Merkit

Three Mergids ᠮᠡᠷᠬᠢᠳ
11th century–1200
Mongol Empirec.1207
Status	nomadicconfederacy
Capital	Not specified
Religion	Shamanism
Government	Elective monarchy
Khan
Historical era	Post-classical Central Asia
• Established	11th century
• Disestablished	1200
Preceded by Succeeded by Liao dynasty Proto-Mongols Mongol Empire
Today part of	Mongolia Russia(Buryatia)

TheMerkit(/ˈmɜːrkɪt/;Mongolian:[ˈmircɪt];lit. 'Wise Ones') was one of the five majortribal confederationsofMongolorTurkic originin the 12th centuryMongolian Plateau.

The Merkits lived in the basins of theSelengaand lowerOrkhon River(modern southBuryatiaandSelenge Province).After a struggle of over 20 years, they were defeated in 1200 byGenghis Khanand were incorporated into theMongol Empire.

Etymology

The wordMerged(мэргэд) with a hard "g" is a plural form derived from theMongolianwordmergen(мэргэн), which means both "wise" and "skillful marksperson", as in adept in the use of bow and arrow. The word is also used in many phrases in which it connotes magic, oracles, divination, augury, or religious power. Mongolian language has no clear morphological or grammatical distinction between nouns and adjectives, somergenmay mean "a sage" as much as "wise" or mean "skillful" just as much as "a master."Mergedbecomes plural as in "wise ones" or "skillful markspeople". In the general sense,mergenusually denotes someone who is skillful and wise in their affairs.

Three Mergeds

The Mergeds were a confederation of three tribes, inhabiting the basin of the Selenga and Orkhon Rivers.

• The Uduyid Merkits lived in Buur-kheer, near the lower Orkhon River;
• The Uvas Merkits lived in Tar, between the Orkhon and Selenge Rivers;
• The Khaad Merkits ( "Kings" Merkits) lived in Kharaji-kheer, on the Selenge River.

Ethnic relations

The Merkits were related to the Mongols,Naimans,Keraites,andKhitan people.

Conflict with Genghis Khan

Temüjin'smotherHoelun,originally from theOlkhonud,had been engaged to the Merkit chiefYehe Chileduby 1153. She was abducted by Temüjin's fatherYesugei,while being escorted home by Yehe Chiledu.

In turn, Temüjin's new wifeBörtewas kidnapped by Merkit raiders from their campsite by the Onon river around 1181 and given to one of their warriors. Temüjin, supported by his brother (not blood-related)Jamukhaand hiskhan etseg('khan father')Toghrulof theKeraites,attacked the Merkit and rescued Börte within the year. The Mergids were dispersed after this attack. Shortly thereafter she gave birth to a son namedJochi.Temüjin accepted paternity but the question lingered throughout Jochi's life. These incidents caused a strong animosity between Temüjin's family and the Merkits. From 1191 to 1207, Temujin fought the Merkits five times.

By the time he had united the other Mongol tribes and received the titleGenghis Khanin 1206, the Mergids seem to have disappeared as an ethnic group. Those who survived were likely absorbed by other Mongol tribes (Oirats,Buryats,Khalkhas) and others who fled to theKipchaksmixed with them. In 1215–1218,JochiandSubutaicrushed the remnants of them under their former leader Toghta Beki's family. The Mongols clashed with theKankalisor the Kipchaks because they had sheltered the Merged.

Genghis Khan had a Mergedkhatun(queen) named Khulan. She died while Mongol forcesbesieged Ryazanin 1236. In 1236, during theMongol invasion of Volga Bulgaria,a body of the Merkit was found in the area of land dominated by theBulgarandKipchak.

Late Mergeds

A few Mergeds achieved prominent position among the Mongols, but they were classified as Mongols in Mongolian society.Great KhanGuyuk's beloved khatunOghul Qaimish,who was a regent from 1248–1251, was a Merged woman. The traditionalistBayanand his nephewToqto'aserved asgrand chancellorsof theYuan dynasty.After the fall of the Yuan dynasty, they were a clan of a banner in theNorthern Yuan dynasty.