Muqali

Muqali
Statue of Muqali in Chinggis Square, Ulaanbaatar
Native name	Мухулай
Other name(s)	Mukhali Mukhulai
Born	1170
Died	1223 (aged 52–53)
Allegiance	Mongol Empire
Years of service	Pre-1206 – 1223
Battles/wars	Mongol conquest of the Jin dynasty

Muqali (Mongolian: Мухулай; 1170–1223), also spelt Mukhali and Mukhulai, was a Mongol general who served under Genghis Khan.

Muqali, third son of Gü'ün U'a, was born into the 'White' clan of the Jalair tribe, who had been the hereditary serfs of the Borjigin Mongols. Originally associated with the Jurkin branch of the Borjigin, Muqali's father and uncles pledged allegiance to Genghis Khan when he defeated the Jurkin in 1197. Gü'ün U'a offered his son Muqali to Genghis as a personal slave (emčü bo'ol). Genghis rewarded the defiant Mukhali for his integrity and wisdom, and afterwards was a loyal companion.

During the coronation of Genghis Khan, Muqali was given the command of the third tumen and control over the eastern mingghans. In 1211, he participated in the Battle of Yehuling, the decisive battle in the first stage of the Mongol conquest of the Jurchen-led Jin dynasty in northern China.

After Genghis Khan decided to go to war with the Khwarezmid Empire, he gave control of all Mongol forces to Muqali and gave him the title of King, a largely ceremonial title. Despite Genghis Khan having most of the main Mongol forces taken away and sent to the West, Muqali was able to subdue most of northern China with his small force of around 20,000 men, although some historians give figures of between 40,000 and 70,000 men.

In 1217, Muqali attacked Hebei Province as well as northern Shandong Province and northern Shaanxi Province. This was an important agricultural area, which Muqali had largely subdued by 1219. In 1220, Muqali turned his attention to the rest of Shandong Province; four towns were captured, but the hard-pressed Jin forces managed to hold on elsewhere in the province.

Muqali's last campaign began in 1222. He crossed the Wei River and attacked south, capturing towns that had already been plundered by a previous Mongol general – Samuqa. Meanwhile, the Jin forces launched a counter-attack in Shanxi Province. Muqali swiftly raced to the area; the Jin forces fled without giving battle. Besieging another town, Muqali became seriously ill and died shortly thereafter in 1223. On his deathbed, Muqali declared with pride that he had never been defeated.