Historic Conditions of Mongolia’s Loss of Independence in 17-18th Сenturies

Abstract

The article focuses on studying the Mongol-Manchu’s struggle which resulted in loss of independence of Mongols. There are some main factors in the process of the conquest of Mongolia. The first one is political and feudal disruption of Mongols. Since the 14th century they had been divided into several rival groups and khanates. The most powerful among them were the Chahar khanate in Southern Mongolia, the Dzungar khanate in Western Mongolia and three Khalkh khanates in Northern Mongolia. All of them claimed the great khan’s throne and their constant rivalry eventually led to the mutual weakening. Meanwhile on the territories to the east of Mongolia the neighboring Jurchen tribes were united by Nurkhaci, a charismatic chieftain, under the name of Manchu. The consolidated Manchu state successively conquered the Mongols by means of military force, matrimonial relations and bribes. The first Mongols to ally the Manchus were the Khorchin, next the Chahars were subdued, then the Khalkh nobility pledged allegiance to the Manchu Emperor Kangxi in 1691. Finally in the middle of the 18th century the Dzungars were broken down by the Manchu and became a part of the Qing Empire.