Möngke Khan

Möngke Khan (ᠮᠥᠩᠬᠡᠬᠠᠭᠠᠨ; 1209 – 1259), was the fourth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, reigning from 1251 until his death. He was a grandson of Genghis Khan and brother to Hülegü, Ariq Boke, and Kublai. He was the first Great Khan from the Toluid dynasty and made significant reforms to improve the administration of the Empire during his reign. Under Möngke, the Mongols conquered Iraq and Syria and pushed forward their conquest of China.

Möngke also founded the Mongolian Rite of the Templar Order, having been taught the Templar ideals by a Templar Knight that was captured during the Battle of Legnica. Some years later, he inducted his son Asutai into the Order. The Khan also possessed one of the Trident of Eden's powerful prongs, which was buried with him upon his death.

Biography

On 11 August 1259, Möngke launched an assault on Diaoyu Castle, which was under the Chinese control. After a failed ambush against the Song soldiers, he visited his men upon hearing of General Wang Dechen's injury. Talking with his commander Bayan, he ordered Wang to be taken to the temple in Jin Yun. However, during the night, he was killed in his sleep by the Assassin apprentice Zhang Zhi, who had sought revenge for her father, a Chinese commander and Assassin killed by Bayan.

Legacy

While Zhang Zhi fled from her crime, Möngke's son Asutai found his father's body and hid the truth of his murder from the army. Along with his Kheshig and commander Bayan, Asutai accompanied his father's body to Burkhan Khaldun, where they laid him to rest. Möngke's prong was also buried alongside the fallen Khan to keep it hidden. Möngke's death greatly impacted the Mongol Empire and left it divided, igniting two civil wars.

Appearances

• Assassin's Creed: Memories (mentioned only)
• Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants – Tomb of the Khan (first appearance)