Overview
Esen was an Oirat Leader.
IdentityHistorical · Male
Life and dates
Attested activity
Places and affiliations
Oirat 瓦剌
Relation Ruled
- Polity Oirats 瓦剌 · Relation Led
Events and relationships
Began to consider returning captive emperor and sent envoys
Diplomatic · Actor
Campaigned against Ming; later negotiated return of Yingzong
Military · Commander
Invaded and attacked Beijing
AD 1449 明年秋 · Military · Invader
Invaded with internal collaborators among near capital surrendered settlers
AD 1449 to AD 1450 也先入寇 · Military · Invader
Invasion followed oversized tribute missions
AD 1448 正統十三年 · Military · Invader
Led crisis invasion
AD 1449 也先之變 · Military · Invader
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References in the histories
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History of Ming, Chapter 169Volume 169 Biographies 57: Gao Gu, Hu Ying, Wang Zhi · 11 passages
楊善使也先，濙言上皇蒙塵久，宜附進服食，不報。
When Yang Shan went on embassy to the Oirats, Hu Ying urged that supplies be sent to the captive emperor, who had long suffered in the north, but the court did not reply.
帝將親征也先，直率廷臣力諫曰：「國家備邊最為謹嚴。
When the emperor was about to take the field against Esen personally, Wang Zhi led the ministers in strong remonstrance: "The empire guards its frontiers with the utmost care.
景泰元年，也先使使議和，且請還上皇，下禮部議未決。
In Jingtai one Esen sent envoys to discuss peace and ask for the retired emperor's return; the ministry of rites debated without decision.
乃者天誘其衷，也先有悔心之萌，而來求成於我，請還乘輿，此轉禍為福之機也。
Now Heaven has moved their hearts: Esen shows repentance and seeks peace, asking to return the imperial carriage — a chance to turn disaster into blessing.
既行，而瓦剌可汗脫脫不花及也先使先後至，將遣歸。
After they had gone, the Oirat khan Totoq Buqa and Esen's envoys arrived in succession, ready to send the emperor back.
比實還，又以也先使至，具言也先欲和狀。
When Li Shi returned, Esen's envoy had come again, stating Esen's wish for peace in full.
而奉迎車駕，也先意也。
but escorting the imperial carriage home was Esen's intent.
今也先使以迎請為辭，乃不遣使與偕，是疑敵而召兵也。」
Now Esen's envoy comes to welcome the emperor, yet no envoy goes with him — this doubts the enemy and invites war."
帝第報也先書，就令楊善迎歸而已。
The emperor only wrote Esen and ordered Yang Shan to bring the emperor home — nothing more.
二年，也先遣使入貢，且請答使。
In the second year Esen sent envoys with tribute and also asked for return envoys.
無何，也先遣騎入塞，以報使為辭。
Soon Esen sent cavalry across the border on the pretext of escorting return envoys.
History of Ming, Chapter 170Volume 170 Biographies 58: Yu Qian · 15 passages
明年秋，也先大入寇，王振挾帝親征。
The following autumn Esen invaded in force, and Wang Zhen pressed the emperor to lead the campaign himself.
而也先挾上皇破紫荊關直入，窺京師。
Esen, holding the captive emperor, broke through Zijing Pass and pressed toward the capital.
亟分遣諸將，率師二十二萬，列陣九門外：都督陶瑾安定門，廣寧伯劉安東直門，武進伯硃瑛朝陽門，都督劉聚西直門，鎮遠侯顧興祖阜成門，都指揮李端正陽門，都督劉得新崇文門，都指揮湯節宣武門，而謙自與石亨率副總兵范廣、武興陳德勝門外，當也先。
He immediately sent out his generals with two hundred twenty thousand men, drawing up battle lines outside the nine gates: Tao Jin at Anding, Liu An at Dongzhi, Zhu Ying at Chaoyang, Liu Ju at Xizhi, Gu Xingzu at Fucheng, Li Duan at Zhengyang, Liu Dexin at Chongwen, Tang Jie at Xuanwu—while Qian himself, with Shi Heng, led Vice Commanders Fan Guang and Wu Xing, arrayed outside Desheng Gate to meet Esen head-on.
初，也先深入，視京城可旦夕下。
At first Esen had driven deep inland, expecting to take the capital within a day.
帝不許，也先氣益沮。
The emperor refused, and Esen's ardor cooled further.
也先弟孛羅、平章卯那孩中砲死。
Esen's brother Boluo and the pingzhang Onahai were killed by cannon fire.
相持五日，也先邀請既不應，戰又不利，知終弗可得志，又聞勤王師且至，恐斷其歸路，遂擁上皇由良鄉西去。
After five days of stalemate, Esen's invitations went unanswered and his battles went ill; seeing he could not prevail, and hearing relief armies were near—fearing his retreat would be cut—he led the captive emperor west from Liangxiang.
謙曰：「前遣指揮季鐸、嶽謙往，而也先隨入寇。
Qian said, "We once sent Commanders Ji Duo and Yue Qian—and Esen invaded right behind them.
初，也先多所要脅，皆以喜寧為謀主。
At first Esen's endless demands and threats all traced to Xi Ning as mastermind.
也先始有歸上皇意，遣使通款，京師稍解嚴。
Esen began to consider returning the captive emperor, sent envoys to negotiate, and the capital eased its alert.
也先見中國無釁，滋欲乞和，使者頻至，請歸上皇。
Esen, finding no weakness in China, grew eager for peace; envoys came again and again asking for the emperor's return.
也先入寇，多為內應。
When Esen invaded, many acted as collaborators within.
謙以上皇雖還，國恥未雪，會也先與脫脫不花構，請乘間大發兵，身往討之，以復前仇，除邊患。
Though the emperor had returned, national humiliation remained unavenged; when Esen fell out with Togto, Qian urged a major campaign to wipe out the old score and end the border threat.
謙之為兵部也，也先勢方張；
While Qian held the Ministry of War, Esen's power was at its height;
謙自值也先之變，誓不與賊俱生。
From the day of Esen's invasion Qian swore he would not live while the enemy survived.