Misplaced Pages

#964035

26-750: They might have been kheshigs of the Great Khans before Kublai Khan . The Torghut clan first appeared as an Oirat group in the mid-16th century. After the collapse of the Four Oirat Alliance, the majority of the Torghuts under Kho Orluk separated from other Oirat groups and moved west to the Volga region in 1630, forming the core of the Kalmyks . A few Torghut nobles followed Toro Baikhu Gushi Khan to Qinghai Lake (Koke Nuur), becoming part of

52-705: A deliberate policy by the Qing to enfeeble them. The Kalmuks on the river Tekes had not sent the assistance demanded by the Governor, being angry that he had not assisted them when they had been attacked a few months before by the Kara-Kirghiz. At last, however, when their great temple on the Ili had been plundered by the Dungans, their Lama excited them to revenge. They therefore marched down to near Ili and signally defeated

78-695: A few were Mongols, Koreans , Tungusic peoples , Kipchaks and Europeans/Middle Easterners including Alans and even one unit of Russians . The Keshig was converted into an administrative organisation instead. Many elements in the Mughal Empire shared similar heritage to the Mongols . Such examples are Babur , who was a direct descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan through his father and mother respectively. The Kheshgi family , an imperial dynasty of Pashtun origin that played important roles throughout Mughal era , are believed to be descendants of

104-486: Is connected to the Russian power grid and subject to blackouts if it falls behind in its payments. Domestic and international tourism and sports hunting are a sizable industry of Khovd province. The natural environment, fresh and salt water lakes, mountains, valleys, caves, ancient rock paintings and fortresses are other sightseeing attractions. Animal herding is the main economy of this province. The aimag capital Khovd

130-411: Is home to more than 17 nationalities and ethnicities. Each of these groups has its own distinct traditional dwelling and settlement pattern, dress and other cultural distinctions, literary, artistic, and musical traditions. The Khovd aimag population growth stopped in 1991, then migration out of the aimag (approx. 20,000 in 1992-2004) compensated the natural increase and confined aimag’s population within

156-544: Is paved, and gets served by regular flights from and to Ulaanbaatar , Mörön , and Bulgan . And flights are planned to Ürümqi city of Xinjiang. The region around the Khovd city is famous in Mongolia for its watermelon crop. There is a sizable hydroelectric dam-building project underway that will theoretically generate enough electricity to power the three most western aimags ( Uvs , Bayan-Ölgii , and Khovd). The city of Khovd

182-590: The Dungans immediately resumed operations. Of the frightful position of affairs in the fortress, we learn something from Colonel Reinthal, who was there in July and September 1865, to obtain information on the position. It is much to be regretted that the Russian Government did not act upon the information contained in his reports, and either give some active support to the Chinese authorities, or itself occupy

208-668: The Kheshig who originated in the surrounding areas of Zamand and Keshik in Iran . The modern Mongolian Khishigten clan are also believed to be their descendants, who now inhabit Heshigten Banner within Inner Mongolia in China . Khovd Province Khovd ( / ˈ k ɒ v d / ; Mongolian : Ховд [ˈχɔɸt] ), alternatively romanized as Khobhd , is one of the 21 aimags (provinces) of Mongolia , located in

234-887: The Russians in the Soviet Invasion of Xinjiang . An exhibition in memorial to the Torghut exodus from the Volga to the Qing Empire is found at the Potala Palace , Chengde . Kheshig Kheshig ( Mongolian : Хишигтэн ; also Khishig, Keshik, Khishigten ; lit. "favored", "blessed") were the imperial guard and shock troops for Mongol royalty in the Mongol Empire , particularly for rulers like Genghis Khan and his wife Börte . Their primary purpose

260-552: The Volga region with 10,000 families in 1758. The name Torghut probably originates from the Mongolian word "torog" meaning "silk". Due to harsh treatment by Russian governors, most Torghuts eventually migrated back to Dzungaria and western Mongolia , departing en masse on January 5, 1771. While the first phase of their movement became the Old Torghuts, the Qing called the later Torghut immigrants "New Torghut". The size of

286-502: The command of the notable Russian general Mikhail Kutuzov clashed with the French army of Napoleon in 1812. In 1906, the Qing put western Mongolia 's New Torghuts under the Altai district . One New Torghut prince opposed independence in Mongolia and fled to Xinjiang in 1911–12. However, the others were reincorporated into Mongolia's far western Khovd Province . Torghut forces assisted

SECTION 10

#1732780835965

312-550: The country to prevent bloodshed. The scarcity of provisions in Ili became such that the Governor at last saw himself obliged to dismiss his last auxiliaries, the Thagor Kalmuks. In the meantime both Solons and Sibos were being attacked and plundered, and were obliged to make peace with the insurgents, so that only Ili, Khorgos, Losigun, and Suidun, remained in the hands of the Mantchus. Ili was now entirely surrounded, and it

338-720: The creation of imperial guards like the Keshik. Kheshig was the term used for the palace guards of the Mughal emperors in India, and also for the matchlocks and sabres, which were changed weekly from Akbar the Great 's armoury for the royal use. The royal guards in Persia who watched the King's person at night were also called Keshikchi. The assassination of the leaders of rival Mongol tribes

364-599: The departing group has been variously estimated between 150,000 and 400,000 people, with perhaps as many as six million animals (cattle, sheep, horses, camels and dogs). Beset by raids, thirst and starvation, approximately 85,000 survivors made it to Dzungaria , where they settled near the Ejin River with the permission of the Qing Emperor. The Torghuts were coerced by the Qing into giving up their nomadic lifestyle and to take up sedentary agriculture instead as part of

390-538: The insurgents, who after that dared no longer show themselves in the vicinity. The harvest was now ripe, and the grain was greatly needed by the suffering garrison and town population, but no one dared to reap it for fear of the Dungans. The Governor therefore ordered the Kalmuks to gather the harvest, but, as they were nomads who despised agriculture, they refused, and when threats were offered, they all decamped, and no persuasions could bring them back. After their departure

416-430: The limits of 87 thousand to 92 thousand since. Khovd is notorious for its harsh weather, for temperatures regularly reach as high as 40 °C or 104 °F during summer and as low as −30 °C or −22 °F during winter. The climate is dry, as it receives approximately the same average annual precipitation as Phoenix , Arizona . The major rivers are: The Khovd Airport (HVD/ZMKD) has two runways, one of which

442-507: The reign of Genghis, it seems to have been divided into four groups, commanded by the four generals Mukhulai , Chormaqan , Bo'orchu and Borokhula. Members of the kheshig outranked almost any other military officers in the Mongol Empire. As it was extremely well paid, the vocation was a popular one, and the numbers of Kheshig grew rapidly, to the extent that they were only normally on duty for three days in succession. In light of this,

468-583: The so-called Upper Mongols . In 1698, 500 Torghuts went on pilgrimage to Tibet but were unable to return. Hence, they were resettled in Ejin River by the Kangxi Emperor of China's Qing dynasty . In 1699 15,000 Torghut households returned from the Volga region to Dzungaria where they joined the Khoits . After the fall of the Dzungar Khanate , one of their princes, Taiji Shyiren, fled west to

494-595: The subject inside. As a result, the Mongol monarch in Mongolia typically had personal guards. The Kerait khan Toghoril (Wang Khan) had an imperial guard, Torguud. According to an oral tradition , their descendants could be Torghut people. After the defeat of Wang Khan in 1203, Genghis established the kheshig. The kheshig consisted mainly of sworn personal followers. At first, this consisted of 70 day guards (Torguud or tunghaut) and 80 night guards (khevtuul). During

520-498: The use of the traditional Mongol Keshig . Kublai created a new Imperial guard force, the suwei , of which half were Chinese and the other half ethnically mixed. By the 1300s even the Keshig were flooded with Chinese recruits. The suwei were initially 6,500 strong but by the end of the dynasty it had become 100,000 strong. They were divided into wei or guards, each recruited from a particular ethnicity. Most wei were Chinese, while

546-536: The west of the country. Its capital is also named Khovd . Khovd province is approximately 1,580 km from Ulaanbaatar , Mongolia's capital. It takes its name from the Khovd River , which is located in this province. Islam is a significant religion practiced by around 10–15% of the population, namely the Kazakhs and a small minority of Uyghurs . Khovd is distinguished by its multi-cultural population. It

SECTION 20

#1732780835965

572-522: The word kheshig refers favor or blessing in the Mongolian language . Membership in the kheshig was regarded as a supreme honor and was an alternative to the necessity of hostage taking for noblemen . In the early days the guard was composed of 1,000 men. By the middle of Genghis Khan's reign, they had expanded to a tumen (10,000 men) commanded by Nayagha, an uncle of Bayan of the Baarin . The Kheshig

598-415: Was a common occurrence thanks to the ever-shifting loyalties and conflicting interests at play within Mongol tribal politics. The father of Genghis Khan , Yesugei , for example, was unwittingly poisoned by one of his enemies. The risk was especially high at night since the ger that Mongol nomads traditionally sleep in lacked a solid wall, and so a sword or spear could easily penetrate the walls and kill

624-556: Was originally consisted Mongolians . As the Empire expanded rapidly, Genghis Khan's successors recruited Persian , Georgian , Armenian , Alan , Korean , Italian and Russian units. Since the kheshig was personal appanage of a monarch, his successors did not inherit them. Instead, the kheshigs of deceased Emperors took care of their lords' families and assisted households. But Güyük Khan took most of his father Ögedei 's old kheshig. For his own bodyguards Kublai Khan retained

650-672: Was resolved to reduce it by famine. A group of around 70,000 Torghuts were left behind in Russia, since (according to legend) the Volga River was not frozen and they could not cross it to join their comrades. This group became known as the Kalmyk , or "remnant", although the name may predate these events. However, Muslims called the Kalmyks before. In any case, the remnant population double their numbers by 1930. Torghut-Kalmyk archers under

676-480: Was to act as bodyguards for the emperors and other important nobles. They were divided into two groups: the day guard (Torguud) and the night guard (Khevtuul). They were distinct from the regular army and would not go to battle with them, instead staying back on guard duty. Their supreme commander was called the Cherbi . Because the Mongol Empire spanned most of Eurasia , its impacts on Mongol controlled-areas led to

#964035