Золотоордынское обозрение (Sep 2014)
Kurultai of 1235: Question of Expansion of the Ulus of Jochi »
Abstract
The article examines the Genghisid kurultai held in 1235. The author notes that in many aspects the kurultai of 1235 not only differed from other similar kurultais, but did not quite fit into the political reality of the early imperial period. The author examines in some detail the purpose of the new Western campaign of the Tatar-Mongols. Despite the fact that the Western campaign had a pan-Mongolian character, it contributed to a significant enhancement precisely of the Jochids pushed off earlier into the background by other Genghisids. Batu Khan, the new ruler of the Jochid ulus, succeeded both in extending the ulus of Jochi and resuscitating the ulus of his father. But most importantly, he won the right to lead the army of the whole empire, which immediately changed his status and the status of the Jochids. In a fairly short time, the Jochids had been strengthened to such an extent that they were able to take revenge from their cousins. After had defeated the descendants of Ogedei and brought to power the Toluids, the Jochids willingly relinquish power in the “indigenous yurt”, since they already possessed vast territories and established a functioning state system. They used their influence in the capital only to strengthen their own ulus. The Jochids tried to keep the Mongol Empire under their control by ensuring decision-making at the next kurultais in accordance with their political interests. The author believes that there were active negotiations among the Genghisids before the kurultay of 1235. The fact that the Western campaign was headed by Batu and not by the sons of Ogedei, represented an unconditional victory of the Jochid “family” diplomacy, since previously the Jochids were not allowed to the leadership of the Mongol campaigns. Thanks to the Western campaign, the Jochids were able to expand their possessions to such an extent that, immediately after the campaign, their relationship with the central government and other Genghisids acquired quite a different character.
