Kaidu (11th century)


Khaidu was a Mongol ruler from the Borjigin clan who was the great-great-grandson of Bodonchar Munkhag. Khaidu's great-grandson was Khabul Khan. Khabul Khan's great-grandson was Genghis Khan.

Life

Khaidu is mentioned in the Secret History of the Mongols, the History of Yuan shi, and the Jami al-Tawarikh. He was born around 1025 as the youngest of the eight sons of Queen Monolun, the widowed wife of Khachi Khulug, son of Menen Dutum. At this time the Liao Dynasty of the Mongolic Khitan had control over Mongolia, although the northernmost regions were difficult to keep under control. In the 1050s, the Khitans of the Liao Dynasty attacked the Jalair, a Darligin Mongol tribe living at the Kerulen River in the far-eastern region of Mongolia. The Jalair fled to the Borjigin Mongols led by Queen Monolun, the mother of Khaidu. They killed Monolun and all her sons except Khaidu who was hidden by his uncle Nachin. Khaidu later conquered the Jalair and made them his subjects.
Rashid Al-Din says in the Jami Al-Tawarikh: