Following Genghis Khan's death in 1227, his vast empire was inherited by his sons and grandsons. The succession was not simple, and the empire was divided among different branches of the family.
The Division of the Empire
- Ogedai Khan (1229-1241): Genghis Khan's third son, Ogedai, was chosen as his successor. He continued his father's expansionist policies, leading campaigns into Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
- Guyuk Khan (1246-1248): Ogedai's son, Guyuk, became Khan after a period of interregnum. He was a less successful ruler than his father and died after only two years.
- Mongke Khan (1251-1259): Guyuk's younger brother, Mongke, took the throne. Mongke continued the expansion of the empire and was a skilled administrator. He appointed his brother Kublai Khan to lead a campaign in China.
- Kublai Khan (1260-1294): Following Mongke's death, Kublai Khan became the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire. He conquered the Song Dynasty in China and established the Yuan Dynasty.
The Breakup of the Empire
After Kublai Khan's death, the Mongol Empire began to fragment. The vast territory was divided into separate Khanates, each ruled by a different branch of the family. These Khanates continued to exist for centuries, but the Mongol Empire as a unified entity was no more.
The following are some of the major Khanates that emerged after the breakup of the Mongol Empire:
- Yuan Dynasty (China): Founded by Kublai Khan, the Yuan Dynasty ruled China until 1368.
- Golden Horde (Russia): The Golden Horde was a Mongol Khanate that ruled over much of present-day Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus.
- Ilkhanate (Persia): The Ilkhanate was a Mongol Khanate that ruled over Persia, Armenia, and Georgia.
- Chagatai Khanate (Central Asia): The Chagatai Khanate ruled over a vast territory in Central Asia, including modern-day Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan.
The death of Genghis Khan marked a significant turning point in Mongol history. While the empire continued to expand under his successors, it eventually fractured into smaller Khanates. The Mongol Empire's legacy, however, continues to be felt today, as it left an indelible mark on the history and culture of many parts of the world.
