| Erdeni Batur | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Khong Tayiji | |||||
 Erdeni batur Khuntaishi, First Khong Tayiji of the Dzungar Khanate. Portrait by Bembya Fedorov[1] | |||||
| Khong Tayiji of the Dzungar Khanate | |||||
| Reign | 1634–1653 | ||||
| Coronation | 1634? | ||||
| Predecessor | Kharkhul (The chief of theOirat Confederation) | ||||
| Successor | Sengge | ||||
| Spouse | Amin-Dara | ||||
| Issue | Sengge,Galdan | ||||
| |||||
| House | Choros | ||||
| Dynasty | Dzungar Khanate | ||||
| Father | Kharkhul | ||||
| Religion | Tibetan Buddhism | ||||
Erdeni Batur (Mongolian: Эрдэнэ Баатар Хунтайж;Chinese:巴圖爾琿台吉; d. 1653) was aChoros-Oirat prince generally considered to be the founder of theDzungar Khanate, centered in theDzungaria region, currently in north-westernmost part ofChina.
Erdeni Batur was the son ofKharkhul[3] who wastaishi (Mongolian: тайш) of the dominant Choros tribe and the leader of the alliedFour Oirat, collectively known as "Dzungars."[4] After the death of his father in 1634, Erdeni Batur assumed his father's position and formed the Dzungar Khanate on theTarbagatai Mountains, marrying Amin Dara.[3]
In so doing, Erdeni Batur led the Dzungars to several victorious military campaigns over theKazakhs to his west. To the north in southernSiberia, Erdeni Batur gave Russia access to salt mines, thereby ending a 20-year conflict, in exchange for diplomatic and trade relations. The commercial ties, which remained intact throughout his rule, and the prosperity generated by such ties with Russian outposts further solidified Erdeni Batur's prestige and position among the Oirats and the leaders of the adjacent nations.[4]
Within the Khanate, Erdeni Batur set out on an ambition campaign of empire building activities. For instance, he established a monastery called Khobak Sari south ofLake Zaisan on theEmil River, near the modern city ofTacheng, and built monasteries throughout Dzungar territory.[5] He also promoted Buddhism to his subjects such as theClear Script, and encouraged them to resettle to the new capital on the new monastery as new buildings were constructed.[6]
He also assistedGüshi Khan and his brother, Kundulun Ubashi, to move a substantial part of theKhoshut-Oirat tribe from the Lake Zaisan area to the area aroundQinghai Lake – what the Mongols call Kokonoor and the Tibetans calledAmdo – in 1636, where they soon would establish theKhoshut Khanate.[3] As Combined forces the Dzungars and Khoshuts attack the Khalkha prince,Choghtu Khong Taiyiji at theBattle of the Bloody Hills.[3]
TheFifth Dalai Lama granted Erdeni Batur the title, "Khong Tayiji" for military support he providedGüshi Khan to topple the enemies of theGelug sect — as well by granting this title, the Fifth Dalai Lama had hoped to have another ally protecting and promoting his Gelug lineage above the others.[7]
In 1635, Erdeni batur invaded theKazakh Khanate, and capturedJangir Khan at theIli river[3] he continued his offensives until 1638 to form a Diplomacy with Mongols, for apan-Mongolian alliance in 1640. The entente took place inside Dzungar territory at a place called Ulan Buraa, near theTarbagatai Mountains on the border between what is now theXinjiang province of China andKyrgyzstan.[3]
Afterwards, he resumed his campaigns and captured cities and towns on theSyr Darya, including the cities ofTashkent andTurkistan[8] defeatingUzbek relief forces.[9] However his army was soon defeated at theBattle of Orbulaq, facing a large counterinvasion force of 22,600 men,[10] losing heavy casualties of around ten thousand men.[11]
In 1646, he attempted another invasion against the Kazakhs, capturingSairam and Turkistan as well forcing the Kazakhs and Kyrgyz civilians into a vassalage.[12] But soon Bukharans relieved the captured cities[13] and with another defeat, he requested for Khoshut assistance, with sending Ochirtu Khan's son Galdamba to fight the Kazakhs.[14]
Erdeni Batur continued to consolidate his power, preparing the Dzungar Khanate for its attack upon the Qing for control over Central Asia. Upon his death in 1653, Erdeni Batur was succeeded by his third son,Sengge.[3]
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link){{cite book}}: CS1 maint: date and year (link)Erdeni Batur House of Choros (the 14th century-1755) Died: 1653 | ||
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| Preceded by | Khong Tayiji of the Dzungar Khanate 1634–1653 | Succeeded by |
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