MONGOLS, the name of one of the chief ethnographical divisions of the Asiatic peoples (see also TURKS). The early history of the Mongols, like that of all central-Asian tribes, is extremely obscure. Even the meaning of the name "Mongol" is a disputed point, though a general consent is now given to Schott's etymology of the word from mong, meaning brave. From the earliest and very scanty notice we have of the Mongols in the his tory of the Tang dynasty of China (A.D. 619-69o), and in works of later times, it appears that their original camping-grounds were along the courses of the Kerulen, Upper Nonni and Argun rivers. But in the absence of all historical particulars of their origin, legend, as is usual, has been busy with their early years. The Mongol historian, Sanang Setsen, gives currency to the myth that they sprang from a blue wolf ; and the soberest story on record is that their ancestor Budantsar was miraculously conceived of a Mongol widow. By craft and violence Budantsar gained the chieftainship over a tribe living in the neighbourhood of his mother's tent, and thus left a heritage to his son. Varying f or tunes attended the descendants of Budantsar, but on the whole their power gradually increased, until Yesukai, the father of Jenghiz Khan, who was eighth in descent from Budantsar, made his authority felt over a considerable area. For the extension of Mongol dominion under his son see JENGHIZ KHAN.
set himself vigorously to follow up the conquests won by his father. At the head of a large army he marched southwards into China to complete the ruin of the Kin dynasty, which had already been so rudely shaken, while at the same time Tule advanced into the province of Honan from the side of Shensi. Against this com bined attack the Kin troops made a vigorous stand, but the skill and courage of the Mongols bore down every opposition, and over a hecatomb of slaughtered foes they captured Kai-feng Fu, the capital of their enemies. From Kai-feng Fu the emperor fled to Ju-ning Fu, whither the Mongols quickly followed. After sus taining a siege for some weeks, and enduring all the horrors of starvation, the garrison submitted to the Mongols, and at the same time the emperor committed suicide by hanging. Thus fell in 2234 the Kin or "golden" dynasty, which had ruled over the northern portion of China for more than a century.
His first essay in extending the empire in the fertile provinces of China meeting with such success, Ogdai remembered the obligation laid upon him by his father's conquests in Western Asia. Jelal ed-din had been driven into India when Jenghiz annexed Khwar izm, but he had returned with the support of the sultan of Delhi, reconquered his own domain and advanced westward to Tiflis and Kelat. Ogdai sent 300,00o men into Khwarizm ; they marched so rapidly upon the foe that the advance-guards reached Amid ( Jelal-ed-din's retreat) before that monarch had any idea of their approach. Accompanied by a few followers, Jelal-ed-din fled to the Kurdish mountains, where he was basely murdered by a peasant. The primary object of the Mongol invasion was thus accomplished ; and, unchecked and almost unopposed, they over ran the districts of Diarbekr, Mesopotamia, Erbil and Kelat, and then advanced upon Azerbaijan. In the following year (1236) they invaded Georgia and Great Armenia, committing frightful atrocities. Tiflis was among the cities captured by assault, and Kars was surrendered at their approach. Meanwhile in 1235, Ogdai despatched three armies in as many directions. One was directed against Korea, one against the Sung dynasty, which ruled over the provinces of China south of the Yangtsze Kiang, and the third was sent westward under Batu into eastern Europe.