Galdan Boshugtu Khan Choros Erdeniin Galdan ( 1644 – 1697 , Mongolian : Галдан Бошигт хаан / Galdan boshigt haan ) was a Dzungar - Oirat Khan of the Dzungar Khanate . He was the fourth son of Erdeni Baatur Hongtaiji , founder of the Zunghar Khanate , thus Galdan is a descendant of Esen taishi . Galdan ' s mother Amin - Dara was a daughter of Güshi Khan , the first Khoshut - Oirat King of Tibet and 4th Wênsa Zhügu . Early years and consolidation of power . As a youth , Galdan was sent to Lhasa to be educated as a lama under the 5th Dalai Lama . He supported his brother Sengge ' s right as Khan of the Zungars against the pretentions of their half - brothers Tseten and Tsodba Batur who challenged Tseten ' s authority since 1657 . With the support of Ochirtu Khan of the Khoshuud , this strife ended with Sengge ' s victory in 1661 . Sengge was murdered in 1671 by Tseten , when Galdan heard the news , he renounced his status as a lama and quickly returned to the Irtysh Valley to avenge his brother ' s death . Galdan was granted the title of Hongtaiji in 1671 by the Dalai Lama . Although , already married Anu - Dara , granddaughter of Ochirtu , he came into conflict with his grandfather - in - law . Fearing of Galdan ' s popularity , Ochirtu supported his uncle and rival Choqur Ubashi who refused to recognize Galdan ' s title . The victory over Ochirtu in 1677 resulted in the establishment of hegemony over the Oirats . In the next year the Dalai Lama gave the highest title of Boshoghtu ( or Boshughtu ) Khan to him , Galdan thus united the entire Oirats in Zungaria and Western Mongolia . Turkestan and the Kazakhs . Naqshbandi Sufi Imams had replaced the Chagatayid Khan s in the early 17th century . They defeated the White Mountain . The exiled ruler Afaq of the White Mountain asked the Dalai Lama for military assistance in 1677 . By the request of the latter , Galdan overthrew the Naqshbandu Black Mountain and installed Afaq as his client ruler there . Galdan decreed that the Turkestanis would be judged by their own law except in cases affecting the Zunghar Empire . The Zunghars kept control over the Tarim Basin until 1757 . In 1680 the Black Kyrgyz raided Moghulistan and occupied Yarkend . The inhabitants of Yarkend appealed to Galdan Khan for help . The Zunghars conquered Kashgar and Yarkend ; and Galdan had its ruler chosen by its inhabitants . Then he invaded the north of Tengeri Mountain in modern Kazakhstan the next year ; he defeated Tauke Khan ' s Kazakhs but failed to take Sayram . He conquered Turfan and Hami the next year . In 1683 Galdan ' s armies under Tsewen Rabtan reached Tashkent and the Syr Darya and crushed two armies of the Kazakhs . After that Galdan subjugated the Black Khirgizs and ravaged the Fergana valley . From 1685 Galdan ' s forces aggressively pushed the Kazakhs . While his general Rabtan took Taraz , and his main force forced the Kazakhs to migrate westwards . In 1687 , he besieged the city of Hazrat - e Turkestan , an important religious pilgrimage center for the Muslim Kazakhs , but could not take it . Rivalry with Khalkha . At first the Khalkhas and Oirats were allies , bound by the provisions of the Mongol - Oirat code . In order to cement this union , Galdan attempted to ally with Zasaghtu Khan Shira who lost part of his subjects to Tushiyetu Khan Chakhundorji , and moved his ordo near the Altai Range . Tushiyetu Khan attacked the right wing of the Khalkhas and killed Shira in 1687 . Galdan dispatched troops under his younger brother Dorji - jav against the Tushiyetu Khan the next year , but they were eventually defeated and Dorji - jav was killed in the ensuing battle . Chakhundorji murdered Degdeehei Mergen Ahai of the Zasaghtu Khan who was on the way to Galdan . The Qing court intervened and called off the Mongolian aristocrats to assemble a conference . To avenge the death of his brother and expand his influence over other Mongol areas , Galdan prepared for a war with Khalkha . Galdan established a friendly relationship with the Russia ns who were at war with Tushiyetu Khan over territories near Lake Baikal in northern Khalkha . Bonded by a common interest in defeating Khalkha , both Galdan and the Russians simultaneously attacked Khalkha and conquered most of the territories of Khalkha . Armed with superior firearms bought from Russians , Galdan attacked the land of the late Zasaghtu Khan , and advanced to the dominion of Chakhundorji . The Russian Cossacks meanwhile attacked and defeated Khalkha ' s contingent of 10 , 000 near Lake Baikal . After two bloody battles with the Zunghars near Erdene Zuu Monastery and Tomor , Chakhundorji and his son Galdandorji fled to the Ongi River . Acting in defiance of contrary orders from the Kangxi Emperor and the 5th Dalai Lama , he entered Khalkha territory in 1688 . The Zunghars occupied the Khalkha homeland , and forced Jibzundamba Zanabazar to flee . The Qing court strengthened its northern border garrisons , and advised the Khalkhas to resist Galdan . After being reinforced by fresh troops , the Tushiyetu Khan Chakhundorji counterattacked the Zunghars , and fought with them near Olgoi Lake on August 3 , 1688 . The Oirats won after a 3 - day battle . Galdan ' s conquest of Khalkha Mongolia made Zanabazar and Chakhundorji submit to the Qing Dynasty in September . War with China . By his victory in 1688 , Galdan had driven the Khalkhas into the arms of the Qing and made himself a military threat to the Manchus . Unfortunately for Galdan , the Kangxi Emperor was unusually vigorous and warlike . While he was fighting in Eastern Mongolia , his nephew Tsewang Rabtan seized the Dzungarian throne in 1689 . After a series of successful battles in the Khangai mountains , at Lake Olgoi and Ulahui river , he approached near the Great Wall . The Khalkha leaders retreated to Inner Mongolia with their troops and the Khalkha territory fell under Galdan ' s rule . The Qing deceived him to arrive near Beijing saying that they needed a treaty , but ambushed him at Ulan Butung ( or Ulan Budan ) , where Galdan ' s troops were seriously defeated by the Khalkha troops supported by the Qing army and Galdan retreated back to Khalkha . Last years . In 1696 Galdan was on the upper Kherlen River east of Ulaanbaatar about 700 km northwest of Beijing . Kangxi ' s plan was to personally lead an army northwest to Galdan while sending a second army north from the Ordos Desert to block his escape . Kangxi reached the Kherlen , found Galdan gone but was forced to turn back due to lack of supplies . On the same day that Kangxi turned back ( June 12 ) Galdan blundered into the western army and was disastrously defeated at Terelj ' s Zuunmod near the upper Tuul River east of Ulaanbaatar . Galdan ' s wife , Anu , was killed and the Manchus captured 20 , 000 cattle and 40 , 000 sheep . Galdan fled with his remaining 40 or 50 men . He gathered a few thousand followers who later deserted due to hunger . In 1697 he was in the Altai Mountains near Khovd with 300 men when he died suddenly under mysterious circumstances ( April 4 , 1697 ) . He was succeeded by Tsewang Rabtan who had revolted against him .