Overview
Esen Buqa I was Khan of the Chagatai Khanate from 1310 to 1318. A son of Duwa, he was raised to the throne by his brother Kebek, who had led the revolt against the usurper Taliqu and then stepped aside. Most of his reign was spent at war with the Yuan dynasty in the east and the Ilkhanate in the west.
Rise to Power
After Taliqu was overthrown in 1309, Kebek convened a kurultai of the Chagatai princes. The assembly chose Esen Buqa, the elder brother, who took the throne in 1310. Kebek remained the khanate's leading commander and governed its western lands.
Rule and Achievements
- Fought on two fronts, against the Yuan and against the Ilkhanate
- Acted on the report of the Yuan envoy Abishqa that the Yuan and the Ilkhanate were planning a joint attack, a claim that was never confirmed
- Saw his armies driven back twice by Yuan forces in 1314
Legacy
Esen Buqa I died in 1318, and Kebek returned to the throne. Kebek's reign brought a period of peace and reform, which makes Esen Buqa's wars look in hindsight like the costly last phase of the old conflicts among the Mongol khanates. His story is also an early lesson in acting on unverified intelligence.