Guyuk

Dates

b. 1206

Capsule Bio

The eldest son of Ögedei Khan, Guyuk was a trained military officer, participating in the invasion of Russia and Europe. At a victory battle after the conquest of Russia, he and his cousin Buri complained it was unfair that Batu Khan should take such a large territory for himself, and started insulting him, calling him a bearded old woman. Incensed, Batu wrote to his uncle Ögedei and demanded that the boys be recalled from the field. Ögedei, upon hearing the news, recalled both the boys to Mongolia. He gave Guyuk a stern talking-to, reprimanding him for cruelty to his kin, and sent him back to Russia.