Empire for two years. The Mongol nobles accepted this partly because of the tradition that the youngest son inherits his father's properties, and partly because Tolui had the largest and most powerful army in central Mongolia at the time. Tolui supported the choice of the next Khagan by election, and Ögedei was chosen, fulfilling his father's wishes. Tolui campaigned with Ögedei in north China, serving as strategist and field commander in 1231–32. Two armies had been dispatched to besiege Kaifeng, the capital of the Jin. After most of the Jin's defences were breached, they returned north. Death According to The Secret History of the Mongols, Tolui sacrificed himself in order to cure Ögödei from a very severe illness during a campaign in China. The shamans had determined that the root of Ögödei's illness were China's spirits of earth and water, who were upset that their subjects had been driven away and their land devastated. Offering land, animals, and people had only led to an aggravation of Ögödei's illness, but when they offered to sacrifice a family member, Ögödei got better immediately. Tolui volunteered and died directly after consuming a cursed drink. However, Ata-Malik Juvayni says he died from alcoholism. Wives, concubines, and children Sorghaghtani Beki — daughter of Jakha Gambhu, the younger brother of the powerful Keraite leader Toghrul Möngke Khan: Great Khan (1251–1259) of the Mongol Empire. Kublai Khan: Great Khan (1260–1294) of the Mongol Empire and the Yuan dynasty Hulagu Khan: Khan (1256–1264) of the Ilkhanate dynasty that ruled Persia, Turkey, Georgia and Armenia. Ariq Böke: Declared Great Khan (rivalling Kublai) for a short period in 1260; he fought Kublai in the Toluid Civil War and would eventually be captured by Kublai in 1264. Lingqun khatun — daughter of Naiman khan and Qara-Khitai ruler Kuchlug Qutuqtu — killed in battle against general Meng Yu (孟珙) during Mongol conquest of Song China Kelmish agha — married to Saljidai Küregen of Khongirad Oljai Khatun — married to Mengu-Timur El-Temür — married to Bars Buqa, grandson of Qutuqa Beki Saruq Khatun — nurse of Kublai, concubine from Naimans Jörike — married Bulga, granddaughter of Anchen of Khongirads, died in youth. Möge — died during Mongol conquest of Song China Chingtüm Ebügen Mayiche — a concubine from Naimans Böchök — participated in Mongol invasion of Europe in 1236–41 and Möngke's election in 1250 Nayan Khatun Doquz Khatun —granddaughter of Keraite khan Toghrul,