Merkit

12th-century tribal confederation of the Mongolian Plateau

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Merkit" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (December 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Merkit
Three Mergids

11th century–1200

Mongol Empire c.1207

Status| nomadic confederacy
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)
History of Mongolia

* Timeline
* States
* Rulers
* Nobility
* Culture
* Politics
* Geography
* Language
* Religion

Prehistoric period

|  Afanasievo culture|  3300–2500 BC

|

Chemurchek culture|  2750–1900 BC
Munkhkhairkhan culture|  1800–1600 BC
Sagsai culture|  1500–1000 BC
Ulaanzuukh culture|  1450–1150 BC
Deer stones culture|  1400–700 BC
Slab-grave culture|  1100–300 BC
Chandman culture|  700–300 BC
Pazyryk culture|  600–300 BC

Ancient period

|  Xiongnu|  209 BC–93 AD

|

Xianbei state|  93–234
Rouran Khaganate|  330–555
Göktürks (First, Eastern, and Second Turkic Khaganates)|  555–630
682–744
Xueyantuo|  628–646
Tang protectorate|  647–682
Uyghur Khaganate|  744–840
Liao dynasty|  907–1125

Medieval period

|  Mongol khanates|  9th–12th century

|

Khamag Mongol|  1130–1206
Mongol Empire|  1206–1368
Yuan dynasty|  1271–1368
Northern Yuan|  1368–1635
Oirat Confederation|  1399–1634
Dzungar Khanate|  1634–1757
Qing dynasty|  1691–1911

Modern period

|  National Revolution|  1911

|

Bogd Khaganate|  1911–1919
Chinese occupation|  1919–1921
People's Revolution (Soviet intervention in Bogd Khanate)|  1921
1921–1924
People's Republic|  1924–1992
Democratic Revolution|  1990
Modern Mongolia|  1990–present

* v
* t
* e

The Merkit (literally "skillful/wise ones"; Mongolian: ᠮᠡᠷᠬᠢᠳ ; Мэргид, romanized: Mergid; simplified Chinese: 蔑儿乞; traditional Chinese: 蔑兒乞; pinyin: Miè'érqǐ) was one of the five major tribal confederations (khanlig) of probably Mongol[1][2][3][4] or Turkic origin[5][6][note 1] in the 12th century Mongolian Plateau.

The Merkits lived in the basins of the Selenga and lower Orkhon River (modern south Buryatia and Selenge Province).[8] After a struggle of over 20 years, they were defeated in 1200 by Genghis Khan and were incorporated into the Mongol Empire.

## Etymology

[edit]

The word Merged (мэргэд) is a plural form derived from the Mongolian word mergen (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, so mergen may mean "a sage" as much as "wise" or mean "skillful" just as much as "a master." Merged becomes plural as in "wise ones" or "skillful markspeople". In the general sense, mergen usually denotes someone who is skillful and wise in their affairs.[citation needed]

## Three Mergeds

[edit]

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

[edit]

The Merkits were related to the Mongols, Naimans, Keraites, and Khitan people.[9]

## Conflict with Genghis Khan

[edit]

Temüjin's mother Hoelun, originally from the Olkhonud, had been engaged to the Merkit chief Yehe Chiledu by 1153. She was abducted by Temüjin's father Yesugei, while being escorted home by Yehe Chiledu.

In turn, Temüjin's new wife Börte was 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) Jamukha and his khan etseg ('khan father') Toghrul of the Keraites, attacked the Merkit and rescued Börte within the year. The Mergids were dispersed after this attack. Shortly thereafter she gave birth to a son named Jochi. 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 title Genghis Khan in 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 the Kipchaks mixed with them. In 1215–1218, Jochi and Subutai crushed the remnants of them under their former leader Toghta Beki's family. The Mongols clashed with the Kankalis or the Kipchaks because they had sheltered the Merged.

Genghis Khan had a Merged khatun (queen) named Khulan. She died while Mongol forces besieged Ryazan in 1236. In 1236, during the Mongol invasion of Volga Bulgaria, a body of the Merkit was found in the area of land dominated by the Bulgar and Kipchak.

## Late Mergeds

[edit]

A few Mergeds achieved prominent position among the Mongols, but they were classified as Mongols in Mongolian society. Great Khan Guyuk's beloved khatun Oghul Qaimish, who was a regent from 1248–1251, was a Merged woman. The traditionalist Bayan and his nephew Toqto'a served as grand chancellors of the Yuan dynasty. After the fall of the Yuan dynasty, they were a clan of a banner in the Northern Yuan dynasty.

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ They were always counted as a part of the Mongols within the Mongol Empire, however, some scholars believe that they were Turkic people.[7]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ History of the Mongolian People's Republic. — Nauka Pub. House, Central Dept. of Oriental Literature, 1973. — p. 99.
2. ^ Jeffrey Tayler. Murderers in Mausoleums: Riding the Back Roads of Empire Between Moscow and Beijing. — Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2009. — p. 1\. — ISBN 9780547523828.
3. ^ Bertold Spuler. The Muslim world: a historical survey. — Brill Archive, 1969. — p. 118.
4. ^ Elza-Bair Mataskovna Gouchinova. The Kalmyks. — Routledge, 2013. — p. 10\. — ISBN 9781135778873.
5. ^ Soucek, Svat. A History of Inner Asia. — Cambridge University Press, 2000. — p. 104\. — ISBN 978-0521657044.
6. ^ Гурулёв С. А. Реки Байкала: Происхождение названий. – Иркутск: Восточно-Сибирское книжное издательство, 1989 – 122 с. ISBN 5-7424-0286-4
7. ^ Christopher P. Atwood – Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire ISBN 9780816046713, Facts on File, Inc. 2004.
8. ^ History of Mongolia, Volume II, 2003
9. ^ Weatherford, Jack (2005). Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World. Crown/Archetype. p. 12\. ISBN 978-0-307-23781-1.

* v
* t
* e

Mongolic peoples

History|

* Timeline
* Mongolian Plateau
* Mongol heartland
* States
* Rulers
* Slab Grave culture
* Ordos culture
* Languages
* Proto-Mongolic
* Medieval tribes
* Modern clans
* Nomadic empire
* Mongol Empire
* Turco-Mongol
* Mongolian nobility
* Writing systems
* Soyombo symbol
* Religion

Proto-Mongols|

* Donghu
* Xianbei
* Wuhuan
* Rouran
* incl. Yujiulü
* Duan
* Yuwen
* Kumo Xi
* Murong
* Tuyuhun
* Tuoba
* Qifu
* Tufa
* Shiwei
* Didouyu
* Khitan
* incl. Yelü
* Zubu

Medieval tribes|

* Khamag Mongol
* Baarin
* Barga
* Barlas
* Bayad
* Borjigin
* Chonos
* Dughlat
* Eljigin
* Gorlos
* Jalair
* Katagan
* Kerait
* Khongirad
* Manghud
* Merkit
* Naiman
* Oirat
* Olkhonud
* Ongud*
* Qara Khitai
* Qara'unas
* Sunud
* Taichiud
* Tatar
* Tumed
* Uriankhai

Ethnic groups|

| Mongols|

* Darkhad
* Dariganga
* Eljigin
* Khalkha
* Khotogoid
* Sartuul

| Southern Mongols|

* Asud
* Baarin
* Chahar
* Eastern Dorbet
* Kharchin
* Khorchin
* Jaruud
* Naiman
* Ordos
* Tumed
* Urad
* Üzemchin

|

Oirats|

* Altai Uriankhai
* Baatud
* Bayad
* Chantuu*
* Choros
* Dörbet
* Dzungar
* Khoid
* Khoshut
* Khoton*
* Kalmyk
* incl. Buzava
* Myangad
* Olot
* Sart Kalmyk
* Torghut
* Upper Mongols
* Zakhchin

Buryats|

* Barga
* Hamnigan*
* Soyot*

Other|

* Aimaq**
* Bonan
* Daur
* Dongxiang
* Hazara**
* Kangjia
* Mughal**
* Moghol
* Monguor
* Khatso (Yunnan Mongol)
* Sichuan Mongols
* Sogwo Arig
* Tuvan**
* Yugur

See also: Donghu and Xianbei · Turco-Mongol
*Mongolized ethnic groups.**Ethnic groups of Mongolian origin or with a large Mongolian ethnic component.

* v
* t
* e

Turkic peoples

Peoples|

| Azerbaijani communities|

* Azerbaijanis
* Iranian Azerbaijanis
* Shahsevans
* Küresünni
* Georgian Azerbaijanis
* Western Azerbaijanis
* Karapapakhs
* Javanshir Qizilbash

|

Kazakh communities|

* Kazakhs
* Chinese Kazakhs
* Iranian Kazakhs
* Mongolian Kazakhs

Kyrgyz communities|

* Kyrgyz
* Chinese Kyrgyz
* Akto Turkmen
* Afghan Kyrgyz
* Tajik Kyrgyz
* Van Kyrgyz

Turkmen1 communities|

* Turkmens
* Afghan Turkmens
* Ansarlu
* Iranian Turkmens
* Akto Turkmen

Turkish communities2|

* Turks
* Gajal
* Muhacirs
* Tahtacıs
* Yörüks
* Abkhazian Turks
* Algerian Turks
* Kouloughlis
* Bosnian Turks
* Bulgarian Turks
* Croatian Turks
* Cretan Turks
* Cypriot Turks
* Dodecanese Turks
* Egyptian Turks
* Iraqi Turkmen/Turkoman1
* Israeli Turks
* Kosovan Turks
* Lebanese Turks
* Libyan Turks
* Macedonian Turks
* Meskhetian (Ahiska) Turks
* Montenegrin Turks
* Palestinian Turks
* Romanian Turks
* Serbian Turks
* Syrian Turkmen/Turkoman1
* Tunisian Turks
* Western Thracian Turks

Turkic peoples
in Uzbekistan|

* Uzbeks
* Karakalpaks

Turkic minorities
in China|

* Äynu
* Chinese Tatars
* Chinese Kazakhs
* Chinese Kyrgyz
* Akto Turkmen
* Chinese Uzbeks
* Fuyu Kyrgyz
* Ili Turks
* Salar
* Uyghurs
* Tor Uyghurs
* Yugurs

Turkic minorities
in Crimea|

* Crimean Karaites
* Crimean Tatars
* Krymchaks
* Urums

Turkic minorities
in Iran|

* Iranian Azerbaijanis
* Afshar
* Chaharmahali Turks
* Khalajs
* Khorasani Turks
* Qarai Turks
* Qashqai
* Iranian Turkmens
* Iranian Kazakhs

Turkic minorities in
Russia|

* Altaians
* Chelkans
* Telengits
* Tubalars
* Balkars
* Bashkirs
* Besermyan
* Chulyms
* Chuvash
* Dolgans
* Karachays
* Khakas
* Koibal
* Kumandins
* Kumyks
* Nogais
* Shors
* Soyots
* Tatars
* Astrakhan Tatars
* Kryashens
* Mishar Tatars
* Nağaybäk
* Volga Tatars
* Siberian Tatars
* Siberian Bukharans
* Teleuts
* Tofalars
* Tuvans
* Tozhu Tuvans
* Yakuts

Turkic minorities in
Mongolia|

* Khotons
* Mongolian Kazakhs
* Dukha

Turkic minorities in
Afghanistan|

* Afghan Turkmens
* Afshar
* Aimaqs
* Timuri
* Ansarlu
* Karategin Uzbeks
* Afghan Kyrgyz

Turkic minorities in
Europe
(exc. Russia)|

* Bulgarian Crimean Tatars
* Finnish Tatars
* Gagauz
* Lipka Tatars
* Tatars of Romania

Extinct Turkic groups|

* Alat
* Az
* Basmyl
* Barsils
* Berendei
* Bulaqs
* Bulgars
* Chigils
* Black Klobuks
* Cumans
* Dingling
* Duolu
* Dughlats
* Esegel
* Göktürks
* Kangly
* Karluks
* Keraites
* Khazars
* Kimek
* Kipchaks
* Sir-Kıvchak
* Kurykans
* Kutrigurs
* Merkit
* Naimans
* Nushibi
* Oghuz Turks
* Turkomans
* Pechenegs
* Onogurs
* Sabirs
* Saragurs
* Shatuo
* Tiele
* Türgesh
* Tuhsi
* Torks
* Toquz Oghuz
* Uriankhai
* Utigurs
* Xueyantuo
* Yenisei Kyrgyz
* Yueban
* Yagma
* Yabaku

Others|

* Abdals
* Hazaras
* Mughals

Diasporas|

* Azerbaijani diaspora
* Crimean Tatar diaspora
* Turkish diaspora
* Turkish Cypriot diaspora
* Kazakh diaspora

1 Central Asian (i.e. Turkmeni, Afghani and Iranian) Turkmens, distinct from Levantine (i.e. Iraqi and Syrian) Turkmen/Turkoman minorities, who mostly adhere to an Ottoman-Turkish heritage and identity. 2 In traditional areas of Turkish settlement (i.e. former Ottoman territories).

* v
* t
* e

Turco-Mongol

States|

* Tatar confederation
* Golden Horde
* Uzbek Khanate
* Kazakh Khanate
* Nogai Horde
* Budjak Horde
* Chagatai Khanate
* Timurid Empire
* Mughal Empire
* Crimean Khanate
* Astrakhan Khanate
* Kazan Khanate

Related ethnic groups and clans|

* Avars*
* Keraites
* Barlas
* Naimans
* Merkit
* Ongud
* Mughal people
* Aimaq people
* Hazaras

Culture|

* Kurultai
* Kumis
* Tengrism (Tengri, Ergenekon, Ülgen, Erlik)
* Deel
* Tug banner

*Origin is controversial.

Authority control databases: National |

* Israel
* United States

|

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template