Featured Article Summary #81

Tolui was the youngest son of Genghis Khan and played a prominent role in the early Mongol conquests. He was known for his military prowess and led successful campaigns in China and the Khwarazmian Empire. Tolui was a leading candidate to succeed his father but was passed over in favor of his brother Ögedei. He served as regent until Ögedei's accession two years later. Tolui died under unclear circumstances, with theories ranging from dying in a shamanic ritual to being poisoned by Ögedei. After his death, his wife Sorghaghtani secured power for their son Möngke. Tolui, the son of Genghis Khan, was born either in 1191 or the late 1180s. He had four older brothers and five sisters. When Tolui was a young child, there was an attempted kidnapping on him, but he was saved by his adopted brother and a Mongol sheepdog. Tolui played a significant role in the Mongol invasions, commanding armies and leading sieges. During the Khorasan campaign in 1221, Tolui led an army to pacify and subjugate the region. He captured cities such as Merv, Nishapur, and Herat, and carried out brutal massacres of the population. The death tolls reported are likely exaggerated, but the campaign still caused significant destruction and had a profound impact on the region. The Mongol steppe tribes had no fixed succession system, but often used ultimogeniture (succession of the youngest son) for property inheritance. Genghis Khan chose his successor, with the options being his four legitimate sons and his youngest brother Temüge. Jochi, the oldest son, was potentially illegitimate and had strained relations with Genghis, while Chagatai was viewed as arrogant. Ögedei and Tolui emerged as the primary candidates for succession, with Tolui ultimately serving as regent and establishing precedents for the Khan's death. A kurultai was held in 1229, resulting in Ögedei being crowned the new ruler. Ögedei faced difficulties in handling the remnants of the Jin dynasty, suffering defeats at the Tongguan Pass and threatening the stability of his reign. He and Tolui adopted their father's idea of a pincer movement, successfully gathering provisions from Song territory and defeating the enemy at Mount Sangfeng. However, Tolui died later that year in mysterious circumstances, with suspicions that he may have been murdered by Ögedei. After his death, Sorghaghtani inherited Tolui's property and became a powerful figure in the empire. She played a major role in establishing alliances and securing the imperial title for her sons.