[August 11] Möngke Khan, great khan of the Mongol Empire

True Name: Мөнх хаан
Parents: Tolui, great khan of the Mongol Empire, and Sorghaghtani Beki of the Kereyid Clan
Date of Birth: 10 January 1209

House: Borjigin

Spouse(s): (1) Qutuqui of the Ikheres Clan, (2) Oghul-Khoimish of the Oirats Clan, and (3) Chubei

Predecessor: Güyük Khan
Reign: 1251 – 1259

Summary: The greatest expander of Genghis Khan's empire, Möngke was born to Genghis' son, Tolui, although he was raised by another son, Ogedei. In 1230, Möngke followed his uncle to war against the Jin Dynasty of Manchuria. His father died in 1232 and he became the ruler of Tolui's expansive khanate. In 1235, Möngke was once again sent out by his uncle to defeat the Russians and Bulgars in the Ural Mountains. After his victories there, he went south to subdue the Caucasus region. By 1240, Möngke was helping his brothers and cousins in conquering Kiev. He wished to save the city but when the defenders refused an offer of surrender, the Mongol army sacked it. Möngke returned to Mongolia in 1241 whereupon his uncle, Ogedei, died. Ogedei's son, Güyük was elected thereafter but met harsh resistance from Genghis' brother, Temuge Odchigen. Möngke and Orda Khan were to preside over the trial of Ordchigen when Güyük suddenly died in 1248. Möngke suddenly became the chief claimant to the Mongol throne. His competitor, Batu, was ill and decided to support Möngke in his bid, which allowed the young khan to become the fourth Great Khan of the Mongol Horde in succession to Genghis Khan. Up to 300 Mongol aristocrats may have died in the brief succession dispute that followed, but by 1252, Möngke was the uncontested ruler of the Horde.

Möngke was most instrumental in the safe passage afforded to the Silk Road. He turned local princes into salaried bureaucrats and made merchants using the road subject to specific taxes. He sent out investigators to ensure that merchants and princes were not overtaxing caravans along the route, as well. During conquests, Möngke punished soldiers that plundered without authorization. Möngke also used people from throughout his empire—Christians, Muslims, Jews; Chinese, Arabs, Indians—to manage the Empire. To stabilize the economy, Möngke began limiting the issuance of paper money and create the Department of Monetary Affairs. An extensive census was held during the entirety of his reign, covering such vast a region as Iran, Afghanistan, Georgia, Armenia, Russia, Central Asia, and North China. He used the data from this to fairly tax the people throughout the empire based on percentage quotas. In 1253, Möngke conquered Tibet but made the entire Buddhist network in the country exempt from taxes. Möngke was Buddhist and most of his family was also Buddhist until the Persian and Arab conquests caused many to convert to Islam. Still, to ensure peace throughout the Empire, Möngke generally allowed regions to retain their local religions. The conquests of the Mongol Empire between 1251 and 1259 were significant. Korea was conquered then allowed to rule as a vassal state. China was surrounded, with Yunnan in northern India, Vietnam, and Tibet all conquered in a relatively short time.  In Delhi, Möngke became the de facto ruler after assisting the legitimate king to reclaim his throne. In the Middle East, Möngke's brother Hulegu invaded Iran and sacked Baghdad in 1258, then continued on to Syria where he took Damascus, Aleppo, and Gaza. Möngke was in the midst of the conquest of China when he caught dysentery or cholera in August 1259. The Mongol expansion ceased for a time and war broke out between his brothers, Kublai Khan and Ariq Koke. Kublai won the war, but the unified Mongol Empire ended with Mönke's death, leaving numerous successor states throughout Asia.

Date of Death: 11 August 1259
Successor: Kublai Khan

Other Monarchs Who Died Today:

• Magnentius, usurper of Rome (353)
• Flavian, archbishop of Constantinople (449)
• Wilfred I, count of Barcelona (897)
• Guttorm, king of Norway (1204)