Muqali

Muqali
Native name
Мухулай
Other name(s)Mukhali
Mukhulai
Born1170
Died1223 (aged 52–53)
AllegianceMongol Empire
Years of servicePre-1206 – 1223
Battles / warsMongol conquest of the Jin dynasty
Muqali
Traditional Chinese木華黎
Simplified Chinese木华黎
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu PinyinMùhuálí

Muqali (Mongolian: Мухулай; 1170–1223), also spelt Mukhali and Mukhulai, was a Mongol general ("bo'ol", transl. one who is bound in service) who became a trusted and esteemed commander under Genghis Khan. The son of Gü'ün U'a, a Jalair leader who had sworn fealty to the Mongols, he became known by his epithet "Muqali", "one who dulls", earned through his committed and able service to the Great Khan and the Mongol Empire.[1]

During the invasion of Jin China, Muqali acted as Genghis Khan's second-in-command, was promoted to Viceroy of China,[1] and was entrusted with a great degree of autonomy once Genghis Khan departed to conquer Central Asia. Unlike many Mongol leaders who were willing to massacre to gain any advantage, Muqali usually attempted to convert foes into friends by more conciliatory means.[2]

By the time of Ogedei's reign (1229–1241), he was viewed as the best of the extraordinarily talented pool of Mongol generals.[3] Given his undefeated record despite very limited resources, he might be regarded as one of the greatest military commanders in history. He was "unquestionably one of the leading Mongol personalities and a supreme leader".[4] His wisdom in dealing with local matters has been emphasized.[4]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference power, politics was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Frank McLynn, Genghis Khan (2015), 231.
  3. ^ Christopher P. Atwood, Pu'a's Boast and Doqolqu's Death: Historiography of a Hidden Scandal in the Mongol Conquest of the Jin.
  4. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference wang, rachewiltz was invoked but never defined (see the help page).