For forty years after the death of its founder it remained united under the authority of a series of grand khans chosen from among his descendants, and then it began to fall to pieces till the various fractions of it became independent khanates.
The situation was critical, for the hard-won domains of the house of Capet seemed likely to fall to pieces during a minority.
Generally speaking, however, each tribe formed a political unit in itself, and the combinations brought together from time to time in the hands of powerful kings were liable to fall to pieces after the first disaster.
While these events were in progress, it seemed not impossibi that the Austrian empire would fall to pieces.
By 1640 the feebleness of the monarchy was so notorious that it began to fall to pieces.
