Örüg Temür Khan

Who is Örüg Temür Khan?

Örüg Temür or Gulichi was a Mongol leader who temporarily enthroned himself Khan of the Mongols in the early 15th century. He might also have been known as Ugechi Khashikha, who appeared in Mongolian history. "Khashikha" means prince or duke in the Tungusic languages. He was a leader of the Oirats, particularly the Torguud clan. Örüg Temür may have been descended from either Ariq Böke or Genghis Khan's younger brothers, either Hasar or Temüge. He may also have been a a descendant of Ogedai. Thus, it is still unclear whether he was an Oirat or Genghisid.

Elbeg Khan appointed Bahamu ruler of the Four Oirats after he had mistakenly executed his father Taifu. The Khagan's decision made the Oirat leader Gulichi disappointed. Gulichi and Bahamu organized the plot to kill Elbeg and succeeded; the former seized the family and property of the late Khagan. Gulichi became the new Khan in 1402, and abolished the name Yuan Dynasty. Gulichi appointed Arughtai of the Asud chingsang of Eastern Mongolia. According to the Ming annals, he might have nominated a Tatar Khan.

Gulichi and his principal retainer, Arughtai, rejected the Yongle Emperor's overtures to establish a tributary relationship with the Mongolians. They also poisoned Engke-Temur, prince of the Chagatayid Hami, who allied with the Ming. However, he was defeated by Öljei Temür Khan, the Borjigin monarch, in 1403. In 1408, his former chingsang and noyan Arughtai killed him after a conflict erupted between them. He was succeeded by his son Esekhu.