#190 - Yuan 11: The War of the Two Capitals

We start today in the aftermath of the murder of the 9th Great Mongol Khan and the 5th Emperor of Yuan. We end a decade later, at the beginning of the 15th Great Khan and 11th Yuan Emperor... coincidentally (or not) the last of both. The treachery, assassinations, wars, and power-plays that get us from that start to that end will threaten to split the very soul of the empire in two. Also, there's a lot of Temürs along the way... like, a *lot,* a lot! Time Period Covered: 1323-1333 CE Major Events: * Coup at Nanpo [Sept. 4, 1323] - Outcome: assassination of Shidebala Khaghan, accession of Yesün Temür Khaghan * War of the Two Capitals [Aug. 1328-Nov. 14, 1328 (sporadic resistance thru 1332)] - Outcome: Khaishan Restorationist victory/ Shangdu Loyalist defeat, overthrow of Aragibagh & enthronement of Jayaatu Khaghan * Incident at Ongghochatu [Aug. 26-30, 1329] - Outcome: assassination of Khoshila, restoration of Togh Temur Khaghan to the throne Relevant Historical Figures: Great Yuan: Shidebala (Gegeen Khaghan/Yuan Yingzong) [r. 1320-1323] Yesün Temür (Khaghan/Yuan Taiding) [r. 1323-1328] Aragibagh (Khaghan/Yuan Tianshun) [r. Oct.-Nov. 1328] Togh Temür (Jayaatu Khaghan/Yuan Wenzong) [r. Oct. 1328-Apr. 1329, Sept. 1329- Sept. 1332] Khoshila (Khutughtu Khaghan/Yuan Mingzong) [r. Feb. 1329-Aug. 1329] Rinchinbal (Khaghan/Yuan Ningzong) [r. Oct. 29, 1332-Dec. 14, 1332] Toghon Temür (Ukhaghatu Khaghan/Yuan Huizong) [r. 1333-1368] Empress Budashiri [1307-1340] Crown Prince Aradnadara [d. 1330] Prince El Tegüs [c. 1329-c. 1340] Daula-shah, Grand Councilor of the Right [d. 1228] El Temür, General & Grand Councillor of the Right [d. 1333] Bayan of the Merkids, General & Grand Councillor of the Left [d. 1340] Chagatai Khanate: Esen Bukha I, Khan [r. 1310-1318] Eljigidey Khan [r. 1326-1329] Golden Horde: Öz Beg Khan [r. 1313-1341] Ilkhanate: Abu Sa'id (Bahadur Khan) [r. 1316-1335] Major Works Cited: Atwood, Christopher P. (2004) Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire. Dardess, John. (1973). Conquerors and Confucians: Aspects of Political Change in Late Yüan China. Hsiao, Ch'i-ch'ing. (1978). "Mid-Yuan Politics" in The Cambridge History of China, vol. 6: Alien Regimes and Border States, 907-1368. Robinson, David M. (2009). Empire’s Twilight: Northeast Asia under the Mongols.