14 Facts About Shigi Qutuqu

The adopted son of the empire's founder Temujin and his wife Borte, Shigi Qutuqu played an important role in the codification of Mongol law, serving with distinction as an administrator in North China.

The Secret History exaggerates his role during the 1206 kurultai, but Shigi Qutuqu was nevertheless appointed to several high-ranking legal positions; he served in this capacity during the Mongol conquest of the Jin dynasty.

Shigi Qutuqu was however the commander during the only Mongol defeat of the western campaign against Khwarazmia, being defeated by the Khwarazmian prince Jalal al-Din at the Battle of Parwan.

Rashid al-Din's account of Shigi Qutuqu's adoption takes place more than a decade earlier.

Shigi Qutuqu records that when Temujin and his wife Borte were still childless, they found a young boy and raised him as their son; if true, this incident would have occurred in the early 1180s as Borte's eldest son Jochi was born in 1184 at the earliest.

Two incidents in Shigi Qutuqu's childhood were transmitted by Rashid al-Din.

Shigi Qutuqu participated in the first Mongol campaign against the Jin dynasty.

The Yuan Shi notes that Shigi Qutuqu took administrative roles following the occupation of northern China, with his remit including the appointments of minor officials.

At Parwan, Genghis publicly humiliated Shigi Qutuqu by having him outline the battlefield site and criticizing his choice of tactics and lack of initiative; he privately confided to Bo'orchu that he thought his adopted son had been spoiled by constant victories.

At the Battle of the Indus, during which Genghis comprehensively defeated Jalal al-Din, Shigi Qutuqu was appointed to guard the captured Khwarazmian soldiers.

Shigi Qutuqu participated in the 1231 campaign against the Jin under the command of Tolui and was involved in action along the Yellow River; he was assigned to the service of Sorghaghtani Beki after her husband Tolui's death and was present at the fall of Kaifeng.

Shigi Qutuqu briefly participated in a 1235 campaign against the Southern Song dynasty under the command of Kochu, Ogedei's third son.

Shigi Qutuqu was however known to favour Buddhist adherents such as the monk Haiyun, whom he consulted for advice on matters practical and personal; Haiyun took advantage of this connection to obtain concessions for the Buddhist population during Mongol rule.

Shigi Qutuqu laid the foundations for legal procedures across the entire empire through his early judicial activities.