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Qoshila (or Kusala) was Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from February to August 1329, under the regnal name Qutuqtu Khan (“Holy/Blessed/Fortunate Khan.”) A son of Qayishan Khan (r.1307-1311), he was denied a chance to succeed his father when the throne passed to Qayishan’s brother, Ayurbarwada, in 1311. When Ayurbarwada tried to move Qoshila to a post in Yunnan in 1316, Qoshila rebelled, and then fled to the Chagatai Khanate with his followers, where they were welcomed by the Khan Esen Buqa and granted lands to support themselves. Relations warmed somewhat during the reign of Yisün-Temür (r.1323-1328), who contacted Qoshila but he did not return to the Yuan realm.

In late 1328, his half-brother, Tuq-Temür, alongside the Qipchaq commander El-Temür (a loyalist to Qayishan) had taken control of the Yuan capitals of Dadu and Shangdu and invited Qoshila to return. He set out in winter 1328-9 with the Chagatai Khan Eljigidei, and in a quriltai at Qaraqorum in February 1329, declared himself Great Khan. Tuq-Temür, who had already been made khan, was to be his heir.

Eljigidei returned to the Chagatai lands, and Qoshila began making appointments for offices and gave orders for grain reserves to be sent from China to Mongolia to provide relief in the midst of an ongoing drought. Perhaps in an effort to break some of the power of the court officials in Dadu, he also declared he would hold a quriltai at Shangdu where all the western khans would attend to confirm his enthronement, and reestablish some of the connections of the greater Mongol Empire.

While en route to Dadu, Tuq-Temür met Qoshila Khan on August 26th 1329 at Ongghachatu, where their father Qayishan had once started to build a new capital called Zhongdu. A warm celebration was held, much feasting and the brothers embraced. By August 30th, Qoshila was dead. By September 8th, Tuq-Temür was once again enthroned as Khan, under the regnal name Jaya’atu Khan (“Blessed, Fortunate Khan.”)

Qoshila, as was commonly assumed even at the time, was likely murdered by his brother in some manner. He was, however, recognized as a legitimate khan and given the regnal name of Mingzong, “Luminous, Brilliant Ancestor.

Description

Qoshila (or Kusala) was Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from February to August 1329, under the regnal name Qutuqtu Khan (“Holy/Blessed/Fortunate Khan.”) A son of Qayishan Khan (r.1307-1311), he was denied a chance to succeed his father when the throne passed to Qayishan’s brother, Ayurbarwada, in 1311. When Ayurbarwada tried to move Qoshila to a post in Yunnan in 1316, Qoshila rebelled, and then fled to the Chagatai Khanate with his followers, where they were welcomed by the Khan Esen Buqa and granted lands to support themselves. Relations warmed somewhat during the reign of Yisün-Temür (r.1323-1328), who contacted Qoshila but he did not return to the Yuan realm.

In late 1328, his half-brother, Tuq-Temür, alongside the Qipchaq commander El-Temür (a loyalist to Qayishan) had taken control of the Yuan capitals of Dadu and Shangdu and invited Qoshila to return. He set out in winter 1328-9 with the Chagatai Khan Eljigidei, and in a quriltai at Qaraqorum in February 1329, declared himself Great Khan. Tuq-Temür, who had already been made khan, was to be his heir.

Eljigidei returned to the Chagatai lands, and Qoshila began making appointments for offices and gave orders for grain reserves to be sent from China to Mongolia to provide relief in the midst of an ongoing drought. Perhaps in an effort to break some of the power of the court officials in Dadu, he also declared he would hold a quriltai at Shangdu where all the western khans would attend to confirm his enthronement, and reestablish some of the connections of the greater Mongol Empire.

While en route to Dadu, Tuq-Temür met Qoshila Khan on August 26th 1329 at Ongghachatu, where their father Qayishan had once started to build a new capital called Zhongdu. A warm celebration was held, much feasting and the brothers embraced. By August 30th, Qoshila was dead. By September 8th, Tuq-Temür was once again enthroned as Khan, under the regnal name Jaya’atu Khan (“Blessed, Fortunate Khan.”)

Qoshila, as was commonly assumed even at the time, was likely murdered by his brother in some manner. He was, however, recognized as a legitimate khan and given the regnal name of Mingzong, “Luminous, Brilliant Ancestor.