MÄNGÜ KHAN. - Emperor of the Tartars from 1251 to 1256. After the death of Güyük in 1248, the Tartar princes elected M. great khan (hān) in 1521; he continued the traditions of his ancestor Genghiz Khan.
Aided by his brothers Qubilaj and Hülāgh, he extended the Tartar Empire, through bloody wars, into the interior of China and Persia. He was tolerant toward the various religions within his Empire. On 27 Dec. 1253 he received in audience the Franciscan Guglielmo di Rubruk, allowing him to remain for some time at court. In July 1254 Rubruk set out on the return journey. M. died in 1256, having designated his younger brother Arik Buga as his successor. His elder brother Qubilaj rebelled against the latter and had himself elected great khan of the Tartars in 1260.