Ariq Boke normally can be viewed as a questionable figure in Mongol history. Often times he is portrayed negatively through the primary sources of his era, especially those of Rashid Al-Din. However, despite his controversial background, Ariq Boke was an important figure in the Mongol empire because he represented the opposing internal conflicts of the Mongol imperium, as well as demonstrated the turbulence of the time. Generally, the inevitable war between Ariq Boke and his older brother Khubulai, is normally viewed as a struggle for succession, and additionally exemplifies physical confrontation between nomadic and settled life. And although Khubulai managed to defeat Ariq Boke, it is evident that Ariq Boke was the better of the two successors.
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Normally, the Khan was determined through a method of election in which, prominent members of the Mongol Empire would gather together and then unanimously decide a leader (Morgan, 2007, page 36). However, in the case of Ariq Boke, two separate quriltai’s were held, one electing his older brother Khubilai, and the other electing him (Rossabi, 1988, page 47). As a result, both brothers were placed on an equal level to the right of succession according to the Mongol succession process. Therefore, the only method that was feasible enough to eliminate the other candidate was that of tanistry. Normally, tanistry was a strong-armed tactic that was used by the Mongol people in order to eliminate other candidates from gaining control (Morgan, 2007, page 35). These methods of tanistry were normally so effective that the art of succession never changed or was replaced by primogenitor or any rule of that sort (Fletcher, 1980). In fact, during both Khubulai and Ariq Boke’s lifetime, they witnessed tanistry in politics when their older brother Mongke took the succession of ruling from the Ogedid branch and made the line of Tolui the new most eligible successors. Therefore, it is easy to observe that because both men were eligible candidates, the rules of succession were not broad enough, and because both brothers were equally familiar with tanistry, that they both deemed themselves as worthy of the title Khan. To pursue this thought further, both siblings use of tanistry during and after the war are very apparent. Not only did Ariq Boke implement tanistry in order to fight against his brother, but also utilized it in the case of Alghu, when he tried to reject and ignore the partnership of Ariq Boke (Rossabi, 1988, page 59). Moreover, the evidence of tanistry on the
Normally, the Khan was determined through a method of election in which, prominent members of the Mongol Empire would gather together and then unanimously decide a leader (Morgan, 2007, page 36). However, in the case of Ariq Boke, two separate quriltai’s were held, one electing his older brother Khubilai, and the other electing him (Rossabi, 1988, page 47). As a result, both brothers were placed on an equal level to the right of succession according to the Mongol succession process. Therefore, the only method that was feasible enough to eliminate the other candidate was that of tanistry. Normally, tanistry was a strong-armed tactic that was used by the Mongol people in order to eliminate other candidates from gaining control (Morgan, 2007, page 35). These methods of tanistry were normally so effective that the art of succession never changed or was replaced by primogenitor or any rule of that sort (Fletcher, 1980). In fact, during both Khubulai and Ariq Boke’s lifetime, they witnessed tanistry in politics when their older brother Mongke took the succession of ruling from the Ogedid branch and made the line of Tolui the new most eligible successors. Therefore, it is easy to observe that because both men were eligible candidates, the rules of succession were not broad enough, and because both brothers were equally familiar with tanistry, that they both deemed themselves as worthy of the title Khan. To pursue this thought further, both siblings use of tanistry during and after the war are very apparent. Not only did Ariq Boke implement tanistry in order to fight against his brother, but also utilized it in the case of Alghu, when he tried to reject and ignore the partnership of Ariq Boke (Rossabi, 1988, page 59). Moreover, the evidence of tanistry on the