Ambaghai


Ambaghai or Hambaqai Khan was a khan of Khamag Mongol, one of the great grandsons of Khaidu Khan and the cousin and predecessor of Hotula Khan.

Life

Ambaghai was born to Sorqaduqtu China, a son of Charaqai Lingqum who in turn was son of Khaidu Khan. His father is mentioned as Senggüm Bilge in The Secret History of the Mongols. A member of the cadet branch of Borjigin clan, he was ruler of the Taichuud tribe and later khan of Khamag Mongol. According to Rashidaddin, he succeeded Khabul Khan, because he was seniormost in Borjigid line. Towards end of his rule, he was captured alongside Khabul Khan's son Tödö'en Otchigin by the Tatars when he was on a trip to marry his son Qadaan Taishi to a daughter of chief of the Airu'ut Tatars. In fact, this was done under the commands of the Jurchen Jin dynasty in response to the Mongols' growing power. He was brought to Jin capital Zhongdu was executed by crucifixion and later hacked to death. Sources do not give exact date on Ambaghai's reign or death date. According to Chih-Shu Eva Cheng's calculation, he died at same time as Marcus, khan of Naimans and father of Cyriacus. While Christoph Baumer states he reigned through 1147-1150. He was followed by Hotula Khan, his distant cousin.
His son Qadaan Taishi followed him as de-facto chief of Taichuud and joined Hotula Khan on his campaigns against Tatars. But he was poisoned in 1160s, possibly by his brothers and cousins over succession. Qadaan seems to be succeeded by Targutai Kiriltuk - a rival of Genghis Khan later.
In 1211 Genghis Khan instigated the Mongol–Jin War, ending in the fall of the Jin dynasty, in sworn revenge for Ambaghai's kidnapping and execution.

Family

He left several sons with his two wives - Orbei and Sokhatai:
  1. Adal Khan
  2. # Targutai Kiriltuk — chief of Taichuuds and a rival of Genghis Khan.
  3. Au'chu Baghatur
  4. Qadaan Taishi
  5. Quril Baghatur
  6. Töda'a — one of the sub-chiefs of Taichuuds during reign of Genghis khan.
  7. Qodun Orchang
  8. Bakhachi
  9. Udor Bayan

    In Media