Borjigin

"Altan urag" redirects here. For the folk rock band, see Altan Urag.

Borjigin
Боржигин

Country	Mongolia
Titles	Khagan, Khan
Founder	Bodonchar Munkhag
Final sovereign	Ligden Khan
Current head	Unknown
Founding	ca. 900 AD
Deposition	1635-20th century
Cadet branches	Before Genghis Khan: Khiyan, Tayichigud, Jurkhin; after Genghis Khan: Khiyad-Borjigin, Jochids, Khorchin-Borjigins, Girays, Sheybanids, Khoshut

Borjigin (plural Borjigid; Mongolian: Боржигин, Borjigin; Russian: Борджигин, Bordžigin; simplified Chinese: 博尔济吉特; traditional Chinese: 博爾濟吉特; pinyin: Bó'ěrjìjítè), also known as the Altan urug (Mongolian: Алтан ураг, Altan urag, Golden kin), were the imperial clan of Genghis Khan and his successors.

The Mongolian Borjigin clan is the most renowned family in Inner Asia. The senior Borjigids provided ruling princes for Mongolia and Inner Mongolia until the 20th century.^[1] The clan formed the ruling class among the Mongols, Kazakhs, and other peoples of Inner Asia. Today, the Borjigid are found throughout most of Mongolia, parts of Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang.^[1] Also there are many living in Kazakhstan as Tore, "AkSuyek", or "White Bone".

Origin

The patrilineage began with Blu-grey Wolf (Borte Chino) and Fallow Doe (Gua Maral). As in the Secret History of the Mongols, their 11th generation descendant Dobu Mergen's widow Alan Gua the Fair was impregnanted by a ray of light.^[2] Her youngest son became the ancestor of the later Borjigid.^[3] He was Bodonchar Munkhag (the Simple), who along with his brothers sired the entire Mongol nation.^[4] According to Rashid-al-Din Hamadani, many of Mongolian old clans were founded by Borjigin members - Barulas, Urud, Manghud, Taichiut, Chonos, Kiyat etc. The first Khan of the Mongol was Bodonchar Munkhag's great-great-grandson Khaidu Khan. Khaidu's grandsons Khabul Khan and Ambaghai Khan (founder of the Taichiut clan) succeeded him. Thereafter, Qabul's sons, Hotula Khan and Yesugei, and great-grandson Temujin (Genghis Khan) ruled the Khamag Mongol. By the unification of the Mongols in 1206, virtually all of Temujin's uncles and first cousins died, and from then on only the descendants of Yesugei Baghatur formed the Borjigid.

Mongol Empire

The Borjigin family ruled over the Mongol Empire from the 13th to 14th century. The rise of Genghis (Chingis) narrowed the scope of the Borjigid-Kiyad clans sharply.^[5] This separation was emphasized by the intermarriage of Genghis's descendants with the Barulas, Baarin, Manghud and other branches of the original Borjigid. In the western regions of the Empire, the Jurkin and perhaps other lineages near to Genghis's lineage used the clan name Kiyad but did not share in the privileges of the Genghisids. The Borjigit clan had once dominated large lands stretching from Korea to Turkey and from Indo China to Novgorod. In 1335, with the disintegration of the Ilkhanate in Iran, the first of numerous non-Borjigid-Kiyad dynasties appeared. Established by marriage partners of Genghisids, these included the Suldus Chupanids, Jalayirids in the Middle East, the Barulas dynasties in Chagatai Khanate and India, the Manghud and Onggirat dynasties in the Golden Horde and Central Asia, and the Oirats in western Mongolia.

In 1368, under Toghun Temür, the Yuan Dynasty was overthrown by the Ming Dynasty in China but members of the family continued to rule over Mongolia into the 17th century, known as the Northern Yuan Dynasty. Descendants of Genghis Khan's brothers, Hasar and Belgutei, surrendered to the Ming in 1380's. By 1470 the Borjigin lines were severely weakened, and Mongolia was in almost chaos.

Post-Mongol Empire

After the breakup of the Golden Horde, the Khiyat continued to rule the Crimea and Kazan until the late 18th century. Another lineage of the Borjigin-Khiyat family ruled Kazakh Khanate and Moghulistan until 18th century. They were annexed by the Russian Empire and the Chinese. The Kazakh aristocracy traced back their lineage to Tuqa-Timur, a son of Jochi. In Mongolia, the Kublaids reigned as Khagan of the Mongols, however, descendants of Ogedei and Arikboke usurped the throne briefly.

Under Batumongke Dayan Khan (1480–1517) a broad Borjigid revival reestablished Borjigid supremacy among the Mongols proper. His descendants proliferated to become a new ruling class. The Borjigin clan was the strongest of the 49 Mongol banners. The eastern Horchins were under the Hasarids, and the Ongnigud, Abagha Mongols were under the Belguteids and Temuge Odchigenids. A fragment of the Hasarids deported to Western Mongolia became the Khoshuts.

The Qing Dynasty respected the Borjigin family and the early Emperors married the Hasarid Borjigids of the Horchin. Even among the pro-Qing Mongols, traces of the alternative tradition survived. Aci Lomi, a banner general, wrote his History of the Borjigid Clan from 1732-35.^[6] The 18th century and 19th century Qing nobility was adorned by the descendants of the early Mongol adherents including the Borjigin.^[7]

Genghisids

Descent from Genghis Khan is traceable primarily in Central Asia. His four sons and other immediate descendants are famous by names and by deeds. Later Asian potentates attempted to claim such descent even with flimsy grounds. In the 14th century, valid sources (heavily dependent on Rashid-al-Din Hamadani and other Persian or Arabic historians) all but dry up. With the recent popularity of genealogical DNA testing, a wider circle of people started to claim descent from the great conqueror.

Among the Asian dynasties descended from Genghis Khan were the Yuan Dynasty of China, the Ilkhanids of Persia, the Jochids of the Golden Horde, the Shaybanids of Siberia, and the Astrakhanids of Central Asia. As a rule, the Genghisid descent was crucial in Tatar politics. For instance, Mamai had to exercise his authority through a succession of puppet khans but could not assume the title of khan himself because he was not of the Genghisid lineage.

The word "Chingisid" derives from the name of the Mongol conqueror Genghis (Chingis) Khan (c. 1162–1227 CE). Genghis and his successors created a vast empire stretching from the Sea of Japan to the Black Sea.

• The Chingisid principle,^[8] or golden lineage, was the rule of inheritance laid down in the (Yassa), the legal code attributed to Genghis Khan.

• A Chingisid prince was one who could trace direct descent from Genghis Khan in the male line, and who could therefore claim high respect in the Mongol and Turkic world.

• The Chingisid states were the successor states or Khanates after the Mongol empire broke up following the death of the Genghis Khan's sons and their successors.

• The term Chingisid people was used to describe the people of Genghis Khan's armies who came in contact with Europeans, primarily the Golden Horde, led by Batu Khan, a grandson of Genghis. These were predominantly Oghuz — Turkic speaking people rather than Mongols. (Although the aristocracy was largely Mongol, Mongols were never more than a small minority in the armies and the lands they conquered.) Europeans often (incorrectly) called the people of the Golden Horde Tartars.

Babur and Humayun, founders of the Mughal Empire in India, asserted their authority as Chinggisids. Because they claimed it through their maternal lineage, they had never used the clan name - Borjigin.

The last ruling monarch, Mohammed Alim Khan (d.1944), of Genghisid ancestry was overthrown by Red Army in 1920.

Yuan Dynasty family tree in Mongolia

Genghis Khan founded the Mongol Empire in 1206. His grandson, Kublai Khan founded the Yuan Dynasty in China in 1271. The dynasty was overthrown by the Ming Dynasty during the reign of Toghaghan-Temür in 1368, but it survived in Mongolia, known as the Northern Yuan. Although the kingship was usurped by Esen Tayisi of the Oirats in 1453, he was overthrown in the next year. A recovery of the khaganate was achieved by Batumongke Dayan Khan, but the territory was segmented by his descendants. The last khaan Ligden died in 1634 and his son Ejei Khongghor submitted himself to Hong Taiji the next year, ending the Northern Yuan regime.^[9] However, the Borjigin nobles continued to rule their subjects until the 20th century under the Qing.^[10]

Wada Sei did pioneer work on this field, and Honda Minobu and Okada Hidehiro modified it, utilizing newly discovered Persian (Timurid) records and Mongol chronicles.

Yuan Emperors in China and Mongolia

The following is the Yuan dynasty family tree.

Genghis Khan founded the Mongol Empire in 1206. The empire became split beginning with the succession war of his grandsons Kublai Khan and Ariq Boke. Kublai Khan, after defeating his younger brother Ariq Boke, founded the Yuan Dynasty in China in 1271. The dynasty was overthrown by the Ming Dynasty during the reign of Toghun Temür in 1368, but it survived in Mongolia, known as the Northern Yuan Dynasty; years of reign over the Northern Yuan Dynasty are given in brackets.

				YUANEMPS		YUANEMPS		YUANEMPS		YUANEMPS		YUANEMPS		YUANEMPS
								Yesükhei Baghatur
1		2		3 (1)		4 (2)		5 (3)		6 (4)
Belgutei		Bekhter		Temujin Genghis Khan ~1162-1227 Taizu 太祖 Khagan 1206-27		Hasar		Hachiun		Temüge
1		2		3						4
Jochi d.1227		Chagatai d.1241		Ögedei Khan ~1186-1241 Taizong 太宗 Khagan 1229-41						Tolui ~1190-1232 Ruizong 睿宗 (Khagan 1227-29)
								1		1		2		3		4
								Güyük Khan ~1206-1248 Dingzong 定宗 Khagan 1246-48		Möngke Khan ~1208-1259 Xianzong 憲宗 Khagan 1251-59		Kublai Khan 1215-1294 Khagan 1260-71 Shizu 世祖 1271-1294		Hulagu ~1217-1265 Ilkhan 1256-65		Ariq Böke d.1266 Khagan 1260?
																2
																Zhenjin 真金 1243-1285 Yuzong 裕宗
				1						2						3
				Kamala d.1302 Xianzong 显宗						Darmabala Shunzong 顺宗						Temür Öljeytü Khan 1265-1307 Chengzong 成宗 1294-1307
				1			1					2
				Yesün Temür Khan 1293-1328 Taiding 泰定 1323-1328			Kayishan Külüg Khan 1281-1311 Wuzong 武宗 1308-1311					Ayurbarwada Buyantu Khan 1286-1320 Renzong 仁宗 1311-1320
				1		1		2		1
				Ragibagh Khan ~1320-1328? Tianshun 天順 1328		Kuśala Khutughtu Khan 1300-1329 Mingzong 明宗 1329		Tugh Temür Jayaatu Khan 1304-1332 Wenzong 文宗 1328-29, 1329-32		Shidibala Gegeen Khan 1303-1323 Yingzong 英宗 1321-1323
								1		2
								Toghun Temür Ukhaantu Khan 1320-1370 Huizong 惠宗 1333-68 ( -1370)		Rinchinbal Khan 1326-1332 Ningzong 寧宗 1332
								Ayushiridara Biligtü Khan Zhaozong 昭宗 (1370-1378)		Tögüs Temür Uskhal Khan Yizong 益宗 (1378-1388)

Modern relevance

The Borjigin lost power when Communists took control. Aristocratic descent was something to be forgotten in the socialist period.^[11] Joseph Stalin's henchmen executed some 30,000 Mongols including Borjigin nobles in a series of campaigns against their culture and religion.^[12] Clan association has lost its practical relevance in the 20th century, but is still considered a matter of honour and pride by many Mongolians. In 1920s the communist regime banned the use of clan names. When the ban was lifted again in 1997, most families had lost knowledge about their clan association. Because of that, a disproportionate number of families registered the most prestigious clan name Borjigin, many of them without historic justification.^[13] The label Borjigin is used as a measure of cultural supremacy.^[14]

In Inner Mongolia, the Borjigid or Kiyad name became the basis for many Chinese surnames.^[5] The Inner Mongolian Borjigin Taijis took the surname Bao (from Borjigid) and in Ordos Qi (Qiyat). Recent genetic research has confirmed that as many as 16 million men from Manchuria to Afghanistan may have Borjigid-Kiyad ancestry.^[15] The Qiyat clan name is still found among the Kazakhs, Uzbeks and Karakalpaks.

List of Kiyad-Borjigin dynasties

• Mongol Empire:
  • Golden Horde
    • Kazan Khanate
      • Qasim Khanate
    • Shaibanid
      • Uzbek Khanate
        • Kazakh Khanate
        • Manghit Dynasty
        • Khanate of Khiva
        • Khanate of Bukhara
    • Giray Dynasty
      • Crimean Khanate
    • Astrakhan Khanate
  • Chagatai Khanate
  • Yuan Dynasty
    • Northern Yuan Dynasty
  • Ilkhanate

Prominent Kiyads or Borjigins

Rulers of the Khamag Mongol (11th century-1206)

• Khaidu
• Khabul Khan
• Yesugei

Emperors and rulers of the Mongol Empire (1206–1368)

• Genghis Khan
• Tolui Khan
• Ögedei Khan
• Güyük Khan
• Möngke Khan

Genghis Khan's brothers

• Hasar
• Belgutei
• Temuge

Rulers of the Khanates

Yuan Dynasty

• Kublai Khan
• Temür Khan
• Toghan Temur Khan

Golden Horde

• Jochi
• Orda Khan
• Batu Khan
• Berke
• Shiban
• Toqta
• Uzbeg Khan

Ilkhanate

• Hulegu
• Abaqa
• Ghazan

Chagatai Khanate

• Chagatai Khan
• Kaidu
• Duwa
• Esen Buqa I
• Kebek
• Tarmashirin

Post-Mongol Empire Golden Horde (1360–1502)

• Urus Khan
• Toqtamish
• Mamai^[16]
• Olug Moxammat

Crimean Khanate (1441–1783)

• Mengli Giray

Kazan Khanate (1438–1552)

• Olug Moxammat

Uzbek Khanates (15th - mid 20th century)

• Muhammad Shaybani
• Abulghazi Bahadur
• Mohammed Alim Khan

Kazakh Khanate (1456–1731)

• Janybek Khan

Northern Yuan Dynasty (1368–1635)

• Öljei Temür Khan
• Batumongke Dayan Khan
• Ligden Khan

Ruler of the Tumed

• Altan Khan

Khalkha

• Zanabazar

Empress of the Qing Dynasty (1636–1717)

• Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang
• Empress Xiaohuizhang

Gallery

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• 

  Empress Dowager Xiaozhuang

See also

• Mongol Empire
• Family tree of Genghis Khan
• List of Mongol Khans
• Tatar
• Mongolian name
• List of medieval Mongolian tribes and clans
• Jüz
• History of Mongolia
• Khalkha
• Turco-Mongol
• List of family trees

References

• Wada Sei 和田清. Tōashi Kenkyū (Mōko Hen) 東亜史研究 (蒙古編). Tokyo, 1959.
• Honda Minobu 本田實信. On the genealogy of the early Northern Yüan, Ural-Altaische Jahrbücher, XXX-314, 1958.
• Okada Hidehiro 岡田英弘. Dayan Hagan no nendai ダヤン・ハガンの年代. Tōyō Gakuhō, Vol. 48, No. 3 pp. 1–26 and No. 4 pp. 40–61, 1965.
• Okada Hidehiro 岡田英弘. Dayan Hagan no sensei ダヤン・ハガンの先世. Shigaku Zasshi. Vol. 75, No. 5, pp. 1–38, 1966.

Notes

1. ^ ^{a b} Caroline Humphrey, David Sneath-The end of Nomadism?, p.27
2. ^ The Secret History of the Mongols , Ch.1 $17
3. ^ Herbert Franke, Denis Twitchett, John King Fairbank - The Cambridge History of China: Alien regimes and border states, 907-1368 , p.330
4. ^ Kahn, Paul. The Secret History of the Mongols, p. 10.
5. ^ ^{a b} C.P.Atwood-Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire, p.45
6. ^ Peter C. Perdue-China marches west, p.487
7. ^ Pamela Kyle Crossley-A Translucent Mirror, p.213
8. ^ Russia and the Golden Horde: The Mongol Impact on Medieval Russian History (Chapter VIII) By Charles J. Halperin, Published by Indiana University Press, 1985 ISBN 0253204453, ISBN 9780253204455
9. ^ Ann Heirman, Stephan Peter Bumbacher-The spread of Buddhism, p.395
10. ^ David Sneath-Changing Inner Mongolia: pastoral Mongolian society and the Chinese state, p.21
11. ^ Caroline Humphrey, David Sneath-The end of Nomadism?, p.28
12. ^ Jack Weatherford-Genghis Khan, p.XV
13. ^ "In Search of Sacred Names", Mongolia Today, http://www.mongoliatoday.com/issue/5/names.html
14. ^ Carole Pegg-Mongolian music, dance, & oral narrative, p.22
15. ^ Genetic legacy of the Mongols, American journal of Human genetics 72. p. 717-721
16. ^ According to H.H.Howorth, Mamai used the clan name Kiyad which is near to Genghisid lineage. However, he was not direct descendant of Genghis Khan, The History of the Mongols, part.II, D.II, p.190

— Royal house — House of Borjigin
Preceded by Liao Dynasty	Ruling House of Mongolia 11th century–1635	Great Khan's seat in Chahar was conquered by the Aisin Gioro
New title	Ruling House of the Mongol Empire 1206–1368	Northern Yuan Dynasty the Empire collapsed
Preceded by Song Dynasty	Ruling House of China 1271–1368
Protector of Tibet 1271-1368
Preceded by Khwārazm-Shāh dynasty	Ruling House of Persian Empire 1247–1335	Succeeded by Jalayirids Chupanid Suldus
Preceded by The Khanate established	Ruling House of the Golden Horde 1236–1502	Succeeded by Kiyat Girays Tatars