Khutughtu Khan

Khutughtu Khan (; Mongolian script: ; ), born Kuśala (Mongolian: Хүслэн ; ; , meaning "virtuous"/"wholesome"), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Mingzong of Yuan (; 22 December 1300 – 30 August 1329), was a son of Khayishan (Emperor Wuzong) who seized the throne of the Yuan dynasty of China in 1329, but died soon after. Apart from the Emperor of China, he is considered as the 13th Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, although it was only nominal due to the division of the empire. Early life and exile He was the eldest son of Khayishan (Külüg Khan or Emperor Wuzong) and a Mongol-Ikhires woman. Due to the unstable balance present in the Khayishan administration with the tense rivalry between Khayishan, his younger brother Ayurbarwada and their mother Dagi of the Khunggirad clan, Khayishan appointed Ayurbarwada as Crown Prince on the condition that he would pass the status to Kuśala after succession. However, after Khayishan's death, Ayurbarwada succeeded to the throne in 1311. In 1320, Dagi, Temüder and other members of the Khunggirad faction installed Ayurbarwada's son Shidebala as the new ruler instead of Kuśala, due to the knowledge of Kuśala coming from an Ikhires background, rather than the more noble Khunggirad lineage. To ensure Shidebala's succession, Kuśala was rewarded with the title of king of Chou and relegated to Yunnan in 1316; but fled to Esen Bukha-ruled Chagatai Khanate in Central Asia, as a pro-Khayishan official advised, after a failed revolt in Shaanxi. When the Chagatayid Khan Esen Bukha heard that Kuśala was living near his realm, he came to greet him. After that, Kusala was backed by the Chagatayid princes. While in exile in Central Asia, he married Mailaiti, a daughter of Temuder of the Qarluq.