Nayan was a prince of the Borjigin royal family of the Mongol Empire. He raised a noteworthy and serious rebellion against the Mongolian Khagan, Kublai Khan. He was a Nestorian Christian. Much of what is known of Nayan was recorded by the Venetian traveller Marco Polo.
Marco Polo and Kublai Khan, Italian book illustration 14th century
Nayan was a member of a collateral branch of the Mongol royal dynasty, being a descendant of one of the brothers of Genghis Khan. He was either a great-great grandson of Temüge, Genghis Khan's youngest full brother, or of Belgutai his half-brother. More than one prince named Nayan existed and their identity is confused; the historian Pelliot was of the opinion that the Christian prince Nayan was not a descendant of Belgutai.[1] He gives Nayan's father as Ajul, son of Tacar, son of Jibügan, son of Temüge.[2] The close male relatives of Genghis Khan were given control of large appanage domains located in Mongolia and neighbouring lands such as Manchuria. Marco Polo describes Nayan as ruling four great provinces: 'Ciorcia' (possibly meaning Jurchen), 'Cauli' (Korea, probably only a part of Northern Korea), 'Barscol' and 'Sichintingiu'.[3] Located in his domains was a town called Kwang-ning, and because of this Nayan was termed 'Prince of Kwang-ning'.[4] In addition, Nayan was also the foremost leader of the Eastern uluses (tribal groupings and districts ruled by Mongol appanage princes) dominated by the descendants of the brothers of Genghis Khan.[5] Whatever the precise extent of Nayan's appanage, he certainly held sufficient lands within and around Manchuria to give him a power-base from which to launch a rebellion against his kinsman Kublai Khan.[6]
Rebellion
Nayan is represented as embodying a traditional Mongol reaction against the increasing sinicisation shown by Kublai Khan and his administration. Nayan adhered to the ancestral nomadic values of the Mongols and was dismayed at Kublai's estrangement from these ideals.[7] More prosaically Kublai Khan was, possibly on the model of Chinese principles of governance, consolidating power in his own hands and the semi-independent appanage princes were beginning to feel threatened.[8] Nayan conspired with two other descendants of brothers of Genghis Khan, Shiktur and Qada'an, who also held appanages in Eastern Mongolia and Manchuria. He was also in contact with Kublai Khan's 'nephew' and inveterate enemy Kaidu, who ruled much of Central Asia.[9][10]
Nayan broke into open rebellion between 14 May and 12 June, 1287, and the main battle against Kublai took place around 16 July.[11]
Mongol heavy cavalry - Mongols fighting Mongols in battle
Kublai Khan had suspicions, and justifiable fears, of co-operation between Nayan and Kaidu, and sent his leading general Bayan to investigate. One contemporary source relates that Nayan invited Bayan to a feast, but forewarned of a trap, Bayan escaped. Whatever the truth of this incident, Bayan was sent with an army to occupy Karakorum in order to block Kaidu from moving eastward and joining Nayan.[12] Kublai himself, despite his advanced age of 72 years, raised another army and rapidly moved against Nayan in Manchuria. The speed and scale of Kublai's response meant that the various rebels were given very limited opportunities to co-ordinate their movements and concentrate their forces, and left them open to being defeated individually. The imperial fleet moved great quantities of supplies to the mouth of the Liao River to support the campaign. Nayan was himself encamped on the banks of the same river further inland. Kublai directed his forces from a palanquin mounted on, or drawn by, four elephants.[13]
Moving at a rapid pace, and carefully screening his army, Kublai Khan's forces surprised Nayan at his encampment.[14] The camp of Nayan was protected by a wagonlaager, a field fortification commonly employed by steppe nomads.[15] The khagan's army was organised in three divisions: first the Mongols, second the Chinese, and third the Guard and Kipchaks, the latter combined under Kublai's direct command. Nayan's army was less disciplined than that of Kublai's, and it is alleged that it was momentarily panicked before the battle began by the discharge, by some of the khagan's troops, of an early variety of explosive device.[16] According to Marco Polo, as a Christian, Nayan's standard bore the insignia of the cross.[17] The armies faced each other with their great kettle drums beating and horns sounding.[18] The battle began with exchanges of arrows but then developed into one of close-combat with lance, sword and iron mace. The battle was hard-fought and lasted from early morning until mid-day, when Nayan's army began to break up. Nayan's soldiers started to flee the field, many were cut down, and Nayan himself was captured.[19]
Aftermath of the rebellion
Kublai ordered Nayan to be executed immediately and in secret, in order that no petitions for mercy might arise.[20] Nayan was executed in a manner that avoided the spilling of his royal blood; he was rolled in a carpet and smothered or thrown up and down until dead. Though he was unable to effectively support Nayan's rebellion, Kaidu remained a potent threat for the remainder of Kublai Khan's life. Kublai chose not to regard Nayan's Nestorian Christian co-religionists as guilty by association, and refused to allow them to suffer any level of persecution within his lands.[21]
In the wake of the suppression of Nayan's rebellion, Kublai Khan was able to begin to fully incorporate the lands and peoples previously dominated by the appanage princes into his domain.[22]
^Also called Kuang-Ning, it is situated in Liaoning Province. Once an important settlement, it was captured by the Mongols under Muqali in 1215. Cordier Vol. I, p. 334
Cordier, H. (1920) Ser Marco Polo, Vols. I and II, John Murray, London.
Grousset, R. (1970) The Empire of the Steppes: A History of Central Asia, Rutgers University Press.
Jackson, P. (1999) From Ulus to Khanate: The making of the Mongol states c. 1220-c. 1290, in The Mongol Empire and its Legacy, ed. R. Amitai-Preiss and D. O. Morgan, Brill, Leiden.
Man, J. (2012) Kublai Khan, Random House, London.
Pelliot, P. (1963) Notes on Marco Polo, Vols., I, II and III, Imprimerie Nationale, Paris.
Rossabi, M. (1988) Khubilai Khan: His Life and Times, University of California Press.
January 07, 2023
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Nayan was a prince of the Borjigin royal family of the Mongol Empire He raised a noteworthy and serious rebellion against the Mongolian Khagan Kublai Khan He was a Nestorian Christian Much of what is known of Nayan was recorded by the Venetian traveller Marco Polo NayanPrince of Kwang ningBornc 1257DiedJuly 1287HouseBorjiginFatherAjul ReligionNestorianism Contents 1 Origins 2 Rebellion 3 Aftermath of the rebellion 4 References 5 BibliographyOrigins Edit Marco Polo and Kublai Khan Italian book illustration 14th century Nayan was a member of a collateral branch of the Mongol royal dynasty being a descendant of one of the brothers of Genghis Khan He was either a great great grandson of Temuge Genghis Khan s youngest full brother or of Belgutai his half brother More than one prince named Nayan existed and their identity is confused the historian Pelliot was of the opinion that the Christian prince Nayan was not a descendant of Belgutai 1 He gives Nayan s father as Ajul son of Tacar son of Jibugan son of Temuge 2 The close male relatives of Genghis Khan were given control of large appanage domains located in Mongolia and neighbouring lands such as Manchuria Marco Polo describes Nayan as ruling four great provinces Ciorcia possibly meaning Jurchen Cauli Korea probably only a part of Northern Korea Barscol and Sichintingiu 3 Located in his domains was a town called Kwang ning and because of this Nayan was termed Prince of Kwang ning 4 In addition Nayan was also the foremost leader of the Eastern uluses tribal groupings and districts ruled by Mongol appanage princes dominated by the descendants of the brothers of Genghis Khan 5 Whatever the precise extent of Nayan s appanage he certainly held sufficient lands within and around Manchuria to give him a power base from which to launch a rebellion against his kinsman Kublai Khan 6 Rebellion EditNayan is represented as embodying a traditional Mongol reaction against the increasing sinicisation shown by Kublai Khan and his administration Nayan adhered to the ancestral nomadic values of the Mongols and was dismayed at Kublai s estrangement from these ideals 7 More prosaically Kublai Khan was possibly on the model of Chinese principles of governance consolidating power in his own hands and the semi independent appanage princes were beginning to feel threatened 8 Nayan conspired with two other descendants of brothers of Genghis Khan Shiktur and Qada an who also held appanages in Eastern Mongolia and Manchuria He was also in contact with Kublai Khan s nephew and inveterate enemy Kaidu who ruled much of Central Asia 9 10 Nayan broke into open rebellion between 14 May and 12 June 1287 and the main battle against Kublai took place around 16 July 11 Mongol heavy cavalry Mongols fighting Mongols in battle Kublai Khan had suspicions and justifiable fears of co operation between Nayan and Kaidu and sent his leading general Bayan to investigate One contemporary source relates that Nayan invited Bayan to a feast but forewarned of a trap Bayan escaped Whatever the truth of this incident Bayan was sent with an army to occupy Karakorum in order to block Kaidu from moving eastward and joining Nayan 12 Kublai himself despite his advanced age of 72 years raised another army and rapidly moved against Nayan in Manchuria The speed and scale of Kublai s response meant that the various rebels were given very limited opportunities to co ordinate their movements and concentrate their forces and left them open to being defeated individually The imperial fleet moved great quantities of supplies to the mouth of the Liao River to support the campaign Nayan was himself encamped on the banks of the same river further inland Kublai directed his forces from a palanquin mounted on or drawn by four elephants 13 Moving at a rapid pace and carefully screening his army Kublai Khan s forces surprised Nayan at his encampment 14 The camp of Nayan was protected by a wagon laager a field fortification commonly employed by steppe nomads 15 The khagan s army was organised in three divisions first the Mongols second the Chinese and third the Guard and Kipchaks the latter combined under Kublai s direct command Nayan s army was less disciplined than that of Kublai s and it is alleged that it was momentarily panicked before the battle began by the discharge by some of the khagan s troops of an early variety of explosive device 16 According to Marco Polo as a Christian Nayan s standard bore the insignia of the cross 17 The armies faced each other with their great kettle drums beating and horns sounding 18 The battle began with exchanges of arrows but then developed into one of close combat with lance sword and iron mace The battle was hard fought and lasted from early morning until mid day when Nayan s army began to break up Nayan s soldiers started to flee the field many were cut down and Nayan himself was captured 19 Aftermath of the rebellion EditKublai ordered Nayan to be executed immediately and in secret in order that no petitions for mercy might arise 20 Nayan was executed in a manner that avoided the spilling of his royal blood he was rolled in a carpet and smothered or thrown up and down until dead Though he was unable to effectively support Nayan s rebellion Kaidu remained a potent threat for the remainder of Kublai Khan s life Kublai chose not to regard Nayan s Nestorian Christian co religionists as guilty by association and refused to allow them to suffer any level of persecution within his lands 21 In the wake of the suppression of Nayan s rebellion Kublai Khan was able to begin to fully incorporate the lands and peoples previously dominated by the appanage princes into his domain 22 References Edit Pelliot Vol I pp 354 355 Pelliot Vol II p 788 Pelliot Vol I p 386 Also called Kuang Ning it is situated in Liaoning Province Once an important settlement it was captured by the Mongols under Muqali in 1215 Cordier Vol I p 334 Jackson pp 32 36 Grousset p 293 Rossabi p 222 Jackson pp 31 36 Grousset p 293 Kaidu is usually termed Kublai s nephew in the literature in reality he was his first cousin once removed Pelliot Vol II p 789 Man p 396 Grousset p 293 Cordier Vol I p 336 337 Grousset p 293 Cordier Vol I p 342 Cordier Vol I p 339 Cordier Vol I p 338 Rossabbi p 223 Cordier Vol I p 343 Rossabi p 224 Jackson pp 32 36Bibliography EditCordier H 1920 Ser Marco Polo Vols I and II John Murray London Grousset R 1970 The Empire of the Steppes A History of Central Asia Rutgers University Press Jackson P 1999 From Ulus to Khanate The making of the Mongol states c 1220 c 1290 in The Mongol Empire and its Legacy ed R Amitai Preiss and D O Morgan Brill Leiden Man J 2012 Kublai Khan Random House London Pelliot P 1963 Notes on Marco Polo Vols I II and III Imprimerie Nationale Paris Rossabi M 1988 Khubilai Khan His Life and Times University of California Press Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Nayan Mongol prince amp oldid 1061539129, wikipedia, wiki, book, 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