Rivalries on the Steppe HIST 1016 102214 IlKhanid

Rivalries on the Steppe HIST 1016 10/22/14

Il-Khanid Architecture Tomb of Öljaitü (r. 1304 -1316) in Soltaniyeh, Iran The dome alone is 161 ft. tall!

Il-Khanid Architecture Gunbad-i Ghaffariyya, Maragha, Iran, tomb of a slave governor of Maragha, Iran

Il-Khanid Architecture Tomb of Shaykh Safi al-Din, Ardabil, Iran (ancestor of the Safavid Dynasty (r. 1501 -1736))

Il-Khanid tile work

Decorative Arts

Il-Khanid Painting

Rise of the Toluids • Möngke orders brothers to lead new campaigns • Hülegü Khan and the Il-Khans in Middle East • Khubilai Khan and the Ta-Li Campaign – Ta-Li (Dali Kingdom) – non-Chinese (Bai) kingdom – Border between China and South Asia – First major campaign – Promise no pillaging or slaughter if Ta-Li surrenders Early portrait of Khubilai Khan

Khubilai in Northern China • Viceroy of Northern China • T’un-t’ien: Chinese military farms – Soldiers both occupy and farm • Nan-ching (Nanjing) vs. Ching-chao (Xi’an) – Larger population vs. more fertile land • Pacification Commissioners – local notables allied with Khubilai – Curb the violent and support the weak

Khubilai, Confucianism, and Buddhism • Reliance on mix of Confucian and Buddhist advisors • Chabi – Khubilai’s second wife, Tibetan Buddhist • Chinese textual records – Khubilai and the Mandate of Heaven – Advisors as Confucian sage • 1250’s - Taoist-Buddhist Debate

Khubilai, Confucianism, and Buddhism • Hai-yün (1202 -1257): Zen Buddhist monk – 1242: brought to Khubilai’s court in Karakorum – Instructed Khubilai in Confucian principles of governing – Three Teachings: Confucianism, Taoism, and Buddhism • Yao Shu (1203 -1280): Confucian adviser – Models of Chinese emperors – Prevents massacres in Ta-Li • Liu Ping-chung (1216 -1274): Buddhist adviser – Sage scholar to Khubilai’s emperor – Architect of Kubilai’s rule in China (literally and figuratively) Liu Ping-chung

In Xanadu Did Khubilai Khan a Stately Pleasure Dome Decree • 1252 – foundation of personal capital, K’ai-p’ing • Later renamed Shang-Tu (upper capital) or Xanadu – Contrast to Chung-Tu (central capital) aka Beijing • Under advice of Liu Ping-chung • Modeled on Chinese capitals • Mongol hunting preserve – but no grazing land • Buddhist temples

Reflections on Xanadu • Marco Polo (1254 -1324): Venetian merchant – 1271 -1292: Travels Mongol Empire with father and uncle – Most of this time at Khubilai’s court – 1298: Dictates adventures while in jail • Togan Temur Khan (1320 -1370): – Last Yuan Emperor of China – Last recognized Mongol Khagan • Samuel Taylor Coleridge (1772 -1834): – English Romantic poet – 1816: Writes Kubla Khan Marco Polo in Mongol dress

Marco Polo’s Travels

Conquest of the Southern Song • 1257 – Möngke orders conquest of southern China • Wealth of the Song • Limit nationalism in north • Suitability of Mongol techniques – Too hot and humid for horses – Disease – Siege techniques • Lin-an (Hangchow): population of approx. 1. 5 million – Song navy

Conquest of the Southern Song • Divide Mongol army to force division of Song • Khubilai given one of four armies – Uses Chinese techniques learned in Ta-li • Slow progress • Aug. 11, 1259: Möngke dies, most likely of disease • Khubilai stays south for two months Diaoyu fortress, Möngke died while besieging

Is Khubilai Mongol or Chinese? • Too Chinese for the Mongols • Too Mongol for the Chinese • 1257 – Möngke sends investigators – Purge Chinese administrators • 1259 – khurlitai or civil war – Khubilai vs. Arigh Böke • May, 1260 – khurlitai in Xanadu

Is Khubilai Mongol or Chinese • June, 1260 – Arigh Böke declared khagan • Golden Horde, Chaghatai Khanate, and family of Möngke support Arigh Böke • Hülegü and the Il-Khanids support Khubilai • Steppe nomads vs. sedentary empires • Khubilai turns towards China – Confucian sage bringing peace and harmony • Deny resources to Arigh Böke

Arigh Böke and Khubilai

Arigh Böke and Khubilai • Khubilai controls major storehouses • Arigh Böke unable to pay allies – Alghu, Chaghatai Khan, refuses to send supplies – Alghu acknowledges Khubilai • 1264 – Arigh Böke comes to Xanadu and surrenders • Mongol allies demand punishment • Purge of Arigh Böke’s supporters Arigh Böke defeats Alghu

Civil War and the Breakdown of the Mongol Empire • 1265 – Khubilai calls a khurlitai – Confirm his position as khagan – Determine punishment for Arigh Böke • Berke (Golden Horde) and Hülegü (Il-Khans) at war • Alghu (Chaghadai) claims he is unconfirmed as khan • All three die within a year • 1266 – Arigh Böke dies Funeral of Hüelegü