Chinggis’s descendants took four years to choose their next leader. During that time, Ogedei’s wife, Toregene (d. c. 1246), served as regent, or temporary ruler-an old Mongol custom. Ogedei had wanted his grandson Shiremun (d. c. 1251) to become the next Great Khan, but his wife favored her son Guyuk. Toregene managed to secure her son’s election despite opposition from Batu, who had quarreled with Guyuk during the Russian campaign.
Carpini arrived at Karakorum in 1246, just as Guyuk was elected Great Khan. The Italian priest noted how Mongol princes and ambassadors from other nations were there to honor Guyuk, bringing him lavish gifts. Carpini wrote, “[T]here was a particular provincial governor who gave many camels to him. . . and many armored horses and mules. . .
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The Sack of Krakow
According to Polish tradition, on March 24, 1241, a Mongol arrow killed a Polish lookout in the tower of the Krakow town hall just as he was blowing an alarm on his trumpet to warn of the Mongol advance. Today Krakow still honors that event. Every hour, a trumpeter stands in the highest tower at the Church of Saint Mary and plays a simple melody that was played in medieval times as a warning call. He plays it four times, facing the four corners of the world, and each time the tune ends abruptly, just as it did for that watchman on March 24. Since 1927, this trumpet call has been broadcast on Polish radio every day at noon.
More than 50 wagons were placed beyond a hill. . . and they were all filled with gold and silver and silk clothing which were divided between the emperor and his nobles.”
After the festivities of that day, the tension between the cousins Guyuk and Batu continued, and in 1247 the Great Khan prepared to attack Batu’s forces. Tolui’s wife, Sorkhagtani Beki (d. 1252), warned Batu about Guyuk’s advance, but the civil war within the Chinggisid family never took place. Before he could launch his assault on Batu, Guyuk died in 1248. For three years his wife served as regent. During this time, Sorkhagtani wanted one of her sons to take control. Working with Batu, who did not want to become Great Khan, she convinced the Mongol princes in 1251 to choose her son Mongke as the next Mongol leader. For the next century, all the Great Khans came from the Toluid line of Chinggis’s family.
The family turmoil, however, was not over. Mongke was elected at a quriltai held outside of Mongolia. Ogedei’s and Chaghatai’s families said the election was not valid, since it had not occurred in the traditional homelands. These relatives then battled Mongke and his supporters for control of the empire. Mongke won this struggle for power, and he executed many of the commanders who had helped the families of Ogedei and Chaghatai. Ogedei’s son Shiremun was also executed for his role in the revolt. Tensions between the various branches of Chinggis’s family lasted for decades.
World History
