Köke Temür

Köke Temür (Classical Mongolian: köke temür, Khalkha Mongolian: Хѳхтѳмѳр Höhtömör; ?-1375) was an Uyghur general of the Yuan Dynasty (and the Northern Yuan). Before he was given the Mongolian name by the Yuan court, he assumed the Chinese name of Wang Baobao (王保保).

He lived in Henan for generations. He was a nephew of and was adopted by Chaghan Temür, a pro-dynasty warlord who fought against the Red Turban Rebellion. When his uncle died in war in Shandong in 1362, he succeeded Chaghan Temür's post and corps, and soon demonstrated a talent for military in battles with the Red Turban Rebels in Shandong.

He intensified a feud with Bolad Temür a Datong-based warlord, and entered Taiyuan to confront him. He took the side of Crown Prince Ayushiridar against the faction of Toghun Temur Khan in a factional dispute in Dadu since Bolad Temür supported the anti-crown prince faction.

In 1364, Bolad Temür advanced from Datong on Dadu and seized the reins of the central government under the khan. Crown Prince Ayushiridar fled to Taiyuan to seek support from Köke Temür. The Crown Prince stroke back with Köke Temür, and Bolad Temür was killed by betrayal when Köke Temür was to attack Dadu in 1365. He reinstated the Crown Prince, and was appointed as vice minister of the Secretariat and the king of Henan in return. However, this conflict helped Zu Yuanzhang rise into power in Southern China.

Köke Temür commanded the Yuan army against anti-Yuan rebels, but faced betrayal by subordinates including Chinese officiers who had followed him since the very early stage. What was worse was that he got alienated from Ayushiridar, who was given political and minitary controls by Toghun Temür Khan. As a result, he lost Henan and Taiyuan to the rising Ming corps and fled to Gangsu. The Yuan Dynasty was forced to retreat from China in 1368.

In 1370 when Toghun Temur died and Ayushiridar succeeded to the throne, Koke Temur entered the Mongolian Plateau from Gangsu and joined the new khan, who was based on Khara Khorum. He undertook the defense of the khan. The most notable service was an overwhelming victory over the Ming army led by Xu Da in 1372. It is said that he killed tens of thousands of enemies among a 150 thousand Ming army in Mongolia.

He advanced southward with the Yuan troops to take China back to the dynasty, and expanted his influence to Shanxi. However, he died in 1375 and was followed by Ayushiridar in 1378. Their deaths radically weakened the Mongol state, extinguishing any hope of recapturing China.