Mukhali

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Mukhali was an important companion of Genghis Khan born of the Jalair clan in 1170. He served Genghis' enemy (serving as a slave or Nak for Genghis' rival, the aunt of his father of the Jurkin clan) in his early days but was captured. Genghis rewarded the defiant Mukhali for his integrity and wisdom, and afterwards was a loyal lieutenant of the rising khan.

Mukhali was the chief commander in Genghis' protracted invasion of the Jurchen Jin Dynasty and was conferred the title King of China((fact)), then commanding a much smaller part of northern China. He died in North China in 1223.

After his death, descendants of Mukhali served the Great Khan of the Mongols, especially those of the Toluid lineage. Retainers of the Toluid Hulagu participated in the conquest of Persia, then called Mollai, and later founded the Jalairid Dynasty which ruled from Baghdad after the collapse of the Hulaguid Il-Khanate.