Altan Khan of the Khalkha

After the death of Dayan Khan some time after 1517 his empire was split between his descendants and became a kind of family federation of Borjigin Mongols. His grandson, a different Altan Khan (1507–1582) of Tumed Mongols had successful military campaigns against the Oirat Mongols, and the Ming Dynasty of China. Dayan Khan's youngest son, Gersenji Khuntaij, was given Mongol Heartland which is the territory of present-day Mongolia. By the early 17th century most of Mongolia was held by his descendants. These formed four khanates of the Khalkha Mongols, from west to east:

• The Altan Khanate (great-grandson of Gersenji Khuntaij) in the far west.
• Zasagt Khanate of the Khalkha Mongols founded by Laikhor Khan, a cousin of the Altan Khan.
• Tusheet Khanate of the Khalkha Mongols at Örgöö (ᠥᠷᠭᠦᠭᠡ/Өргөө, today Ulaanbaatar) founded by Abtai Sain Khan, another grandson. This was the senior branch.
• Setsen Khanate of the Khalkha Mongols at the eastern part of modern Mongolia, founded by Sholoi Khan, a great-grandson.

The Altan Khan was important circa 1609-1682. The Tusheet Khan, with his control of the religious capital, was long the leading figure in Khalkha.

In the 17th century, to the west, the Oirat Mongol Dzungar Khanate was gradually consolidated in modern-day Xinjiang, and eastern Kazakhstan ; to the north, the Russians increased their hold over the Siberian forests; and, to the east, the Manchus moved south to conquer the Ming dynasty, eventually forming the Qing dynasty.

• Ubasi Khong Tayiji (Shului Ubasha Khong Tayiji) (?-1623) was the first to take the name Altan Khan. Ubasi was killed by the Oirats in 1623 and was succeeded by his son Badma Erdeni Khong Tayiji.
• Badma Erdeni Khong Tayiji (1623-?) his son. In 1652, he abdicated the throne and his son Erinchin Lobsang Tayiji succeeded.
• Erinchin Lobsang Tayiji (or Lobdzang or Rinchen Sayin Khong Tayiji) (ca.1658-91): In 1662 he attacked, captured and put to death his eastern neighbor, the Dzasagtu Khan. This led the senior Tushetu Khan (Chaghun Dorji) to form a league and drive out the Altan-khan. With the help of the Dzungar and Qing (divide and conquer), he was able to reinstate himself, but in 1682 he was captured by the Dzasagtu Khan. In 1691 he, and his khanate, disappeared from the records.

René Grousset, 'The Empire of the Steppes, 1970