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Ayushiridara was Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from 1370-78. A son of Toghon-Temür Khan and Empress Ki, Ayushiridara had an extensive education to prepare him for rulership. Energetic, courageous and ambitious, he contrasted with his lazy and unresponsive ruler of a father. The result was that, as Mongol rule in China in the 1350s and 60s grew increasingly strained in the face of rebellions, elements of the court (especially his mother, Empress Ki) tried to force Toghon-Temür to abdicate for Ayushiridara. Young Ayushiridara was deeply involved in politics and the war against the Red Turbans, but often conflicted with generals like Bolod-Temür and Köke-Temür, dividing energies that could’ve been spent against the rebels. By the time Ayushiridara was made supreme commander of Yuan forces in 1367, it was too late to arrest the fate of the dynasty. By September 1368, the court fled Dadu as the newly declared Ming Dynasty seized the north.

Back in the steppes, a depressed Toghon-Temür died of dysentery in early 1370, and Ayushiridara was enthroned as Great Khan. He recognized neither the loss of China, nor the Ming Dynasty, which they referred to only as “the red rebels.”

Ayushiridara’s reign began in a difficult spot; in June 1370 the Ming attacked the palace at Yingchang (at Dalai Nur), capturing many, including Ayushiridara’s son Maidaribala. Ayushiridara escaped, and remnants of Yuan forces continued to join him, and they were able to launch counter attacks on the Ming. Returning to the old capital at Qaraqorum, he continued to send messengers to Koryo, Tibet and Yuan loyalists in Liaodong, Gansu and Yunnan, who still resisted the Ming. In 1372, the Ming launched a massive, three pronged assault into Mongolia, which ended in disaster for the Ming armies. For the rest of the 1370s, the Ming avoided all direct confrontations with the Mongols.

Ayushiridara brought many to his banner, and continued to run Yuan ministries from his vast mobile ordu, apparently consisting of 100,000 people. Ayushiridara died in 1378, never responding to Ming envoys or even acknowledging the legitimacy of their dynasty, much to the frustration of the Hongwu Emperor.

Description

Ayushiridara was Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from 1370-78. A son of Toghon-Temür Khan and Empress Ki, Ayushiridara had an extensive education to prepare him for rulership. Energetic, courageous and ambitious, he contrasted with his lazy and unresponsive ruler of a father. The result was that, as Mongol rule in China in the 1350s and 60s grew increasingly strained in the face of rebellions, elements of the court (especially his mother, Empress Ki) tried to force Toghon-Temür to abdicate for Ayushiridara. Young Ayushiridara was deeply involved in politics and the war against the Red Turbans, but often conflicted with generals like Bolod-Temür and Köke-Temür, dividing energies that could’ve been spent against the rebels. By the time Ayushiridara was made supreme commander of Yuan forces in 1367, it was too late to arrest the fate of the dynasty. By September 1368, the court fled Dadu as the newly declared Ming Dynasty seized the north.

Back in the steppes, a depressed Toghon-Temür died of dysentery in early 1370, and Ayushiridara was enthroned as Great Khan. He recognized neither the loss of China, nor the Ming Dynasty, which they referred to only as “the red rebels.”

Ayushiridara’s reign began in a difficult spot; in June 1370 the Ming attacked the palace at Yingchang (at Dalai Nur), capturing many, including Ayushiridara’s son Maidaribala. Ayushiridara escaped, and remnants of Yuan forces continued to join him, and they were able to launch counter attacks on the Ming. Returning to the old capital at Qaraqorum, he continued to send messengers to Koryo, Tibet and Yuan loyalists in Liaodong, Gansu and Yunnan, who still resisted the Ming. In 1372, the Ming launched a massive, three pronged assault into Mongolia, which ended in disaster for the Ming armies. For the rest of the 1370s, the Ming avoided all direct confrontations with the Mongols.

Ayushiridara brought many to his banner, and continued to run Yuan ministries from his vast mobile ordu, apparently consisting of 100,000 people. Ayushiridara died in 1378, never responding to Ming envoys or even acknowledging the legitimacy of their dynasty, much to the frustration of the Hongwu Emperor.