After Temujin saved Khan Togril from imminent death, the relationship between the two leaders experienced a new honeymoon. Unfortunately, it did not last long, in view of their unequal alliance. Genghis Khan was after all a talented man and a wise politician, after his return from China, he entered into an alliance with Togril as a vassal, but rather quickly rose to become an equal partner. Later, when the Keraite chieftain almost gave up in a fight with the Naimans, Genghis Khan, coming to his aid, established the palm of supremacy for himself.
Genghis Khan knew how to resuscitate his reputation after returning from China. It was not the first time he did it. In general, it is very interesting to observe his actions, the great conqueror diligently built a facade of good intentions and fidelity to his word, and he actively participated in underhand games. Not bad for a native of the vast steppes, especially in the Middle Ages.
In gratitude for his rescue, Togril promised his ally his ulus after his death. Apparently, it was this promise that caused their further discord. Despite his advanced age, the Keraite Khan was in no hurry to die. Besides, he already had an heir, Sangum, who was not very enthusiastic about his father’s promise.
Genghis Khan, in turn, forced events to get a legal way to take Togril’s place. The future great conqueror decides to be related to the clan of the Keraite chieftain. Temujin asks for the hand of Togril’s daughter for his eldest son, and in return offers that his daughter marry Sangum, Togril’s heir. Sensing a trick, Sangum rejects Genghis Khan’s proposal, saying that he has too much to do and marriage is not part of his plans, so the attempt at twinning turned out to be a failure.
In the meantime, Togril, confident in the stability of his own power, did not particularly want to solve the issues of succession to the throne, reasonably believing that everything would sort itself out in time. Khan Keraits was a patient and measured man. In many respects, he relied on the higher powers and by the end of his reign he was imbued with the Nestorian doctrine. Sangul turned out to be the complete opposite of his father. The young man was characterized by anger, was ambitious and cunning. He considered the promise of Khan Togril Temujin as a threat not only to his own influence, but also to his security, so he lobbied night and day for the physical elimination of Genghis Khan.
Naturally, such talk sooner or later finds its supporters. Once an old “friend” of Temujin, Jamukha, dropped by Sangum’s camp and proposed several plans to eliminate the future great conqueror. Togril’s son was overjoyed at such a visit and, having secured Jamukha’s support, went to his father to finally convince the khan of the Keraites to betray his ally. After much discussion, Togril finally gave in and gave the go-ahead to Sangum’s devious plan, noting that if it failed, his son would be responsible for what had happened.
Jamukha and his hawk keep a watchful eye on the political situation of the steppes, reacting to any dimness in power.
Jamukha and Sangum plot to arrange a “red wedding” for Genghis Khan. The son of the Kerait khan sent a message to Temujin, in which he expressed his consent to marry his daughter, in this connection, he invited the future father-in-law to his camp for matchmaking. The future great conqueror, not suspecting a trick, went to Sangum accompanied by his nukers. On the way the delegation met the former nuker Yesugei (Genghis Khan’s father), who offered them to spend the night in his ulus. During the evening meal, Munlik (that was the name of Yesugei’s nuker) expressed concern about Temujin’s trip to Sangum, noting that recently he had heard rumors that Jamukha often hangs out there. Genghis Khan understood the hint and sent two noble representatives instead of himself. Sangum was very upset.
After the failure of the assassination attempt, the former anda Temujin, Jamukha, realized that he had nothing more to catch in the Keraites’ camp and began to develop other ways to eliminate his nemesis. By 1200 he managed to convince the chief of the Taichiud tribe, Torgutai, to oppose Genghis Khan in alliance with the Merkits. Moreover, Jamukha himself did not participate in all this mess, he only observed. No matter how strong Temujin was, but he was not ready for such a confrontation, so he requested support from the Keraites. Khan Togril came to his aid, hoping to restore his position in the alliance. In the future Khan Togril once again helped Genghis Khan to repel the attack of a coalition of tribes led by Jamukha, and this is the end of their active interaction.
Togril and Temujin. Joint photo. Strange as it may seem, but both of them are wearing crowns, although it was not customary for nomads. Well, let’s thank the artists at least for the fact that they did not decorate the sofa with lilies of the Capetings.
By 1203 Togril Khan was 70 years old, an honorable age, but not for a steppe man. The Keraite leader had almost lost his grip, and to keep the ulus from falling apart, his place was taken by Sangum, the same guy who hated Temujin. Formally, Togril remained Khan, but his son was in charge of the troops and “foreign policy” of the tribe. He got involved with Jamukha, openly opposing his ally, but in the process the two chiefs disagreed and clashed with each other. During the scuffle, Sangum’s troops defeated Jamukha and began to feast, celebrating the victory. It was at this moment that the troops of Genghis Khan, who was tired of watching the foreign policy instability of his former ally, descended upon them.
As a result, Khan Togril and Sangum had to flee. On the way, father and son quarreled and split up. Togril headed towards the Naimans, where he found his end. He was stopped by a Naiman warrior and asked for documents, to which the Keraite Khan said something like, “Boy, don’t you recognize me?”. After this phrase, the venerable Khan’s exuberant head flew off his gaunt shoulders.
Sangum was a little luckier, he still lived, migrating to the Jin Empire. Probably, he wanted to repeat the history of Genghis Khan’s kombak, but only the time was different, however, and he himself was noticeably different from his enemy. Sangum had to engage in petty robberies, so continued until the clash with the Uighur tribes, which put an end to his atrocities.
Such is the cruel history of the steppes. In this article we have discussed Genghis Khan’s main ally. In the following I will tell about the denouement of the confrontation with Jamukha.