Esen (
Mongolian Эсин; d. 1455)
[1] was a powerful
Oirat Mongolian khan of the
Mongol Dynasty and a leader of the
Four Oirats in the 15th century. He is best-known for capturing the
Zhengtong Emperor in 1450 after the
Battle of Tumu Fortress and reuniting briefly the Mongols. In the 15th century the
Western Mongols reached their height under him.
Esen was born to his father, Toghon, the Choros taishi (grand preceptor) who had expanded Oirat territory substantially, with more Mongol tribes acknowledging his supremacy.
His early campaigns were against the Chaghatayid khans of Moghulistan. Esen three times defeated and twice captured Uvais (Ways Khan) (1418–1432), the Moghuli ruler. Esen released him respecting his Chinggisid blood in both cases. The second time Uvais granted Esen his sister Makhtum Khanim. Esen had to nominally convert to Islam in order to marry her.
After his father died in 1438, Esen inherited his position as taishi for the reigning khaan Togtoo-Bukha (r.1433-52). Under Esen Tayisi's leadership, the Oirats and the Chinggisids conquered the rest of Mongolia, and received the submission of the Jurchens and the Tuvans (Uriankhais) in Manchuria and Eastern Siberia. Esen also took over control of the Hami oasis on the Silk Road between the Gobi and the Takla Makan deserts. The three Ming Dynasty guards were subjugated by him in 1443-45; and his conquest reached the northern border of Korea.
