The punishment of Sacha-Beki by Chinggis Khan and beginning of the epoch of khans’ justice

Abstract

The punishment of powerful leaders of Kiyat-Jurkin tribe Sacha-Beki and his brother Taychu by their relative Chinggis Khan was fixed in many sources (Mongolian, Chinese, Persian). Their analysis allows to find differences not only in factual, but also in ideological aspect. As a result, in earlier sources execution of relatives by Chinggis Khan is covertly blamed, whereas in works of imperial and post-imperial periods his decision is treated as a legal punishment of traitors by supreme ruler. Modern scholars also explain deed of Chinggis Khan in different ways. Some of them consider the punishment of Kiyat-Jurkin leaders as an example of his blood-thirstiness and intention to rid himself of powerful claimants to the throne. Others suppose that Sacha0Beki and Taychu were adherent of "old regime" who resisted imperial ambitions of Chinggis Khan. In many respects these differences caused by different appraisals of Chingiis Khan deed in the sources. To author's opinion, the punishment of Sacha-Beki and Taychu became a first step in forming of khan's judicial field as a possessor of power during the process of development of new, imperial state ideology. Analysis of sources allows to make some observations on initial stage of court and procedure in the Mongol Empire which combined elements of traditional and imperial law.