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{{Infobox royalty
|name              = Ögedei Khan
|title             = 2nd [[Khagan]] of the [[Mongol Empire]]<br />(Supreme [[Khan (title)|Khan]] of the [[Mongols]])<br />[[King of Kings]]
|image             = YuanEmperorAlbumOgedeiPortrait.jpg
|caption           = A portrait of Ögedei produced during the [[Yuan dynasty]]. Original size is 47 cm wide and 59.4 cm high. Paint and ink on silk. Now located in the [[National Palace Museum]], [[Taipei]], [[Taiwan]].
|given name        = 
|succession        = [[Khagan]]
|reign             = 13 September 1229 – 11 December 1241
|coronation        = 13 September 1229 in [[Kurultai|Khuruldai]] at the [[Kherlen River|Kherlen]]'s Khödöö Aral, Mongolia
|predecessor       = [[Genghis Khan]]
|successor         = [[Güyük Khan]]
|spouse            = Borakchin Khatun<br />[[Töregene|Töregene Khatun]]<br />Moge Khatun<br />Alqui Khatun<br />Kirgistani Khatun<br />Kujulder Khatun<br />Jujai Khatun<br />Jachin Khatun<br>Argana Khatun
|spouse-type       = Consort
|issue             = [[Güyük Khan]]<br />[[Khuden]]<br />Khochu<br />Khorachar<br />Khashi<br />[[Kadan]]<br />Melig
|house             = [[Borjigin]]
|house-type        = Clan
|temple name       = Taizong (太宗, posthumously given in 1266)
|posthumous name   = Emperor Yingwen (英文皇帝, posthumously given in 1266)
|father            = [[Genghis Khan]]
|mother            = [[Börte|Börte Ujin]]
|birth_date        = 7 November 1186
|death_date        = 11 December 1241 (aged 55)
|death_place       = [[Mongolia]]
|religion          = [[Tengriism]]
}}

'''Ögedei Khan''', born '''Ögedei''' (also '''Ogodei'''; {{lang-mn|Өгэдэй|translit=Ögedei}}, [[Mongolian language|Mongolian]]: ᠥᠭᠡᠳᠡᠢ ''Ögedei'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mongoltoli.mn/history/h/813|title=''Güyük'' entry, the official Mongolian glossary of history|last=|first=|date=|website=mongoltoli.mn/history/h/813|language=Mongolian|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2017-03-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tmsdl.media.ritsumei.ac.jp/cgi-bin/library?a=q&r=1&hs=1&qtm=1&e=p-01000-00---off-0goldhis--00-1----0-10-0---0---0direct-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-about---00-3-1-00-0--4--0--0-0-11-10-0utfZz-8-00&t=1&q=%E1%A0%A5%E1%A0%AD%E1%A0%A1%E1%A0%B3%E1%A0%A1%E1%A0%A2+%E1%A0%AC%E1%A0%A0%E1%A0%AD%E1%A0%A0%E1%A0%A8|title=Instances of 'ᠥᠭᠡᠳᠡᠢ ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠨ' in ''The Abbreviated Golden History'', and ''The Story of the Asragch''|last=|first=|date=|website=tmsdl.media.ritsumei.ac.jp|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2017-03-17}}</ref> ᠣᠭᠡᠳᠡᠢ ''Ogedei'', ᠥᠭᠦᠳᠡᠢ ''Ögüdei'';<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://tmsdl.media.ritsumei.ac.jp/cgi-bin/library?a=q&r=1&hs=1&qtm=1&e=p-01000-00---off-0goldhis--00-1----0-10-0---0---0direct-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-about-%E1%A0%A5%E1%A0%AD%E1%A0%A6%E1%A0%B3%E1%A0%A1%E1%A0%A2+%E1%A0%AC%E1%A0%A0%E1%A0%AD%E1%A0%A0%E1%A0%A8--00-3-1-00-0--4--0--0-0-11-10-0utfZz-8-00&t=1&q=%E1%A0%A5%E1%A0%AD%E1%A0%A6%E1%A0%B3%E1%A0%A1%E1%A0%A2+%E1%A0%AC%E1%A0%A0%E1%A0%AD%E1%A0%A0%E1%A0%A8|title=Instances of 'ᠥᠭᠦᠳᠡᠢ ᠬᠠᠭᠠᠨ' in ''The Story of the Asragch''|last=|first=|date=|website=tmsdl.media.ritsumei.ac.jp|archive-url=|archive-date=|dead-url=|access-date=2017-03-03}}</ref> [[Chinese language|Chinese]]: 窩闊台: 7 November 1186 – 11 December 1241), was the third son of [[Genghis Khan]] and second [[Great Khan]] of the [[Mongol Empire]], succeeding his father. He continued the expansion of the empire that his father had begun, and was a world figure when the Mongol Empire reached its farthest extent west and south during the [[Mongol invasion of Europe|Mongol invasions of Europe]] and [[Mongol conquests#East Asia|East Asia]].<ref>John Joseph Saunders ''The History of the Mongol Conquests'', p.74</ref> Like all of Genghis' primary sons, he participated extensively in conquests in [[China]], [[Iran]], and [[Central Asia]].

==Background==
Ögedei was the third son of [[Genghis Khan]] and [[Börte|Börte Ujin]]. He participated in the turbulent events of his father's rise. When he was 17 years old, Genghis Khan experienced the disastrous defeat of [[Khalakhaljid Sands]] against the army of [[Jamukha]]. Ögedei was heavily wounded and lost on the battlefield.<ref>Secret history of the Mongols, $3, II</ref> His father's adopted brother and companion Borokhula rescued him. Although already married, in 1204 his father gave him [[Töregene]], the wife of a defeated [[Merkit]] chief. The addition of such a wife was not uncommon in [[steppe]] culture.

After Genghis was proclaimed Emperor or [[Khagan]] in 1206, ''myangans'' (thousands) of the [[Jalayir]], Besud, [[Suldus]], and [[Khongqatan]] clans were given to him as his [[appanage]]. Ögedei's territory occupied the [[Emil (river)|Emil]] and [[Hobok]] rivers. According to his father's wish, [[Ilugei]], the commander of the Jalayir, became Ögedei's tutor.

[[File:Genghis Khan and three of his four sons.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Genghis Khan and three of his four sons.]]

Ögedei, along with his brothers, campaigned independently for the first time in November 1211 against the [[Jin dynasty (1115–1234)]]. He was sent to ravage the land south through [[Hebei]] and then north through [[Shanxi]] in 1213. Ögedei's force drove the Jin garrison out of the [[Ordos (city)|Ordos]], and he rode to the juncture of the [[Xi Xia]], Jin, and Song domains.<ref>Marvin C Whiting ''Imperial Chinese Military History'', p.355</ref>

During the [[Mongol invasion of Khwarezmia|Mongol conquest of Eastern Persia]], Ögedei and [[Chagatai Khan|Chagatai]] massacred the residents of [[Otrar]] after a five-month siege in 1219–20 and joined [[Jochi]] who was outside the walls of [[Urganch]].<ref>John Joseph Saunders ''The History of the Mongol Conquests'', p.57</ref> Because Jochi and Chagatai were quarreling over the military strategy, Ögedei was appointed by Genghis Khan to oversee the siege of Urganch.<ref>John Powell ''Magill's Guide to Military History: Jap-Pel'', p.1148</ref> They captured the city in 1221. When the rebellion broke out in southeast Persia and Afghanistan, Ögedei also pacified [[Ghazni]].<ref>Richard Ernest Dupuy, Trevor Nevitt Dupuy ''The encyclopedia of military history'', p.336</ref>

== Ascendancy to Supreme Khan ==
[[File:CoronationOfOgodei1229.jpg|thumb|Coronation of Ögedei in 1229. [[Rashid-al-Din Hamadani|Rashid al-Din]], early 14th century.]]

The [[Yisui|Empress Yisui]]{{who2|reason=Who is this? The link redirects to Genghis Khan, but Yisui is not mentioned there.|date=November 2016}} insisted that Genghis Khan designate an heir before the invasion of [[Khwarezmid Empire]] in 1219. After the terrible brawl between Jochi and Chagatai, they agreed that Ögedei was to be chosen as heir. Genghis confirmed their decision.

Genghis Khan died in 1227, and Jochi had died a year or two earlier. Ögedei's younger brother [[Tolui]] held the regency until 1229. Ögedei was elected supreme khan in 1229, according to the [[kurultai]] held at Kodoe Aral on the [[Kherlen River]] after Genghis' death, although this was never really in doubt as it was Genghis' clear wish that he be succeeded by Ögedei. After ritually declining three times, Ögedei was proclaimed Khagan of the [[Mongols]] on 13 September 1229.<ref>[[Michael Prawdin]], Gerard (INT) Chaliand, ''The Mongol empire'', p.237</ref> Chagatai continued to support his younger brother's claim.

Genghis Khan saw Ögedei as a courteous and generous character.<ref>The Secret history of the Mongols</ref> His charisma is partially credited for his success in keeping the Empire on his father's path. Thanks mostly to the organization left behind by Genghis Khan, and to the personal charisma of Ögedei, the affairs of the Mongol Empire remained for the most part stable during his reign. Ögedei was an extremely pragmatic man, though he made some mistakes during his reign. He had no delusions that he was his father's equal as a military commander or organizer and used the abilities of those he found most capable.

== World conquests ==

=== Expansion in the Middle East ===
{{unreferenced section|date=June 2014}}
{{Main|Mongol invasion of Khwarezmia|l1=Mongol conquest of Persia}}
{{Campaignbox Mongol invasions}}

After destroying the Khwarazmian empire, Genghis Khan was free to move against [[Western Xia]]. In 1226, however, [[Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu]], the last of the Khwarizm monarchs, returned to [[Persia]] to revive the empire lost by his father, [[Muhammad ‘Ala al-Din II.]] The Mongol forces sent against him in 1227 were defeated at [[Dameghan]]. Another army that marched against Jalal al-Din scored a pyrrhic victory in the vicinity of [[Isfahan]] but was unable to follow up that success.

With Ögedei's consent to launch a campaign, [[Chormaqan]] left [[Bukhara]] at the head of 30,000 to 50,000 Mongol soldiers.  He occupied Persia and [[greater Khorasan|Khorasan]], two long-standing bases of Khwarazmian support. Crossing the [[Amu Darya River]] in 1230 and entering Khorasan without encountering any opposition, Chormaqan passed through quickly. He left a sizable contingent behind under the command of Dayir Noyan, who had further instructions to invade western [[Afghanistan]]. Chormaqan and the majority of his army then entered the northern section of Persia known as Mazandaran in the autumn of 1230, thus avoiding the mountainous area south of the [[Caspian Sea]]. That region was controlled by the [[Ismailis]].

Upon reaching the city of [[Rey, Iran|Rey]], Chormaqan made his winter camp there and dispatched his armies to pacify the rest of northern Persia. In 1231, he led his army southward and quickly captured the cities of [[Qum]] and [[Hamadan]]. From there, he sent armies into the regions of [[Fars Province|Fars]] and [[Kirman]], whose rulers quickly submitted, preferring to pay tribute to Mongol overlords rather than having their states ravaged. Meanwhile, further east, Dayir steadily achieved his goals in capturing [[Kabul]], Ghazni, and Zawulistan. With the Mongols already in control of Persia, Jalal al-Din was isolated in Transcaucasia where he was banished. Thus all of Persia was added to the Mongol Empire.

=== The fall of the Jin dynasty ===
{{See also|Mongol conquest of the Jin dynasty}}

At the end of 1230, responding to the Jin's unexpected defeat of the Mongol general Doqulkhu, the Khagan went south to [[Shanxi]] province with [[Tolui]], clearing the area of the Jin forces and taking the city of [[Fengxiang]]. After passing the summer in the north, they again campaigned against the Jin in [[Henan]], cutting through territory of South China to assault the Jin's rear. By 1232 the Jin Emperor was [[Mongol siege of Kaifeng|besieged in his capital]] of [[Kaifeng]]. Ögedei soon departed, leaving the final conquest to his generals. After taking several cities, the Mongols, with the belated assistance of the [[Song dynasty]], destroyed the Jin with the [[Siege of Caizhou|fall of Caizhou]] in February 1234. However, a viceroy of the Song murdered a Mongol ambassador, and the Song armies recaptured the former imperial capitals of Kaifeng, [[Luoyang]], and [[Chang'an]], which were now ruled by the Mongols.

In addition to the [[Mongol conquest of the Jin dynasty|war with the Jin dynasty]], Ögedei crushed the [[Eastern Xia]] founded by [[Puxian Wannu]] in 1233, pacifying southern [[Manchuria]]. Ögedei subdued the [[Tungusic peoples|Water Tatars]] in the northern part of the region and suppressed their rebellion in 1237.

=== Conquest of Georgia and Armenia ===
[[File:Geor tamro aandersen.png|250px|thumb|Ögedei conquered the [[Kingdom of Georgia]] and [[Armenia]]]]
{{Main|Mongol invasion of Georgia and Armenia}}

The Mongols under Chormaqan returned to the [[Caucasus]] in 1232. The walls of [[Ganjak]] were breached by [[catapult]] and [[battering ram]] in 1235. The Mongols eventually withdrew after the citizens of [[Irbil]] agreed to send a yearly tribute to the court of the khagan. Chormaqan waited until 1238, when the force of [[Möngke Khan]] was also active in the north Caucasus.<ref>Timothy May-Mongol Empire: Chormaquan and the Mongol Conquest of the Middle East</ref> After subduing [[Kingdom of Armenia (Middle Ages)|Armenia]], Chormaqan took [[Tiflis]]. In 1238, the Mongols captured [[Lorhe]] whose ruler, [[Shahanshah]], fled with his family before the Mongols arrived, leaving the rich city to its fate. After putting up a spirited defense at [[Hohanaberd]], the city's ruler, [[Hasan Jalal]], submitted to the Mongols. Another column then advanced against Gaian, ruled by Prince Avak. The Mongol commander Tokhta ruled out a direct assault and had his men construct a wall around the city, and Avak soon surrendered. By 1240, Chormaqan had completed the conquest of [[Transcaucasia]], forcing the [[Georgian people|Georgian]] nobles to surrender.

=== Invasion of Korea ===
{{main|Mongol invasions of Korea}}
In 1224, a Mongol envoy was killed in obscure circumstances and Korea stopped paying [[tribute]].<ref>Michel Hoàng, Ingrid Cranfield ''Genghis Khan'', p.159</ref> Ögedei dispatched Saritai (Sartaq) to subdue Korea and avenge the dead envoy in 1231. Thus, Mongol armies began to [[Mongol invasions of Korea|invade Korea]] in order to subdue the kingdom. The [[Goryeo]] King temporarily submitted and agreed to accept [[darughachi|Mongol overseers]]. When they withdrew for the summer, however, [[Choe U]] moved the capital from [[Kaesong]] to [[Ganghwa Island|Ganghwa]] Island. Saritai was hit with a stray arrow and died as he campaigned against them.

Ögedei announced plans for the conquest of the [[Koreans]], the [[Southern Song]], the [[Kipchak people|Kipchak]]s and their European allies, all of whom killed Mongol [[diplomat|envoy]]s at the kurultai in Mongolia in 1234. Ögedei appointed Danqu commander of the Mongol army and made Bog Wong, a defected Korean general, governor of 40 cities with their subjects. When the court of Goryeo sued for peace in 1238, Ögedei demanded that the king of Goryeo appear before him in person. The Goryeo king finally sent his relative Yeong Nong-gun Sung with ten noble boys to [[Mongolia]] as [[hostage]]s, temporarily ending the war in 1241.<ref>J.Bor ''Mongol hiigeed Eurasiin diplomat shashtir, vol.II'', p.197</ref>

=== Europe ===
[[File:Сapture of the Mongol-Tatars Russian city.jpg|230px|thumb|The Mongol army captures a [[Rus' people|Rus']] city]]
{{Main|Mongol invasion of Europe}}

The Mongol Empire expanded westward under the command of [[Batu Khan]] to subdue the Russian steppe and drive into Europe. Their western conquests included almost all of Russia (save [[Novgorod]], which became a vassal, and [[Principality of Minsk|Minsk]], which became part of [[Lithuania]]), Hungary, Poland, Serbia and Bulgaria. During the siege of [[Kolomna]], the Khagan's half brother Khulgen<ref>He was the son of Genghis Khan by Khulan khatun of the Merkid clan.</ref> was killed by an arrow.

After the conquest of [[Volga-Bulgaria]], [[Alania]], and the Rus' principalities, Ögedei's son [[Güyük Khan|Güyük]] and Chagatai's grandson [[Büri]] ridiculed Batu, and the Mongol camp suffered dissension. The Khagan harshly criticized Güyük: "You broke the spirit of every man in your army...Do you think that the Russians surrendered because of how mean you were to your own men?". He then sent Güyük back to continue the conquest of Europe. Güyük and another of Ögedei's sons, [[Kadan]], attacked [[Transylvania]] and Poland, respectively.

Ögedei Khan had granted permission to invade the remainder of Europe, all the way to the "Great Sea", the Atlantic Ocean, but his death prevented the invasions from continuing west.

=== Conflict with the Song China ===
{{Main|Mongol conquest of the Song dynasty}}

In a series of razzias from 1235 to 1245, the Mongols commanded by Ögedei's sons penetrated deep into the Song Dynasty and reached [[Chengdu]], [[Xiangyang District, Xiangfan|Xiangyang]] and [[Yangtze River]]. But they could not succeed in completing their conquest due to climate and number of the Song troops, and Ögedei's son Khochu died in the process. In 1240, Ögedei's other son [[Khuden]] dispatched a subsidiary expedition to [[Tibet]]. The situation between the two nations worsened when the Song officers murdered Ögedei's envoys headed by Selmus.<ref>Herbert Franke, Denis Twitchett, John King Fairbank ''The Cambridge History of China: Volume 6, Alien Regimes and Border States'', p.263</ref>

The Mongol expansion throughout the Asian continent under the leadership of Ögedei helped bring political stability and re-establish the [[Silk Road]], the primary trading route between East and West.

=== India ===
{{Main|Mongol invasions of India}}

Ögedei appointed Dayir commander of Ghazni and Menggetu commander in [[Qonduz]]. In winter 1241 the Mongol force invaded the [[Indus valley]] and besieged [[Lahore]], [[Pakistan]]. However, Dayir died storming the town, on 30 December 1241, and the Mongols butchered the town before withdrawing from the [[Delhi Sultanate]].<ref>Islamic Culture Board ''Islamic culture'', p.256</ref>

Some time after 1235 another Mongol force invaded [[Kashmir]], stationing a [[darughachi]] there for several years. Soon Kashmir became a Mongolian dependency.<ref>Thomas T. Allsen ''Culture and Conquest in Mongol Eurasia'', p.84</ref> Around the same time, a Kashmiri [[Buddhist]] master, Otochi, and his brother Namo arrived at the court of Ögedei.

== Administration ==
[[File:Ogadai Khan.jpg|thumb|Portrait of Ögedei Khan (the 14th century). Recreation of a Yuan portrait in the National Palace Museum in Taipei.]]

Ögedei began bureaucratization of Mongol administration. Three cultures constituted his administration: 
* the [[Christian]] eastern [[Turkic peoples|Turks]], represented by Chinqai, the [[Uyghur people|Uyghur]] [[scribe]], and the [[Keraites]].
* the Islamic cycle, represented by two [[Khorazm]]ians, Mahumud Yalavach, and Masud Beg.
*the [[North Chinese]] [[Confucian]] circle, represented by [[Yelu Chucai]], a [[Khitan people|Khitan]], and Nianhe Zhong-shan, a [[Jurchen people|Jurchen]].

Mahamud Yalavach promoted a system in which the government would delegate tax collection to [[tax farmer]]s who collect payments in silver. Yelu Chucai encouraged Ögedei to institute a traditional Chinese system of government, with taxation in the hands of government agents and payment in a government issued currency. The Muslim merchants, working with capital supplied by the Mongol aristocrats, [[loan]]ed at higher [[interest rate|interest]] the silver needed for tax payments. At the same time the Mongols began circulating [[paper currency]] backed by silver reserves.

[[File:Ogedei qaghan.svg|thumb|left|40px|''Ögedei Khan'' in traditional [[Mongolian script]]]]

Ögedei abolished the branch departments of state affairs and divided the areas of Mongol-ruled China into ten routes according to the suggestion of Yelü Chucai. He also divided the empire into [[Beshbalik]] and [[Yanjing]] administration, while the headquarters in Karakorum directly dealt with Manchuria, Mongolia and Siberia. Late in his reign, [[Amu Darya]] administration was established. [[Turkestan]] was administered by Mahamud Yalavach, while Yelu Chucai administered North China from 1229 to 1240. Ögedei appointed [[Shigi Khutugh]] chief judge in China. In [[Iran]], Ögedei appointed first Chin-temur, a [[Kara-kitai]], and then [[Korguz]], an Uyghur who proved to be honest administrator. Later, some of Yelu Chucai's duties were transferred to Mahamud Yalavach and taxes were handed over to Abd-ur-Rahman, who promised to double the annual payments of silver.<ref>David Morgan ''The Mongols'', p.102</ref> The Ortoq or partner merchants lent Ögedei's money at exorbitant rates of interest to the peasants, though Ögedei banned considerably higher rates. Despite it proving profitable, many people fled their homes to avoid the tax collectors and their strong-arm gangs.

Ögedei had imperial princes tutored by the Christian scribe Qadaq and the [[Taoist]] priest Li Zhichang and built schools and an academy. Ögedei Khan also decreed to issue paper currency backed by [[silk]] reserves and founded a Department responsible for destroying old notes. Yelu Chucai protested to Ögedei that his large-scale distribution of [[appanage]]s in Iran, [[Western China|Western]] and North China, and Khorazm could lead to a disintegration of the Empire.<ref>Chunjiang Fu, Asiapac Editorial, Liping Yang ''Chinese History'', p.148</ref> Ögedei thus decreed that the Mongol nobles could appoint overseers in the appanages, but the court would appoint other officials and collect taxes.

The Khagan proclaimed the Great [[Yassa]] as an integral body of precedents, confirming the continuing validity of his father's commands and ordinances, while adding his own. Ögedei codified rules of dress and conduct during the kurultais. Throughout the Empire, in 1234, he created postroad stations ([[Yam (route)|Yam]]) with a permanent staff who would supply post riders' needs.<ref>Josef W. Meri, Jere L. Bacharach ''Medieval Islamic Civilization'', p.632</ref> Relay stations were set up every 25 miles and the yam staff supplied remounts to the envoys and served specified rations. The attached households were exempt from other taxes, but they had to pay a qubchuri tax to supply the goods. Ögedei ordered Chagatai and Batu to control their yams separately. The Khagan prohibited the nobility from issuing [[paiza]]s (tablets that gave the bearer authority to demand goods and services from civilian populations) and [[jarliq]]s. Ögedei decreed that within decimal units one out of every 100 [[sheep]] of the well-off should be levied for the poor of the unit, and that one sheep and one mare from every herd should be forwarded to form a [[herd]] for the imperial table.<ref>Mongolia Society – Occasional Papers – p.17</ref>

== Karakorum ==
[[File:Karakorum - Tortue Sud.jpg|thumb|[[Bixi (tortoise)|Stone tortoise]] of Karakorum]]
{{Main|Karakorum}}

From 1235–38 Ögedei constructed a series of palaces and [[pavilion]]s at stopping places in his annual [[nomad]]ic route through central Mongolia. The first palace Wanangong was constructed by North Chinese artisans. The Emperor urged his relatives build residences nearby and settled the deported craftsmen from China near the site. The construction of the city, [[Karakorum]] (Хархорум), was finished in 1235, assigning different quarters to Islamic and North Chinese craftsmen, who competed to win Ögedei's favor. Earthen walls with 4 gates surrounded the city. Attached were private apartments, while in front of stood a giant [[bixi (tortoise)|stone tortoise]] bearing an engraved pillar, like those that were commonly used in East Asia. There was a castle with doors like the gates of the garden and a series of lakes where many water fowl gathered. Ögedei erected several houses of worship for his Buddhist, Muslim, Taoist, and Christian followers. In the Chinese ward, there was a Confucian temple where Yelu Chucai used to create or regulate a calendar on the Chinese model.

== Character ==
[[File:Ögedei Khan Statue.JPG|thumb|180px|Statue of Ögedei Khan in Mongolia]]

Ögedei was considered to be his father's favorite son, ever since his childhood. As an adult, he was known for his ability to sway doubters in any debate in which he was involved, simply by the force of his personality. He was a physically big, jovial, and very charismatic man, who seemed mostly to be interested in enjoying good times. He was intelligent and steady in character. His charisma was partially credited for his success in keeping the Mongol Empire on the path that his father had set.

Ögedei kept peace among his family, criticizing his son and Chagatai's grandson. The sudden death of [[Tolui]] seems to have affected him deeply. According to some sources, Tolui sacrificed his own life, accepting a poisoned drink in shamanist ritual in order to save Ögedei who was suffering from illness.<ref>Denis Sinor, John R. Krueger, Rudi Paul Lindner, Valentin Aleksandrovich ''The Uralic and Altaic Series'', p.176</ref> Ögedei fell victim to [[alcoholism]]. Chagatai entrusted an official to watch his habit, but Ögedei managed to drink anyway.  It is commonly told that he did so by vowing to reduce the number of cups he drank a day then had cups twice the size created for his personal use. When he died at dawn on 11 December 1241, after a late-night drinking bout with Abd-ur-Rahman, the people blamed the sister of Tolui's widow and Abd-ur-Rahman. The Mongol aristocrats recognized, however, that the Khagan's own lack of self-control had killed him.

Ögedei was also known to be a humble man, who did not believe himself to be a genius, and who was willing to listen to and use the great generals that his father left him, as well as those he himself found to be most capable. He was the Emperor (Khagan) but not a [[dictator]].<ref>David Morgan ''The Mongols'', p.104</ref> Like all Mongols at his time, he was raised and educated as a warrior from childhood, and as the son of Genghis Khan, he was a part of his father's plan to establish a world empire. His military experience was notable for his willingness to listen to his generals and adapt to circumstances. He was an extremely pragmatic person, much like his father, and looked at the end rather than the means. His steadiness of character and dependability were the traits that his father most valued, and that gained him the role of successor to his father, despite his two older brothers.

==Aftermath of Ögedei's death==

Ögedei had nominated his grandson Shiremun as his heir, but Güyük eventually succeeded him after the five-year regency of his widow [[Töregene Khatun]]. However, Batu, the Khan of the [[Golden Horde]] (also known as the Kipchak Khanate or the Ulus of Jochi) nominally accepted Güyük, who died on the way to confront Batu. It was not until 1255, well into the reign of [[Möngke Khan|Möngke]] Khan, that Batu felt secure enough to again prepare to invade Europe. Fortunately for the Europeans, he died before his plans could be implemented.

When [[Kublai Khan]] established the [[Yuan dynasty]] in 1271, he had Ögedei Khan placed on the official record as Taizong ({{zh|太宗|Tàizōng}}).

== Children ==
Ögedei had many [[khatun]]s and concubines. Ögedei married first Borakchin and then [[Töregene Khatun|Töregene]]. Other wives included Mukha and Jachin.

He had 7 sons:
*[[Güyük Khan|Güyük]], the 3rd Great Khan of the Mongols
*[[Godan Khan|Koden]], the first Buddhist Mongol prince
*Khochu, died [[Mongol conquest of the Song dynasty|during the campaign in Song China]].
*Khorachar
*Khashi, the father of [[Kaidu]]
*[[Kadan]]
*Melig

== Ancestry ==
{{See also|Family tree of Genghis Khan}}

{{familytree/start}}
{{familytree| HOE |~|~|~|~|~|~|y|~|~|~|~|~|~| YES |YES=[[Yesugei|Yesugei Baghatur]]|HOE=[[Hoelun]]}}
{{familytree| | | | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|.|`|-|-|v|-|-|.|}}
{{familytree| BOR |y| GEN | | JOC | | KHA | | TEM | | BEL | | BEK |BEL=Belgutei|BEK=[[Behter]]|JOC=[[Hasar]]|KHA=[[Hachiun]]|TEM=[[Temüge]]|GEN=Temüjin '''([[Genghis Khan]])'''|BOR=[[Börte]]|}}
{{familytree| |,|-|^|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|.|}}
{{familytree| JOC | | | CHA | | | | OGE | | | TOL |CHA=[[Chagatai Khan|Chagatai]]|OGE=Ögedei|JOC=[[Jochi]]|TOL=[[Tolui]]|}}
{{familytree/end}}

==Memorial==
[[Mongolian Airlines]] named its [[Boeing 737-800]] EI-CSG Ogoodei Khan.

== See also ==
* [[House of Ögedei]]

== References ==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist|30em}}

=== Sources ===
* Amitai-Preiss, Reuven, ''The Mamluk-Ilkhanid War'', 1998
*Chambers, James, ''The Devil's Horsemen: The Mongol Invasion of Europe''
* Hildinger, Erik, ''Warriors of the Steppe: A Military History of Central Asia, 500 B.C. to A.D. 1700''
* Morgan, David, ''The Mongols'', ISBN 0-631-17563-6
* Nicolle, David, ''The Mongol Warlords'' [[Brockhampton Press]], 1998
* Reagan, Geoffry, ''The Guinness Book of Decisive Battles'', Canopy Books, New York (1992)
* Saunders, J.J., ''The History of the Mongol Conquests'', Routledge & Kegan Paul Ltd, 1971, ISBN 0-8122-1766-7
* Sicker, Martin, ''The Islamic World in Ascendancy: From the Arab Conquests to the Siege of Vienna, Praeger Publishers, 2000''
* Soucek, Svatopluk, ''A History of Inner Asia'', Cambridge, 2000

== External links ==
* [http://historymedren.about.com/library/prm/bl1mongolinvasion.htm Medieval History: Mongol Invasion of Europe]
* [http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/islam/mongols/goldenHorde.html The Islamic World to 1600: The Golden Horde]

{{s-start}}
{{s-hou|[[Borjigin|House of Borjigin]] (1206–1634)||1186||1241}}
{{s-reg|}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Tolui]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Great Khan]] of the [[Mongol Empire]]|years=1229–1241}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Töregene Khatun]] (regent)}}
{{s-end}}
{{Khagans of Mongol Empire}}
{{Yuan Emperors}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ogedei Khan}}
[[Category:Generals of the Mongol Empire]]
[[Category:1186 births]]
[[Category:1241 deaths]]
[[Category:Borjigin]]
[[Category:Great Khans of the Mongol Empire]]
[[Category:13th-century Mongol rulers]]
[[Category:Year of birth uncertain]]
[[Category:Descendants of Genghis Khan]]
[[Category:House of Ögedei]]
[[Category:Ögedei Khan]]