Bayan of the Baarin

Bayan of the Baarin , also known as "Bayan chingsang" or, to Marco Polo, as "Bayan Hundred Eyes", served as a general. He commanded the army of Kublai Khan against the Song Dynasty of China, ushering in the Song collapse and the conquest by the Yuan Dynasty of .

Background

Born a grandnephew of Nayagha, a general under Genghis Khan, Bayan came from the Baarin tribe. Nayagha, together with Bayan's grandfather Alagh and Alagh's and Nayagha's father Shirgügetü Ebügen, appear in the ''Secret History of the Mongols''.
However, at least one well-respected scholar presents Bayan as a whose family had long served the Great Khans.

Early career

While Bayan served in Persia with Hulegu's army, Kublai Khan recalled him. His father died during the Mongol siege of the stronghold of the . Kublai liked him, but he did not hold commanding rank in the Yuan army. After the success of the Battle of Xiangyang in 1273, Kublai appointed Bayan as the commander of the Yuan army., the Golden Horde court released Nomukhan and sent him to Yuan Dynasty. Rashi ad-Din wrote that released Nomukhan and expressed his willingness to submit to Kublai. But some historians think that Mongketemur released the prince after 10 years hostage in Crimea.

Kublai recalled Bayan when Nai-yan reportedly planned rebellion in the areas between the Onon and Kerulen rivers of Mongolia. Bayan went to meet Nao-yan and failed to persuade Nai-yan. Bayan fled back to the Mongol capital. A Mongol minister recommended to Kublai that pacifying the khanates in the west would lead Nayan to submit. Kublai therefore ordered this minister to go west: and he claimed that Nai-yan had already submitted to Kublai. Hence the khanates all succumbed to Khubilai. After that, Khubilai led an army northward against Nai-yan. Seeing that his Mongol soldiers fraternized with the Nai-yan soldiers, Khubilai adopted the advice of a Chinese in having the Chinese army act as the forerunner column. General Li Ting tricked Nai-yan into a retreat and then defeated Nai-yan's army of 100,000 in a night attack with cannons. Nai-yan was captured and executed. The battle was later reported by Marco Polo to Europe.

A remnant of Nai-yan's people then fled to Manchuria and attacked eastern Liaoning Province. The Liaodong Xuanweishi of the Yuan, Ta-chu , asked for aid, and Kublai sent his son over. Ta-chu defeated the Nai-yan remnants under Khadan and chased them westward to the . Ta-chu won the title of ''wan hu''. Nai-yan remnants, however, still remained for some time.

Bayan received orders to counter Kaidu, who harassed in the west; and Prince had the duty of guarding the Liao River area in the east. When a Mongol official defected to Kaidu and attacked Kublai's grandson Kamala near Hang'aishan Mountain, Kublai would lead a column to the north. Kaidu retreated thereafter. Bayan would continue warfare with Kaidu for some time before he left the post at Helin. Unfortunately, some ministers accused him of Kaidu's desertion. He was sent to China far away from Mongolia for a while. Temur was appointed a governor in Karakorum and Bayan became a minister.

Later life

Bayan met and swore loyalty to Kublai Khan before the latter's death in 1294. With the support of minister Bayan Kublai's grandson Timur became Kublai's successor, the Emperor Chengzong after the Yuan court went through a power vacuum for a few months. Bayan died the following year.