Merkit people
| Mergid Three Mergids |
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| Мэргид, Гурван Мэргид | ||||||||||
| nomadic confederacy | ||||||||||
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Mongol Empire c.1207
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| Capital | Not specified | |||||||||
| Languages | Middle Mongol | |||||||||
| Religion | Shamanism | |||||||||
| Government | Elective monarchy | |||||||||
| Togtoa (2nd) | ||||||||||
| Historical era | Post-classical Central Asia | |||||||||
| • | Established | 11th century | ||||||||
| • | Disestablished | 1200 | ||||||||
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| Today part of |
 Mongolia Russia (Buryatia) |
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The Merkit (Mongolian: Мэргид, lit. "skillful/wise ones") was one of the five major Mongol tribal confederations (khanlig) in the 12th century Mongolian Plateau.
The Merkits lived in the basins of the Selenga and lower Orkhon River (modern south Buryatia and Selenge Province). After a struggle of over 20 years, they were defeated in 1200 by Genghis Khan and were incorporated into the Mongol Empire.
The word Merged (мэргэд) is a plural form derived from the Mongolian word mergen (мэргэн), which means both "wise" and "skillful marksperson", as in adept in the use of bow and arrow. The word is also used in many phrases in which it connotes magic, oracles, divination, augury, or religious power. Mongolian language has no clear morphological or grammatical distinction between nouns and adjectives, so mergen may mean "a sage" as much as "wise" or mean "skillful" just as much as "a master." Merged becomes plural as in "wise ones" or "skillful markspeople". In the general sense, mergen usually denotes someone who is skillful and wise in their affairs.
The Mergeds were a confederation of three tribes, inhabiting the basin of the Selenga and Orkhon Rivers.
The Merkits were related to the Mongols, Naimans, Keraites, and Khitan people.
Temüjin's mother Hoelun, originally from the Olkhonud, had been engaged to the Merkit chief Yehe Chiledu by 1153. She was abducted by Temüjin's father Yesugei, while being escorted home by Yehe Chiledu.
In turn, Temüjin's new wife Börte was kidnapped by Merkit raiders from their campsite by the Onon river around 1181 and given to one of their warriors. Temüjin, supported by his blood brother Jamukha and his foster-father Tooril Khan of the Keraites, attacked the Merkit and rescued Börte within the year. The Mergids were dispersed after this attack. Shortly thereafter she gave birth to a son named Jochi. Temüjin accepted paternity but the question lingered throughout Jochi's life. These incidents caused a strong animosity between Temüjin's family and the Merkits. Over the next two decades, he attacked them several times.
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Wikipedia