by submitting to Jamukha, he was forced to submit to Genghis in 1207. Qutuqa Beki was allowed to continue ruling over the Oirats and one of his sons was married to a daughter of Genghis.

Biography

The first mentions of Qutuqa Beki in The Secret History of the Mongols date back to 1201, when a number of rulers of the Mongol tribes, including the Oirats, swore allegiance to Jamukha and chose him as a gurkhan, pledging to fight against Genghis Khan. According to a story, he along with the Naiman king Buyruq Khan, used a jada or "thunder stone" to unleash a powerful storm on Genghis' army. But the magical ploy backfired when an unexpected wind blew the storm back at Qutuqa. Buyruq, troubled by this storm, left the alliance and retreated to the south side of the Altai Mountains. Subsequently, Genghis Khan defeated Jamukha and the Naimans, but the Oirats had not yet been conquered by the time the Mongol Empire was formed in 1206. Nevertheless, when in 1207 Genghis Khan gave his eldest son Jochi the order to conquer the "forest peoples", Qutuqa was one of the first to obey, arriving with 10,000 Oirat soldiers. He then proceeded to the khan's court and submitted personally, having received such a powerful ally, Genghis married two women from his family to Qutuqa's children, thus starting one of the most fruitful alliances in Mongol history. He led an attack on Botokhoi Targun, chieftess of but was captured. Later he was given Botokhui as his concubine after Genghis Khan led an attack on them personally and subdued.

Family

He had at least 3 children, all married into ruling Borjigin clan, however sources differ on which son married whom:
  1. Toralchi Güregen — according to The Secret History of the Mongols was married Holuikhan, but according to The Compendium of Chronicles he was given hand of Checheyigen
  2. # Buqa Temür — commander of a tümen in Ilkhanate
  3. #* Chupan — married to Nomoghan, daughter of Ariq Böke and Ashitai Khatun
  4. #* Jagir — married to Manggugan Khatun, daughter of Hulagu
  5. #** Taraghai Güregen — married to Manggugan Khatun, daughter of Hulagu in levirate, then Ara Qutlugh, daughter of Möngke Temür
  6. #* Tolun Khatun — married to Jumghur before 1270s, then Tekshin, both sons of Hulagu
  7. # Börtö'a — married to Princess Yixiji, daughter of Genghis Khan
  8. #* Uluq
  9. #* Rachin
  10. # Bars Buqa — married to El-Temür, daughter of Tolui and Linqgun Khatun
  11. #* Shirab and Beglamish
  12. #** Toq-Temür — married Emegen, daughter of Malik Temür, son of Ariq Böke
  13. #* Emegen Khatun — married to Malik Temür, son of Ariq Böke
  14. # Elchikmish Khatun — married to Ariq Böke, then his son Nairaqu Buqa
  15. #* Ashiqtai
  16. # Orghana Khatun — married to Qara Hülegü
  17. # Güyük Khatun — married Hulagu
  18. # Öljei Khatun — married Hulagu, then Abaqa
  19. # Küchü Khatun — married Toqoqan
  20. ## Mengu-Timur
  21. ## Tode Mongke
  22. Inalchi — according to The Secret History of the Mongols was married Checheyigen, but according to The Compendium of Chronicles he was given hand of Holuikhan
  23. # Buduz
  24. #* Negütai
  25. #* Aqu Temür
  26. Oghul Tutmish — initially planned to marry Tolui, but after his death was married to Möngke
  27. # Shirin
  28. # Bichige