Yesugei

Yesükhei, 13th century portrait

Yesükhei

Yesugei Baghatur or Yesükhei (Modern Mongolian: Есүхэй баатар, Yesukhei baatar; died 1171), was a major chief of the Khamag Mongol confederation and the father of Temüjin, later known as Genghis Khan.

Life

Yesügei was the son of Bartan Baghatur, who was the son of Khabul Khan, who was recognized as a khagan by the Jin Dynasty. Khabul Khan was, in turn, the grandson of the Mongol chief Khaidu, the first to try to unite all of the Mongols. Yesugei had two sons by his first wife: Behter and Belgutei. The Secret History of the Mongols records that in his youth Temüjin killed his brother Behter in a fight for food. His other half-brother, Belgutei, however was a good friend, and later became a general under Genghis. Yesügei's second and chief wife, Hoelun (a daughter of the Olkhunut forest tribe) was abducted by Yesügei and his brothers from her newlywed husband.

Yesügei's children by Hoelun consisted of the four sons Temüjin, (later known as Genghis Khan), Hasar, Hachiun, Temüge (son), and one daughter, Temülen.

When Temüjin was nine years old, Yesügei died. The Secret History records that he was poisoned by Tatars while sharing a meal on the way home from finding his son Temüjin a wife.

Yesügei had also a bloodbrother, or anda, Toghrul Khan (later Wang Khan). Toghrul initially helped Temüjin conquer the tribes, but later defected to Genghis' anda and rival, Jamukha. Yesugei's name literally means "like nine", meaning he had the auspicious qualities of the number nine, a lucky number to the Mongols.

Family

References

• Secret History of the Mongols