Toghto
Directed the compilation of the Histories of Song, Liao and Jin and the taming of the Yellow River, and was dismissed in the field during the siege of Gaoyou.
Life
Put duty above kinship
Toghto was the nephew of the powerful Yuan minister Bayan. In 1340 he conspired with Emperor Shun of Yuan to oust his overbearing uncle, then became Right Chancellor of the Secretariat, restoring the civil service examinations and reforming the government, a period known as "Toghto's reforms."
The three histories and river control
He directed the compilation of the History of Song, the History of Liao and the History of Jin, completing all three official histories in little more than two years. In 1351 he appointed Jia Lu to tame the Yellow River, mobilizing more than 100,000 laborers to close the breach in the dikes, but this also sparked the Red Turban Rebellion.
Gaoyou reversal
In 1354 he personally led a great army to besiege Zhang Shicheng, who held Gaoyou. Just as the city was about to fall, slander at court got him dismissed in the field, and his army disintegrated. In 1356 he was poisoned in exile.
Legacy
Toghto was the most capable chancellor of the late Yuan; he was dismissed outside the walls of Gaoyou, and the Yuan dynasty lost its last chance to crush the uprisings.
Major works & achievements
- Oversaw the compilation of the History of Song, History of Liao and History of Jin
- Taming the Yellow River
Did you know? The History of Liao and History of Song cited on this site were both compiled under his direction.
Key dates
- 1340Ousted his uncle Bayan and became chancellor
- 1343Directed the compilation of the Histories of Song, Liao and Jin
- 1351Taming the Yellow River
- 1354Besieged Gaoyou; dismissed in the field
- 1356Poisoned