History is full of dramatic power struggles, but few are as intricate, bloody, and politically charged as the 1307 succession crisis of the Yuan Dynasty—known to historians as the Chengwu Succession Crisis (成武授受之变). This was not just a mere palace coup; it was a showdown between factions that had been at odds for years, culminating in a battle not only for the throne but for the soul of the empire itself.

An Emperor Who Forgot His Ministers

The seeds of this conflict were planted long before 1307. Emperor Chengzong of Yuan (Temür Khan) was widely seen as a “caretaker” ruler rather than a proactive leader. His style of governance was best summed up in an anecdote from 1299: frustrated by delays in government affairs, he scolded his ministers, saying, “You have delayed matters too often. Until now, I didn’t even know who you were.” That’s right—after years in power, he still hadn’t learned the names of his top officials.

Under his rule, two factions emerged. On one side was the Central Secretariat (中书省), led by figures like Bayan and Liang Dekui, who focused on economic reform and financial discipline. On the other side was the Censorate (御史台), led by a coalition of officials who opposed the financial policies and sought to curb the Secretariat’s influence. Their feud—known as the “Province vs. Censorate Struggle” (省台之争)—escalated into political purges, bribery scandals, and ultimately, open conflict.

Power Behind the Throne: A Tale of Two Women

If you think imperial power struggles were just about emperors and generals, think again. The 1307 crisis had two powerful women at its core: Empress Buluhan and Empress Dowager Dagi.

Buluhan was the wife of Chengzong and held significant influence in court affairs, particularly during her husband’s later years when he was frequently ill. She was ambitious, politically savvy, and determined to secure power for her faction. Dagi, on the other hand, was the widow of Chengzong’s uncle Darmabala and the mother of two princes: Ayurbarwada (the future Renzong) and Khayishan (the future Wuzong).

When Chengzong died in early 1307 without a clear heir, Buluhan saw her chance. She backed a relatively weak prince, Ananda, the son of another branch of the royal family. Ananda, however, had little real political support and was rumored to be a devout Muslim—something that later historians exaggerated as a key issue in the crisis.

Meanwhile, Dagi and her sons had a much stronger claim. The elder, Khayishan, commanded Mongol armies in the north, while the younger, Ayurbarwada, was stationed in the south. Recognizing the threat, Buluhan and her allies moved quickly, trying to secure the throne for Ananda before the rival faction could react.

A Coup in the Capital

Unfortunately for Buluhan, she underestimated her enemies. High-ranking officials, led by the Censorate’s leader Harakhasun, refused to recognize Ananda. Instead, they locked down the imperial palace, seized government seals, and essentially froze Buluhan’s administration. Before she could mount a counterattack, Ayurbarwada and his supporters stormed the capital and executed Ananda and his allies.

Buluhan was exiled and later executed, ending her brief grasp on power. The throne ultimately went to Khayishan (Wuzong), but only after an agreement that he would pass it to his younger brother Ayurbarwada—an unusual and risky “brother-to-brother” succession arrangement that would bring even more political instability in the years to come.

What If History Had Gone Differently?

One of the most debated aspects of this crisis is whether Ananda’s rise could have led to the “Islamization” of China, as some later writers claimed. However, there is little solid evidence to suggest that he was a devout Muslim or that he intended to shift the empire’s religious policies. The idea that his downfall “saved China from Islam” is more myth than fact.

On the other hand, the long-term consequences of this coup were profound. While it temporarily stabilized the Yuan court, it also set a precedent for violent power struggles that would plague later Yuan rulers. The “brother-to-brother” succession arrangement, while meant to ensure stability, eventually led to another crisis just a decade later when the younger brother (Renzong) purged Wuzong’s supporters.

A Game of Thrones, Yuan Dynasty Style

The 1307 succession crisis was more than just a palace intrigue; it was a clash of political ideologies, economic policies, and personal ambitions. It was a battle between bureaucrats and warlords, reformers and conservatives, and most intriguingly, between two powerful women pulling the strings behind the scenes.

Though the Yuan Dynasty would last for another 60 years, the instability created by this and subsequent power struggles weakened Mongol rule in China, paving the way for its eventual collapse in 1368.

In the end, the Chengwu Succession Crisis is a reminder that history is not just about kings and conquests—it’s about the messy, complicated, and often bloody human dramas that shape the fate of nations.

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