Emperor Mingzong of Yuan China

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Khutughtu Khan

Birth and death:	1320-1329
Clan name:	Borjigin
Given name:	Kuśala
Khan title:	Khutughtu Khan [Holy Emperor]
Dates of reign:	1329
Dynasty:	Dai-ön (Yuan)
Temple name:	Mingzong (明宗 Míngzōng)
Posthumous name: (short)	-
Posthumous name: (full)	Yixian Jing Xiao Huangdi (翼獻景孝皇帝)
Era names:	(Tianli (天曆) 1328-1335)

Khutughtu Khan (Classical Mongolian: Qutuɤtu qaɤan; Khalkha Mongolian: Хутагт хаан Hutagt haan), born Kuśala (Qošila, Küsala, Küsele, Хѳслэн Höslen), was the 12th grand-khan of the Mongol Empire (Dai-ön Ulus/Yuan Dynasty).

He was the eldest son of Khayishan Külüg Khan. Since the Khayishan administration was founded on the unstable balance between Khayishan, his younger brother Ayurbarwada and their mother Dagi of the Khunggirad clan, Khayishan appointed Ayurbarwada as Crown Prince on the condition that he would pass the status to Kuśala after succession. However, when Khayishan suddenly died and Ayurbarwada succeeded to the throne in 1311, Dagi, Temüder and other members of the Khunggirad faction installed Ayurbarwada's son Shidibala instead of Kuśala because his mother came from the Ikires clan, not the Khunggirad clan. He was relegated to Yunnan but fled to Esen Bukha-ruled Chaghatai Ulus in Central Asia after a failed revolt in Shaanxi.

Although the rival faction was purged by Yesün Temür Khan when Shidibala Khan was assassinated, he remained in Central Asia. He extended his influence in his stronghold which was located to the west of Altai Mountains.

In 1328 when Yesün Temür Khan died, a civil war was broke out between Shangdu-based Ragibagh and Dadu-based Tugh Temür. The former was a son of Yesün Temür and backed up by the former Yesün Temür administration led by Dawlat Shah, and the latter was Kuśala's younger brother who was supported by the former Khayishan faction led by the Qipchaq commander El Temür and the Asud commander Bayan. This ended in the victory of Tugh Temür since he secured support from princes, aristocrats and warlords in the south of the Gobi Desert. At the same time, Kuśala, with the support from Chaghadaid princes, entered Mongolia. He also got support from princes and generals of Mongolia, and with overwhelming military power in the background, put pressure on Tugh Temür, who had already ascended to the throne.

Realizing disadvantages, Tugh Temür declared abdication. In the next year, El Temür brought the imperial seal to Kuśala in Mongolia and announced Dadu's intent to welcome him. Kuśala ascended to the throne in the north of Khara Khorum and Tugh Temür became Crown Prince.

On his way to Dadu, Kuśala met with Tugh Temür in Ongghuchad near Shangdu in the eight month. He suddenly died only 4 days after a banquet with Tugh Temür. It seems that Kuśala was poisoned by El Temür since he feared being lost power to princes and officers of Chaghadai Ulus and Mongolia, who followed Kuśala. Tugh Temür was restored to the throne.

The civil wars between 1328 and 29 transferred power from the Khunggirad faction to warlords including El Temür and Bayan.