Bayan of the Mergid (died 1340) was a Mongol general of the
Mergid clan and official in the Yuan Dynasty. At the turn of the
13th/14th centuries he, together with the Turk El Temür, was a
member of the group around Qaishan. Qaishan was a nephew of
Temür Khan and appointed to defend Mongolia against the Chagatai
Khanate under Kaidu, the grandson of Ögedei. In one battle, he
repelled and chased the Ögedeid army; and was given the title of
Baghatur. After Temür's death, Qaishan was the one who emerged
as the new Yuan emperor, and Bayan was among those who received
official positionas as reward. Later, Bayan was governour of
Henan. Historians describe him as a traditionalist who attempted
to preserve Mongolian culture while he is seen as violent
aristocrat by some. In the conflicts about the succession of
Tugh Temür Khan after 1332, Bayan broke with El Temür and
supported Toghon Temür, who ascended the throne in 1333 (the
same who would lose China in 1368). He was appointed commander
of kheshig, composed of Mongo