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Ligdan Khan

Type Figure Region Inner Mongolia Time 1588–1634 Also known as Ligdan Khutugtu Khan、Ligdan Batu

Ligdan Khan (1588–1634), leader of the Chahar and last great khagan of the Northern Yuan, from 1604 sought to restore khagan authority and allied wit…

Timeline

  1. 1604–1626Chahar tribal pasturelands · ChaharAfter acceding around 1604 he proclaimed himself khagan of all Mongolia, appointed officials to govern the left and right wings, formed a personal guard, and maintained market-gift relations with Ming. During this period Later Jin rose in Liaodong; he tried to use his khagan title to bind the tribes south of the Gobi, but his centralization already provoked discontent.
  2. 1627–1631Mongolia south of the Gobi · Inner MongoliaFrom 1627 the Sunid, Üjümüchin, Abag and others resisted his harsh rule. He defeated some of their coalitions, demanded increased annual gifts from Ming, and attacked the Khorchid and Tümed who had already submitted to Later Jin. The tribes instead formed a tighter anti-Chahar alliance with Hong Taiji.
  3. 1632–1634Great Grassland of Xilatala · TianzhuIn 1632 Hong Taiji and a Mongol allied army campaigned in person; Ligdan Khan avoided battle and led more than 100,000 Chahar west toward the Ordos and Qinghai, attempting to form an anti-Gelug alliance with Choghtu Khan and Tsangpa Khan. In 1634 he contracted smallpox and died at Gansu's Great Grassland, and his followers dispersed.

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