Kublai Khan (1215-1294), who was also called Emperor Shizu of the Yuan, was the son of Tolui, the youngest son of Genghis Khan. This portrait of Kublai Khan was drawn in ink and colors on silk shortly after his death in 1294 by the artist Araniko (1244–1306). Image public domain via Wikipedia Commons with additional information at the National Palace Museum in Taiwan.
After the death of Tolui, Kublai Khan and his younger brother Ariq Böke fought for the title of Great Khan in the Toluid Civil War (1260–1264). Ariq Böke eventually surrendered, and died in captivity in 1266 of natural causes or perhaps poisoned.
Kaidu (Qaidu) was a member of the Ögedei family. Ögedei was the third son of Ghenghis Khan and older brother to Tolui. The Chaghataid-Ögedeid alliance in Central Asia backed Qaidu (a grandson of Ögedei Khan, great-grandson of Chinghiz (Genghis) Khan) for the Ilkhan throne after the death of Hulagu in 1265. Kublai Khan recognized Hulagu's son Abaqa became the head of the Ilkahante.
This coin was issued during the time of Hulagu and Abaqa.
Islamic, Ilkhans, temp. Hulagu and Abaqa Khan. (643 - 673 H. / 1265 - 1282), AR Dirham (24mm, 2.8g), Tabriz
Rev (left): Within a hexagram, 'Qa'an / al-Adil.' ("The Just Khan")
Obv (right): Shahada within a square; around the outside, mint name and year
Ref: Album 2132
Tabriz is a historic city located in the northwest of present-day Iran. Tabriz is situated in a valley surrounded by mountains, near the border with Azerbaijan and Turkey. Throughout its history, Tabriz has been an important cultural, political, and economic hub. During the Mongol Empire, it served as a major city within the Ilkhanate,a successor states of the Mongol Empire that controlled much of Persia. The city's strategic location on trade routes has contributed to its importance.
Kaidu clashed with Kublai Khan - refusing an invitation to court and withholding his support for Kublai as Great Khan. Kaidu did not accept Kublai Khan as the Great Khan, and started an insurrection in 1269 against Kublai that lasted for decades.
In 1272 Kublai Khan established a new capital, Dadu 大都 ("Great Capital" - modern day Beijing). Karakorum, was left behind and the Xuanwei Army 宣威军 established to fight the rebel mongols in the Lingbei Province, the northern administrative zone that included Karakorum. The stele is from the Mongolian Empire Gallery, National Museum of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar. Photo public domain (CC0 1.0) taken by Gary Todd from Xinzheng, China.
Marco Polo wrote of Kaidu Khan (Qaidu), the Mongol religion and their nomadic way of life as follows:
"It should be known, therefore, that in the northern parts of the world there dwell many Tartars, under a chief of the name of Kaidu, who is of the race of Jengiz−khan, and nearly related to Kublaï, the grand khan. He is not the subject of any other prince. The people observe the usages and manners of their ancestors, and are regarded as genuine Tartars. These Tartars are idolaters, and worship a god whom they call Naagai, that is, the god of earth, because they think and believe that this their god has dominion over the earth, and over all things that are born of it; and to this their false god they make idols and images of felt, as is described in a former book. Their king and his armies do not shut themselves up in castles or strong places, nor even in towns; but at all times remain in the open plains, the valleys, or the woods, with which this region abounds. They have no corn of any kind, but subsist upon flesh and milk, and live amongst each other in perfect harmony; their king, to whom they all pay implicit obedience, having no object dearer to him than that of preserving peace and union amongst his subjects, which is the essential duty of a sovereign. They possess vast herds of horses, cows, sheep, and other domestic animals."
-The Travels of Marco Polo, the Venetian, XLIV of OrmusAn AR Dirham of Kaidu
Today's coin of interest is a 22.5mm, 1.96g Dirhem from the Otrar mint with the tamgha of Qaidu (AH 662-701, 1270-1302 CE) on the obverse. Otrar, aka Farab, was a significant city located in Central Asia, near the Syr Darya River in what is now southern Kazakhstan. It was an important city during the time of the Mongol Empire and the earlier Khwarazmian Empire. This coin was issued AH 677 = 1279 CE.
Islamic, Mongols, Ögedeids (Chaghatayid) Khans, Qaidu Khan, AH 668-700 / AD 1270-1301, AR Dirham (, 2.5mm, 1.96g), Otrar mint, AH 677 = 1279
Obv: المُلک لله / الحمد لله ‘al-mulk lillāh / al-ḥamd lillāh’ (‘The kingdom is Allah’s. Praise be to Allah’ in Arabic); around, ضُرِبَ هذا ببلدة / اُترار / سنة سبع و سبعين و ستمائة ‘ḍuriba hā[dhā bi-baldat] / Utrār / sana khams / wa sab‘īn wa sitta miʾa’ (This was struck in the city of Otrar in the year 677’ in Arabic)
Rev: Tamgha of Qaidu with ornate patterns around; in the margin, citing the ʿAbbasid caliph al-Nasir li-din Allah (AH 575-622 / AD 1180-1225), الامام الأعظم الناصر امیر المؤمنین ‘al-imām al-aʿẓam al-Nāṣir amīr al-muʾminīn’ (The supreme imam al-Nasir, Commander of the Believers’ in Arabic). The legend starts around 1pm and reads counter clock-wise.
Ref: Album 1985 (temp. of Tuqa Timur, circa AH 670-690 / AD 1272-1291).
Album notes: "There are also numerous non-‘Abbasid gold, silver and copper coins bearing only the name of al-Nasir, mainly of Central Asian origin. These were struck by the Mongols and are listed amongst their issues including some “anonymous” types of the Golden Horde and the Chaghatayids. Current theory has shown that some, probably the majority, were struck posthumously, i.e., after 622/1225."Khutulun
Kaidu is also known for the story of his fierce daughter Khutulan (also called variously: Aigiarm, Aigiarne, Aiyurug, Khotol Tsagaan, and Ay Yaruq). According to Marco Polo's account she would only marry a man who could best her in wrestling - and because no one could she won many horses from those who tried. Her name is believed to derive from a Mongolian word "khot," which means "strong."
"You must know, then, that king Kaidu had a daughter named, in the Tartar language, Aigiarm, which means shining moon. This damsel was so strong, that there was no young man in the whole kingdom who could overcome her, but she vanquished them all. Her father the king wished to marry her; but she declined, saying, that she would never take a husband till she met with some gentleman who should conquer her by force, upon which the king, her father, gave her a written promise that she might marry at her own will."
-Marco Polo, Chapter XLIX, p353
Marco Polo tells of her besting a prince whom her father hoped would marry her.
"After this the king took his daughter with him into many battles, and not a cavalier in the host displayed so much valour; and at last the damsel rushed into the midst of the enemy, and seizing upon a horseman, carried him off to her own people."
-Marco Polo, Chapter XLIX, p353She is the character that inspired the opera Turandot by Puccini (the name from a Persian word meaning "Central Asian daughter" - Turandokht توراندخت ). A 2021 movie "The Princess Warrior" or "Princesss Katalun" is another recent retelling of the story of Khutulun, in this movie she is played by Tsedoo Munkhbat.
For an English version of the story of Turandot told by François Pétis de La Croix in Les Mille et un Jours: Contes Persans. Translated by Charles Guérin, 3rd ed., vol. 1-5, Paris, Chez Rollin, 1710-1712.
Conclusion
Kaidu spent most of his reign fighting against Kublai Khan. In 1300, Kaidu had successes against the Yuan army, and organized a large army to attack Karakorum the next year. However, we was wounded in battle and died in 1301 CE near Karakorum.
Khutulun is thought to have been assassinated or died in battle after her father's death circa 1304-1306 CE.
References in addition to those linked inline