Kuchlug

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Map of Asia and Europe circa 1200 C.E.

Kuchlug (also spelled Küchlüg) was a member of the Naiman tribe of western Mongolia. After being defeated by Genghis Khan, he fled westward to the Kara-Khitan Khanate, becoming an advisor there. In 1210 he led a coup to take control of the khanate. He was finally killed by the Mongols when they conquered the region in 1218.

1 Naiman Origins and Westward Flight
2 Kara-Khitan Empire
3 Downfall and Death
4 See Also
5 Sources

[edit] Naiman Origins and Westward Flight

Kuchlug was the son of Taibuqa, the Tayang Khan (leader) of the Naiman tribe. In 1204, Jamuqa, the chief Mongol rival of Temüjin (later Genghis Khan), fled to the Naimans. Temüjin followed him, and launched an assault upon the tribe. Taibuqa at first hesitated, considering it better to fall back to the Altai Mountains and attack the Mongols from there. Kuchlug, however, favored a direct assault on the Mongols on open ground. He went so far as to dismiss his father's plan as cowardly. Taibuqa relented, and allowed Kuchlug to carry out his attack.

The battle was a disaster for the Naiman. Jamuqa abandoned them and fled. Taibuqa was mortally injured, and his main commander was killed. The rest of the tribe surrendered to Temüjin and were absorbed into his ranks. Kuchlug, however, managed to escape westward towards the Kara Irtish with some remaining Naiman soldiers.

Afterwards, Genghis Khan kept up a guard against the threat Kuchlug still posed. In 1208 they again met in battle, and Kuchlug was pushed further west into Semirechye. Reeling from another defeat, Kuchlug turned to the Kara Khitai for protection.

[edit] Kara-Khitan Empire

[edit] Rebellion against the Gur-Khan

Once he was accepted into the Kara-Khitan Empire, Kuchlug quickly gained a strong foothold. He found service as an advisor for the Gur-khan (meaning Universal Khan), the ruler of the Kara-Khitais, and even married one of the Gur-khan's daughters. He also reorganized the remaining Naiman into a military unit under his command.

During this time the Kara-Khitans were engaged with a struggle against Muhammad II of the Khwarezmian Empire. Having conquered the remnants of the Kara-Khanids in modern-day Uzbekistan, Muhammad then turned his sights on the Kara-Khitans. During the ensuing struggle Kuchlug saw his chance, and in 1210 he rebelled against his father-in-law. Muhammad gave support to this other leader battling against the Gur-khan.

The Gur-khan pulled back to his capital of Balasagun. In 1211 he was finally captured by Kuchlug. The Gur-khan was allowed to remain ruler of the Kara-Khitais, at least in name, but Kuchlug retained the real power. When the Gur-khan died in 1213, Kuchlug took direct control of the khanate.

Khwarezmid Empire

[edit] Struggle against Muhammad II

Once Kuchlug had firmly established himself as ruler, Muhammad demanded Kara-Khiatai territory in exchange for his previous support. Kuchlug refused, and the two sides eventually went to war. The fighting was fierce on both sides, with many atrocities committed against the local population. Ultimately the war was indecisive, and the Syr-Darya eventually came to be the de-facto border between the two rulers.

[edit] Religious influences

Kuchlug was from the Naiman tribe, which was devoutly Nestorian. It can be assumed that he, along with his soldiers, brought their beliefs with them to the lands of the Kara-Khitai. Additionally, his wife was a practicing Buddhist. Once Kuchlug assumed power throughout the khanate, he would often demand that a town’s population make a choice between converting to Nestorianism or Buddhism, or face punishment.

During this time tales began to reach the west of the war between the Christian Kuchlug and Muslim Muhammad. It was told that Prester John was again battling the Muslims in the East, now with Kuchlug filling the role of the mythical Christian king.

Along with his personal beliefs, Kuchlug’s bitter war with Muhammad gave him a strong motivation to hate Islam. He began to severely persecute the religion through his kingdom, especially in the cities of Eastern Turkestan. In once instance, the imam of Hotan was nailed to the door of his madrassa. Major cities in the region, such as Yarkand and Kashgar, were desperate for any kind of salvation from their bloody ruler.

[edit] Downfall and Death

In 1218 the governor of Otrar (a city controlled by Muhammad II) humiliated and murdered two missions sent by Genghis Khan. Furious at these insults, the Mongols prepared to launch an attack against Muhammad. However, in between the Mongols and Muhammad lay the Kara-Khitai, controlled by Genghis Khan’s old enemy, Kuchlug. Before any invasion of the Khwarezmian Empire, Kuchlug had to first be defeated.

In 1218 the Mongols began their assault on the khanate. After a brief resistance in Semirechye, the capital city of Balasagun surrendered without a fight and Kuchlug fled southwards to Kashgar. The Muslim residents, however, angered at the persecution they had received, refused to help Kuchlug. He continued south across the Pamirs, eventually reaching the border of Badakhshan. There, a group of hunters caught him and handed him over to the Mongols. He was beheaded, and his head was exhibited throughout the towns that used to suffer at his hands.