Negübei

Born: Unknown Died: c. 1272 Reigned: 1271-1272 Khanate: Chagatai Khanate Title: Khan of the Chagatai Khanate

Overview

Negübei was a Chagatai prince who held the khanate's throne briefly in 1271-1272 following the turbulent reigns of Baraq Khan's predecessors. His reign occurred during a period of intense fragmentation in the Chagatai Khanate, when the khanate was contested between multiple claimants and when the powerful Ögedeid prince Kaidu was asserting dominance over Central Asian affairs. Negübei's brief tenure ended quickly, and he left almost no trace in historical sources beyond his name and dates.

Rise to Power

Negübei came to power in 1271 in circumstances that are not well documented. He was likely installed or recognized in the aftermath of Baraq Khan's death as a compromise or interim candidate. The Chagatai Khanate at this point was deeply contested, with Kaidu exercising increasing influence over the selection of its rulers.

Rule and Achievements

Negübei's reign of approximately one year produced no documented achievements. He governed during a period when:

• The Chagatai Khanate was effectively dominated by Kaidu, the powerful Ögedeid ruler of Central Asia
• Real military and political power in the region was concentrated in Kaidu's hands rather than in those of the nominal Chagatai khans
• The khanate's relationship with Kublai Khan's Yuan dynasty was hostile
• Internal succession disputes continued to destabilize Chagatai governance

He was replaced by Buqa Temür within roughly a year, continuing the pattern of brief and undistinguished reigns that characterized the early post-Alghu period of Chagatai history.

Legacy

Negübei is one of the most obscure figures in Chagatai history, known only from brief references in Persian and Chinese sources. His one-year reign illustrates the extreme political instability of the Chagatai Khanate in the early 1270s, a period when the real power in Central Asia was shifting toward Kaidu and when the nominal Chagatai khans functioned increasingly as figureheads. His death or removal cleared the way for Buqa Temür, who would provide somewhat more stability over the following decade.