Accession of Möngke Khan (Election at the Qoriltai)

Timeline

1. 1250Batu's residence (in the vicinity of Alaqamaq) · KazakhstanAfter the death of Güyük Khan, Oghul Qaimish served as regent and the empire fell into a succession deadlock. Sorghaghtani ordered her eldest son Möngke to travel to Batu, Khan of the Golden Horde, for consultations. In 1250, Batu convened a qoriltai at his residence, praising Möngke's merits in the western campaign, declaring that Güyük's accession had violated Ögedei's testament, and proposing Möngke's nomination as Great Khan; the assembly approved the nomination, but princes of the Ögedei and Chagatai lines refused to recognize it.
2. 1251Köde'ü Aral · Khentii ProvinceBecause the Ögedei and Chagatai lines refused to recognize the preparatory nomination, Sorghaghtani and Möngke sent envoys inviting princes of all branches to a formal qoriltai on the Mongolian homeland along the Onon River. Batu sent his brother Berke with a large army to escort Möngke to the assembly. Most princes of the two lines still refused to answer the summons, and the assembly was delayed for months; Sorghaghtani used her prestige and gifts to win over the princes, ultimately bringing most princes and ministers to attend.
3. 1251Köde'ü Aral · Khentii ProvinceOn June 11, 1251, the assembled princes and ministers at Köde'ü Aral formally acclaimed Möngke as Great Khan of the Great Mongol Empire, and on the same day Möngke honored his mother Sorghaghtani as Empress Dowager. A few princes, including Qadaqachi of the Ögedei line and Ghazan of the Chagatai line, expressed recognition, but Ögedei-line princes such as Shiremün and Nogu secretly plotted assassination; the imperial line was thus formally transferred from Ögedei's descendants to Tolui's descendants.