Temüge (c. 1168–1246) was the youngest brother of

Genghis Khan Genghis Khan (born Temüjin; August 1227), also known as Chinggis Khan, was the founder and first khan (title), khan of the Mongol Empire. After spending most of his life uniting the Mongols, Mongol tribes, he launched Mongol invasions and ...

, fourth son of Yesugei.

Early life

The Secret History of the Mongols The ''Secret History of the Mongols'' is the oldest surviving literary work in the Mongolic languages. Written for the Borjigin, Mongol royal family some time after the death of Genghis Khan in 1227, it recounts his life and conquests, and parti ...

'' states that "when Temujin was 9 years of age, Temuge was three years old." As the youngest son, he received a prefix to the name "otchigin" (diminutive form of "отгон" or “otgon” meaning "junior", Also Ot (Fire) Tegin (Junior member of Khan family) as old Turkic), who in the family is always a "guardian of the family and home", and therefore is often referred to as Temuge-otchigin or simply Otchigin. In childhood and adolescence was somewhat spoiled by his mother and older brothers, inclined to luxury, but was "courageous, powerful and quick in battle" that was recognized even by the family's enemies. When the shaman Kokochu (Teb-Tengri) started dragging the power over the Mongols to his own family, Genghis Khan sanctioned Temuge to kill Kokochu in an orchestrated wrestling match.

Interim ruler

As the youngest male offspring, Temüge and his mother, by Mongol traditions, were allotted the most land and people by Genghis Khan during his coronation. He seems to have been the least warlike of the brothers, and was criticized by Genghis himself as lazy and shiftless. However, Temüge was a skilled politician and capable ruler, who, alongside his mother Hoelun, ruled the Mongol heartland in his elder brothers' absence while they engaged in military campaigns. He appears to have had intellectual leanings, first coming under the influence of the conquered Xia and Jin cultures and then taking an active interest in the other cultures encompassed in the

Mongol Empire The Mongol Empire was the List of largest empires, largest contiguous empire in human history, history. Originating in present-day Mongolia in East Asia, the Mongol Empire at its height stretched from the Sea of Japan to parts of Eastern Euro ...

.Temuge met a grim fate-after the death of his nephew Ogedei, he tried to seize the throne. Instead, he was arrested and executed by Great Khatun Töregene. Temuge attempted to enter the main political arena after the death of

Ögedei Khan Ögedei Khan (also Ögedei Khagan or Ogodei; 11 December 1241) was the second Khan (title), khan of the Mongol Empire. The third son of Genghis Khan, he continued the expansion of the empire that his father had begun. Born in 1186 AD, Öged ...

, his nephew and son of Genghis Khan, in 1241. At that time, Ogedei's son Güyük Khan was engaged in the "Western campaign" in Russia and Europe. Temuge-otchigin tried to seize the throne, but was prevented by Töregene, Ogedei's widow and Güyük's mother. After the 1246 kurultai elected Güyük as great khan, Temüge was executed.

Ancestry

References

Family of Genghis Khan Mongol Empire people 1160s births 1246 deaths People executed by the Mongol Empire Borjigin {{Mongol-royal-stub