Kurultai of the Mongol Empire Possible topics may include: the Conquest of Eurasia, the Jin­Song Wars, and Kuchlug’s Revolt in Kara Khitai. Welcome, most trusted friends of the Great Khan, to the Kurultai (Political and Military council) of the Mongol Empire in the year 1206 C.E. This committee will be run Harvard style, and any pre written resolutions or clauses will immediately disqualify you from receiving an award. It is your duty to provide sound military and administrative advice to Genghis Khan (Your Chairs). Delegates will be representing different advisors and officers of Genghis Khan or ambassadors from the great kingdoms of the world in this committee. It is extremely important for each of you to completely understand the viewpoint and motives of your characters and promote your objectives during committee. We understand that many characters have little to no reliable information about them; so for position papers, we are looking for you to use your creativity to devise possible plans, keeping in mind that the ultimate goal of this committee is to expand the Mongol Empire. Other good research topics are the origin of the Mongol Empire and information about other relevant empires during the time period. (If you are an ambassador, it is a good idea to gather in­depth information about the empire you are representing.) The committee will have 14 delegates, but the ambassadors will not have a vote on substantive matters, so for a resolution to be passed there needs to be a majority of six votes from advisors only. Once a resolution has passed, if Genghis Khan (Your Chairs) approves, it will be put into action. While the ambassadors cannot vote on substantive matters, they may suggest actions for their empires to take. Other delegates will have a more focused set of portfolio powers (portfolio powers­ actions a delegate can take without the knowledge of the committee). Some characters will be assigned a Tumen (military battalion) and may control their soldiers independently, so long as they have the approval of Genghis Khan (Your Chairs). As delegates work to enrich and expand the Mongolian Empire, there will be intermittent crises to interrupt debate and require innovative solutions. As this is a crisis committee we would prefer if you had 2­3 conferences experience in MUN prior to this committee. Hi, I’m Nick Jerge, a current junior at MPH. This is my third year doing MUN, but my first time chairing at MPHMUN. I also run cross country and play tennis at MPH. Hello, I’m Trilok Reddy, a junior at MPH. This is my third year in MUN and my second time chairing for MPHMUN. In addition to MUN, I play on MPH’s tennis team during the spring. If you have any questions or concerns about the committee, rules, your character, or crisis committees in general, please feel free to contact your chairs at: Nick Jerge: [email protected] Trilok Reddy: [email protected] The Mongolian Steppes have been controlled by nomadic tribes for hundreds of years. Many of these tribes were either Turkic or Mongolian, and were known as khanates. In 1130 C.E, a Mongolian tribe emerged as the dominant tribe and pushed out many others from the steppes, but in 1160 they were defeated by the Tatars and were split into multiple Mongolian clans. Now, for the first time in history, these once disparate clans of Mongolia have united under a single banner, and it is time for the Mongols to enrich ourselves through conquest. Since time immemorial the steppes of Mongolia have been the source of many great invaders and conquerors: The Turkic Seljuks and Ottomans, the Kazars, and other Altaic warriors. Now, the Mongols stand on the brink of another period of Mongol supremacy. The story of the unification of the Mongol families is fresh in our minds, and it would be unwise to forget the origins of our fierce yet wise leader: Genghis Khan. Born with the name Temujin, Genghis started off as the head of his extended family. His knack for administration brought several other families under his purview, and he fostered a relationship with his liege and head of the Mongolian Confederacy, Ong Khan. Together, Genghis and Ong completed many successful military campaigns, and at the age of 38, he was declared the adopted son and favored heir of Ong Khan (much to the dismay of Senggum, the previously favored heir). When Senggum plotted to kill Genghis, those loyal to Ong and Genghis fought hard and prevailed against Senggum and his followers, leaving Genghis Khan as the sole heir to the loosely bound Mongolian nation. Upon his ascension to the throne, his administrative skills aided him in creating a more centralized government that still followed key Mongol traditions (thus making a true Mongol Empire). Following the recent coronation of our Khan, rulers from around the known world have sent emissaries to inform us of their distant realms. The World, 1206: The world around us has never been as fragile as it is now. There are new developments all around us that give us an opportunity to invade without great resistance. In China, the Song Dynasty is being displaced by the northern Jin, and the two kingdoms’ constant warring has led them to a state of weakness that could be exploited. Should we work together with the Song to return some of the land that the Jin took, or should we charge forth with the usurpers to pillage the riches of Hangzhou and the surrounding lands of the Southern Song? No matter what our course of action, we should be prepared to utilize our armies to their greatest extent. Thus, it will be imperative to develop new strategies with inspiration from our previous insights in the realm of warfare. The Mongolian military has many advantages in the form of mobility, planning, and weaponry. Because each soldier has at least two or three horses, our armies move swiftly and can switch mounts for sustained marches. Mongolian horses also allow our scouts to move ahead and gather information, distributing it to our generals and officers more often than scouts on foot. Our siege weapons are quite advanced, and our skilled engineers can construct large siege engines on­site, instead of using our horses to carry equipment from city to city. We have also earned ourselves a fearsome reputation for archery on horseback, long­range harassment tactics allow for our cavalry to inflict damage even while retreating. Each General will have access to a Tumen of 10,000 soldiers that has 6,000 horse archers and 4,000 infantry, while the Cherbi of the Kheshig shall receive 2,000 highly trained Imperial Guards. In addition to each general’s horde, the Kurultai will have access to 5 Tumens that can only operate when commanded by a committee resolution. The siege engineer corps of the Mongol Empire is currently under command of Genghis Khan, thus no general can efficiently capture a walled city without direction of the committee or the grace of the Great Khan himself. Meanwhile to our West, Kuchlug, the former leader of the Mongolian Naiman tribe, has been accepted in the Kara­Khitan Empire as an advisor. We have already defeated him twice, and should stay vigilant for any future retaliation from the Kara­Khitans. Further across the steppe, the disjointed yet wealthy Slavic principalities such as Kiev and Novgorod seem distressingly unaware of how valuable a target they are. South of the Slavs, the Islamic World is thriving, despite their conflicts with the Christians in the Crusades. The once­great Abbasid Dynasty, centered in Baghdad, has lost much of its influence and land to the Ayyubids, though their capital remains in tact. Getting to the valuable city of Baghdad is not without peril though, because in between the Abbasids and us lies the Khwarezmids, who have amassed an empire in Persia that stretches all the way to Samarkand. Delegate Positions 1. Subutai (First Tumen) Subutai is a famed general of Genghis Khan and is considered the most successful general of all time. He was born in 1176 from the Uyghur Turks and joined Genghis Khan’s a​
rmy when he was seventeen years old. Despite being born a commoner he became general of that army within ten years. He is a renowned military strategist and is trusted by Genghis Khan beyond all others with the exception of Ögedei. He is currently in charge of the first Tumen of Genghis Khan’s army. He is extremely loyal and inspires his troops with his confidence and sound strategies. He has also gained the close friendship of Jebe after numerous campaigns together. 2. Cherbi of the Kheshig (Imperial Guard) The Kheshig were the personal guard of the Great Khan. The Cherbi was the commander of the Kheshig and a close advisor to Genghis Khan. Not only did the Kheshig contain the day, night, and battle guards, but also the servants and attendants to the family of the Khan. Many Mongolian noblemen took their place among the Kheshig in search of elevating their status, and it is the Cherbi’s duty to ensure their absolute loyalty to the Empire. Because of the nature of his position, the Cherbi is a close friend and advisor to Genghis, and loyal to the bone. 3. Representative of the Kara­Khitai The Kara­Khitai were a Turkic Empire to the west of the Mongols, who were constantly at odds with the neighboring Seljuk Turks. They faced instability when the defeated Mongolian Prince Kuchlug sought asylum within the state, and then launched a large rebellion from within. 4. Representative of Abbasid Empire The Abbasid Empire is starting to crumble in 1206 and needs desperately to gain the alliance of the growing Mongolian Empire. They are currently engaging in battle with the Ayyubids, who have clashed with the Abbasid Empire for generations. 5. ​
Ögedei (Second Tumen) Ögedei is the third, and favored, son of Genghis Khan. He has supported Genghis Khan since he started uniting the Mongol tribes, participating in battles, and leading soldiers. Now, Ögedei​
is a trusted general in the army of Genghis Khan. ​
Ögedei also owns a sizeable area of land within the current Mongolian Empire and is expected to lead further conquests. He is currently in charge of the second Tumen of Genghis Khan’s army. He is known as hardworking, but has employed nefarious tactics against rivals. 6. Jin Dynasty Representative The Jurchen Jin or Great Jin Dynasty gained control of much of Northern China and Manchuria after they overthrew the Liao Dynasty. In a series of military campaigns, the Jin managed to push the Song Dynasty further and further south. The fight for China continues with new perils for the Jin Dynasty, the vengeful Song seek to reconquer their lost lands while the Mongols start to take interest in the flat terrain of Northern China that makes cavalry far more effective. 7. Song Dynasty Representative The Song Dynasty is not what it once was. Constant wars with the northern Jin has only made it more difficult for the Southern Song Dynasty to stabilize itself, and the rulers have been unable to rebound the Song’s faltering economy as corruption and inflation run rampant. Can the Song find a way to retake their rightful land held by the Jin, and can they enlist the help of the new Mongol Empire to prevent them from complete collapse? 8. Cout Priest of Tengri Traditional Mongolian shamanism focused on many aspects of life, stemming mostly from natural phenomena. Tengri, the sky god, was the chief deity of the Mongols. The tolerant Tengriist beliefs contributed to the stability of the empire, and the overarching tenets of the religion included a divine right to rule that Genghis Khan claimed. The Court Priest is a talented theologian that seeks wisdom through the study of all beliefs, and seeks to learn from other religions in the world. 9. Jebe (Fourth Tumen) Jebe is one of the most experienced generals under Genghis Khan. He is originally from Taichud tribe in Mongolia and became part of Genghis Khan’s army after the Battle of Thirteen Sides in 1201 when he shot Genghis himself with an arrow. Since then he has risen through the ranks and has become the leader of the fourth Tumen of Genghis Khan’s army. He is undoubtedly the most loyal person to Genghis Khan in his army, and has become personal friends with Subutai. 10. Muqali (Third Tumen) Similar to Jebe, Muqali was serving the Jurchen clan in Mongolia when he was captured by Genghis and was given a place in his army. When Genghis Khan united all of Mongolia he was given command of the third Tumen of his army. He has earned a reputation of stopping at nothing to achieve success. 11.​
Shikhikhutag/ Shigi­Qutuqu Shigi­Qutuqu was the youngest sibling of Genghis Khan, who was adopted from a Tatar tribe whom the Mongols fought with. He was one of the Great Khan’s most trusted advisors, and despite his non­Mongol origins, Genghis gave him the title of judge, telling him to “Punish the thieves and put right the lies of the entire nation. Kill those who deserve to be killed and punish those who deserve to be punished”. Shigi­Qutuqu believes in justice more than mercy, earning what some may say to be a cruel streak, but this attitude only makes him more valuable in the eyes of the Khan by becoming the intimidating force that keeps political opponents at bay. 12. Qasar (Fifth Tumen) Qasar was one of Genghis Khan’s three full brothers and served with him during his conquest of Mongolia. He is trusted by Genghis Khan and has been given command of the fifth Tumen in his army. There have been recent rumors of his jealousy regarding his brother Genghis Khan, and his rise to success. 13.Tata Tunga (inventor of the Mongolian Alphabet, of Uighur Origin) An Uighur scribe, Tata Tunga’s life was spared, and Ghengis Khan invited him to his court. This learned man helped create the first Mongolian writing system, drawing from his native Uighur tongue. His son ended up taking his position as a head scribe, and they helped educate the children of the Great Khan. Tata Tunga is primarily a historian, and he argues for the preservation of the artifacts of conquered peoples. However, some say this is because he seeks to sell them to the highest bidder in a black market thriving under Genghis Khan’s revived Silk Road trade. 14. Jochi (Sixth Tumen) Jochi is the eldest son of Genghis Khan who participated in his conquests of Mongolia as soon as he could. He is well respected and has gained numerous victories in battle. He is currently in charge of the sixth Tumen of Genghis Khan’s army. He is extremely paranoid of losing his father’s favor and has eliminated rivals in the past. Further Reading The Secret History of the Mongols, one of the only reliable histories of the Mongols before their written language: https://jigjids.files.wordpress.com/2011/05/the_secret_history_of_the_mongols_the_life_and_ti
mes_of_chinggis_khan1.pdf Tengriism and other religions encountered by the Mongols: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0012/001204/120455e.pdf The Jin Dynasty: http://www.britannica.com/topic/Jin­dynasty­China­Mongolia­1115­1234 The Southern Song http://www.britishmuseum.org/explore/highlights/article_index/c/china_southern_song_dynasty_
.aspx The Mongolian Kheshig and its structure/reliability compared to the Roman Praetorian Guard: http://www.vexillumjournal.org/wordpress/wp­content/uploads/2014/07/Hoyle­To­Protect­Serve
­and­Sell­Out­The­Mongol­Imperial­Guard­and­the­Roman­Praetorian­Guard.pdf Genghis Khan’s early life, conquests and family: http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Genghis_Khan http://www.fsmitha.com/h3/h11mon.htm The Kara­Khanids, Neighbors to the Mongols: https://en.unesco.org/silkroad/sites/silkroad/files/knowledge­bank­article/vol_IVa%20silk%20ro
ad_the%20karakhanids.pdf Link to Map: http://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20100416015117/althistory/images/4/4d/Premongol.png