Godan Khan

Who is Godan Khan?

Godan Khan, also romanized as Koden Khan and Khodan Khan, was a grandson of Genghis Khan, and was administrator over much of China before Kublai Khan came to power. He was the second son of Ögedei Khan and Töregene Khatun and a brother of Güyük Khan.

Godan ordered the invasion of Tibet, which was carried about by Doorta. Sakya Pandita and his two nephews served as delegates of Tibet's political leadership at the suggestion of the Abbot of Reting Monastery. When Sakya Pandita arrived from Tibet in 1247 he cured Godan of an illness. Godan then became the disciple of Sakya Pandita, converted to Buddhism and because of their special relationship chose not to invade Tibet. In addition, Sakya Pandita with the aid of his nephew Drogön Chögyal Phagpa were encouraged by Godan Khan to invent a Mongolian script called 'Phags-pa script named after its inventor.