Khereid

The Keraits (Mongolian Кэрэйд / Kereid ) was a composite of strains in central Mongolia in the period before the Mongol Empire. They lived in the area between the rivers Orkhon and Cherlen, east of the Naiman.

The Keraits are most often classified as a Turkic people, some sources they gradually but also as a Mongol. Name and title of the ruler suggest that they spoke a Turkic language in the first place. But a coalition of many sub- clans they could influence both directions have united, which complicates an unambiguous assignment.

Nestorianism

The Keraits were converted in the early 10th century the Nestorian Christianity. For more in the 10th and 11th centuries largely or entirely Christianized peoples of the region were the Naiman and Merkits.

A report on the missionary work of the Keraits from the 13th century can be found in the Jacobite Gregorius Bar - Hebraeus. After his legendary information came in the early 11th century a ruler from Keraitischer in the mountains of the way. After he had given up hope, a vision appeared to him and said: "If you want to believe in Christ, then I will guide you so you do not slip away ", after which he returned back safely. When he met shortly thereafter with Christian merchants, he remembered the vision and asked them about their faith. On their recommendation, he sent a message to the Metropolitan of Merv, which sent priests and deacons to baptize him and his tribe. The following mission efforts led to the baptism of 20,000 of his followers.

The legend of Prester John, otherwise based in India or Ethiopia, was temporarily brought in connection with the Nestorian rulers of Keraits. In some versions, the figure of John even explicitly with Toghril Chan is set equal to ( see below).

Subjugation by the Mongols

The keraitischen ruler Toghril was awarded in 1183 from the Jin emperor of the title Wang -chan. Toghril is best known as a kind of godfather of Temüdschin (later Genghis Khan ) and as one of his earliest allies, to Temüdschins faster rise to power they quarreled.

Temüdschin defeated the Keraits 1203, when they were weakened by internal disputes. Toghril tried to escape to the Naiman, but was killed by a naimanischen warriors, who had not recognized him. The remaining Keraits Temüdschin submitted to complete, but from suspicion he distributed them to the other Mongol tribes.

Individual personalities managed nevertheless to influential positions in the Mongol Empire. Thus the Nestorian Keraits Princesses Doquz - Khatun and Sorghaghtani Beki daughters of Genghis Khan were. The latter had four sons, who occasionally officiated as Grand Khans and partly founded their own dynasties. For this next part of Kublai Khan, the first Ilkhan Hulagu, whose first wife was Doquz - Khatun.