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{{Short description|Brother of Genghis Khan (1168–1246)}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2009}}
'''Temüge''' (c. 1168–1246) was the youngest brother of [[Genghis Khan]], fourth son of [[Yesugei]].

== Early life ==
''[[The Secret History of the Mongols]]'' states that "when Temujin was 9 years of age, Temuge was three years old." As the youngest son, he received a prefix to the name "otchigin" (diminutive form of "отгон" or “otgon” meaning "junior", Also Ot (Fire) [[Tegin]] (Junior member of Khan family) as old Turkic), who in the family is always a "guardian of the family and home", and therefore is often referred to as Temuge-otchigin or simply Otchigin. In childhood and adolescence was somewhat spoiled by his mother and older brothers, inclined to luxury, but was "courageous, powerful and quick in battle" that was recognized even by the family's enemies. When the shaman Kokochu (Teb-Tengri) started dragging the power over the Mongols to his own family, Genghis Khan sanctioned Temuge to kill Kokochu in an orchestrated wrestling match.

== Interim ruler ==
As the youngest male offspring, Temüge and his mother, by Mongol traditions, were allotted the most land and people by Genghis Khan during his coronation. He seems to have been the least warlike of the brothers, and was criticized by Genghis himself as lazy and shiftless. However, Temüge was a skilled politician and capable ruler, who, alongside his mother [[Hoelun]], ruled the Mongol heartland in his elder brothers' absence while they engaged in military campaigns.  He appears to have had intellectual leanings, first coming under the influence of the conquered [[Western Xia|Xia]] and [[Jin Dynasty (1115-1234)|Jin]] cultures and then taking an active interest in the other cultures encompassed in the [[Mongol Empire]].<ref>Temuge met a grim fate-after the death of his nephew Ogedei, he tried to seize the throne. Instead, he was arrested and executed by Great Khatun Töregene.</ref>

Temuge attempted to enter the main political arena after the death of [[Ögedei Khan]], his nephew and son of Genghis Khan, in  1241. At that time, Ogedei's son [[Güyük Khan]] was engaged in the "Western campaign" in Russia and Europe. Temuge-otchigin tried to seize the throne, but was prevented by [[Töregene Khatun|Töregene]], Ogedei's widow and Güyük's mother. After the 1246 [[kurultai]] elected Güyük as great khan, Temüge was executed.

==Ancestry==
{{See also|Family tree of Genghis Khan}}

{{Tree chart/start}}
{{Tree chart| HOE |~|~|~|~|~|~|y|~|~|~|~|~|~| YES |YES=[[Yesugei|Yesugei Baghatur]]|HOE=[[Hoelun]]}}
{{Tree chart| | | | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|.|`|-|-|v|-|-|.|}}
{{Tree chart| BOR |y| GEN | | JOC | | KHA | | TEM | | BEL | | BEK |BEL=[[Belgutei]]|BEK=[[Behter]]|JOC=[[Hasar]]|KHA=[[Hachiun]]|TEM=Temüge|GEN=Temüjin '''([[Genghis Khan]])'''|BOR=[[Börte]]|}}
{{Tree chart| |,|-|^|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|.|}}
{{Tree chart| JOC | | | CHA | | | | OGE | | | TOL |||GEL|CHA=[[Chagatai Khan|Chagatai]]|OGE=[[Ögedei Khan|Ögedei]]|JOC=[[Jochi]]|TOL=[[Tolui]]|GEL=Gelejian}}
{{Tree chart/end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Temuge}}
[[Category:Family of Genghis Khan]]
[[Category:Mongol Empire people]]
[[Category:1160s births]]
[[Category:1246 deaths]]
[[Category:People executed by the Mongol Empire]]
[[Category:Borjigin]]


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