Sorghaghtani Beki
Encyclopedia
Sorghaghtani Beki or Bekhi (Bek(h)i is a title), also written Sorkaktani, Sorkhokhtani, Sorkhogtani, Siyurkuktiti; (Posthumous name: ) (c. 1198 – 1252), a Kereyid princess of the Nestorian Christian faith and daughter-in-law of Temüjin (later known as Genghis Khan
), was one of the most powerful and competent women in the Mongol Empire
. Married to Tolui
, Genghis' youngest son, she raised her sons to be leaders, and maneuvered the family politics so that all four of her sons, Mongke Khan
, Hulagu Khan
, Ariq Böke
, and Kublai Khan
, were to inherit the legacy of their grandfather. As a moving spirit behind the Mongol Empire
, Sorghaghtani is responsible for much of the trade openings and intellectual exchange made possible by this, the largest contiguous empire in world history. As such, she may count among the most influential women in world history.
(a.k.a. Wang Khan). According to The Secret History of the Mongols
, around 1203, when Toghrul was a more powerful leader than Temüjin, Temüjin proposed to Toghrul that Temujin's eldest son Jochi
might marry Toghrul's daughter or granddaughter, thus binding the two groups. However, Toghrul refused this alliance, and later attempted to kill the increasingly powerful Temüjin through an invitation to discuss this proposal. However, Temüjin discovered this plan and they escaped at the last moment. Eventually, the Kereyids were routed in the ensuing war and Toghrul was killed, possibly by the Naimans. Unlike his brother, Jakha usually supported Temüjin and gave his two daughters to him. Genghis married the elder of the daughters (later handed over to another general), and gave young Sorghaghtani, who was still a teenager, to his son Tolui
.
Sorghaghtani's father Jakha was probably killed when the Kereyids revolted against Genghis Khan in 1204. Like most Mongol women of the time, Sorghaghtani wielded great authority at home. Women had far more rights in Mongolia than in China, Europe, or other cultures at the time, especially since the men were often away and they were the ones responsible for the home. Although she herself was illiterate, she recognized the value of literacy in running such a far-flung empire. Each of her sons learned a different language for different regions. Also, Sorghaghtani, though a Nestorian Christian, respected other religions. Her sons, like Genghis, were all very liberal minded in matters of religion, and the Mongol empire promulgated the notion of state above religion, while supporting all major religions of the time. She also financed the construction of a madrasa in Bukhara
and gave alms to both Christians and Muslims.
Her husband Tolui, whose appanage
s included eastern Mongolia, parts of Iran
and Northern China
, died at the age of 40 in 1232, and Ogedei gave her enduring authority to handle with Tolui's estates. The Secret History suggests that Great Khan Ogedei may have consulted Sorghaghtani on various matters, and he always held her in high regard.
Ogodei sought to link her realm to his and proposed that she marry his son Güyük
(widows often married again within the family among Mongols), but she refused, claiming that her four sons needed her attention. This decision later turned out to be one of the most important ones in the formation of the Mongol Empire, as all four of Sorghatani's sons, grandsons of Genghis, became leaders in their own right. When Sorghaghtani asked for part of Hebei
province as her appanage in 1236, Ogedei hesitated, but not for long, after the end of the Mongol-Jin War. She shuned him into compliance by pointing out that the place was hers by right anyway, because her husband had conquered it. However, Ogedei expanded his personal appanage, seizing some territories of Tolui and took most of soldiers of Sorghaghtani.
After Ogedei Khan's death in 1241, his wife Töregene Khatun
ruled as regent until 1246, when she managed to get her son Güyük
elected as the Great Khan at a large kurultai
(Mongol congress). However, he immediately set out to undermine his mother's power, as well as that of Sorghaghtani, Alaqai Beki (the Ongut ruler and daughter of Genghis Khan) and Ebuskun
(the wife of Chaghatai Khan, regent for the Central Asia
n Empire).
Meanwhile, ambitious Sorghaghtani had secretly teamed up with Güyük's cousin Batu Khan
, the senior male in the Borjigin
and ruler of the Golden Horde
(north of Caspian Sea to Bulgaria
). In 1248, when Güyük
was setting out on a campaign to the Middle East (ostensibly for conquest, but possibly to defeat Batu Khan), he died under somewhat suspicious circumstances; some have speculated that Sorghaghtani may have taken "direct action against Güyük".
After Güyük's death, Sorghaghtani sent her eldest son Mongke to Batu Khan. Batu and Sorghaghtani championed the name of Möngke, who had fought along with Batu in the European campaign, as Khagan. Möngke was named Great Khan at a kurultai organized by Batu in Siberia some time before 1250, but this was contested as not being properly in Mongolia. However, the ancient Mongol homeland where Genghis was born was in her regency, so she organized a kurultai here which was attended by Batu's brother Berke
. Möngke was formally named the Great Khan. The Ogedei and Güyük families attempted to overthrow him, but failed. Möngke arrested and drowned Güyük's widow Oghul Ghaimish, and many other members of Ogedei's family.
Sorghaghtani fell ill and died in February or March 1252 around the Mongol New Year festival, a few months after Möngke's accession ceremony. She was buried in a Christian church in Gansu
.
in 1335, and sacrifices were ordered to be offered here. By 1480 a cult had been conducted for her memory at the ordo
that was kept by the Chahar (Mongols). This ordo moved to Ordos
(in modern Inner Mongolia
) in the 17th century.
She is spoken of very highly both in the Secret History, as well as by
Muslim
, Chinese
and Christian
historians.
leader Wang Khan "Toghrul"
. To Europeans, Toghrul was one of the distant Eastern rulers who was sometimes associated with the legend of "Prester John
". During Mongol-European diplomacy, the Mongols sometimes played upon this perception by the Europeans, describing Mongol princesses such as Sorghaghtani and Doquz Khatun
as being "daughters of Prester John".
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan , born Temujin and occasionally known by his temple name Taizu , was the founder and Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death....
), was one of the most powerful and competent women in the Mongol Empire
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
. Married to Tolui
Tolui
Tolui, was the youngest son of Genghis Khan by his chief khatun Börte...
, Genghis' youngest son, she raised her sons to be leaders, and maneuvered the family politics so that all four of her sons, Mongke Khan
Möngke Khan
Möngke Khan , born Möngke, , was the fourth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from July 1, 1251 – August 11, 1259. He was the first Great Khan from the Toluid line, and made significant reforms to improve the administration of the Empire during his reign...
, Hulagu Khan
Hulagu Khan
Hulagu Khan, also known as Hülegü, Hulegu , was a Mongol ruler who conquered much of Southwest Asia...
, Ariq Böke
Ariq Boke
Ariq Böke , the components of his name also spelled Arigh, Arik, Bukha, Buka , was the youngest son of Tolui , a son of Genghis Khan. After the death of his brother the Great Khan Mongke, Ariq Boke briefly took power while his brothers Kublai and Hulagu were absent...
, and Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan
Kublai Khan , born Kublai and also known by the temple name Shizu , was the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from 1260 to 1294 and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China...
, were to inherit the legacy of their grandfather. As a moving spirit behind the Mongol Empire
Mongol Empire
The Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
, Sorghaghtani is responsible for much of the trade openings and intellectual exchange made possible by this, the largest contiguous empire in world history. As such, she may count among the most influential women in world history.
Life
Sorghaghtani was the daughter of Jakha Gambhu, the younger brother of the powerful Kereyid leader ToghrulWang Khan
Wang Khan, also Ong Khan, was the title given to the Kerait ruler Toghrul by the Jurchen Jin Dynasty of China. Like the rest of their tribe he may have been Nestorian Christian...
(a.k.a. Wang Khan). According to The Secret History of the Mongols
The Secret History of the Mongols
The Secret History of the Mongols is the oldest surviving Mongolian-language literary work...
, around 1203, when Toghrul was a more powerful leader than Temüjin, Temüjin proposed to Toghrul that Temujin's eldest son Jochi
Jochi
Jochi was the eldest of the Mongol chieftain Genghis Khan's four sons by his principal wife Börte. An accomplished military leader, he participated in his father's conquest of Central Asia, along with his brothers and uncles.-Early life:...
might marry Toghrul's daughter or granddaughter, thus binding the two groups. However, Toghrul refused this alliance, and later attempted to kill the increasingly powerful Temüjin through an invitation to discuss this proposal. However, Temüjin discovered this plan and they escaped at the last moment. Eventually, the Kereyids were routed in the ensuing war and Toghrul was killed, possibly by the Naimans. Unlike his brother, Jakha usually supported Temüjin and gave his two daughters to him. Genghis married the elder of the daughters (later handed over to another general), and gave young Sorghaghtani, who was still a teenager, to his son Tolui
Tolui
Tolui, was the youngest son of Genghis Khan by his chief khatun Börte...
.
Sorghaghtani's father Jakha was probably killed when the Kereyids revolted against Genghis Khan in 1204. Like most Mongol women of the time, Sorghaghtani wielded great authority at home. Women had far more rights in Mongolia than in China, Europe, or other cultures at the time, especially since the men were often away and they were the ones responsible for the home. Although she herself was illiterate, she recognized the value of literacy in running such a far-flung empire. Each of her sons learned a different language for different regions. Also, Sorghaghtani, though a Nestorian Christian, respected other religions. Her sons, like Genghis, were all very liberal minded in matters of religion, and the Mongol empire promulgated the notion of state above religion, while supporting all major religions of the time. She also financed the construction of a madrasa in Bukhara
Bukhara
Bukhara , from the Soghdian βuxārak , is the capital of the Bukhara Province of Uzbekistan. The nation's fifth-largest city, it has a population of 263,400 . The region around Bukhara has been inhabited for at least five millennia, and the city has existed for half that time...
and gave alms to both Christians and Muslims.
Her husband Tolui, whose appanage
Appanage
An apanage or appanage or is the grant of an estate, titles, offices, or other things of value to the younger male children of a sovereign, who would otherwise have no inheritance under the system of primogeniture...
s included eastern Mongolia, parts of Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
and Northern China
North China
thumb|250px|Northern [[People's Republic of China]] region.Northern China or North China is a geographical region of China. The heartland of North China is the North China Plain....
, died at the age of 40 in 1232, and Ogedei gave her enduring authority to handle with Tolui's estates. The Secret History suggests that Great Khan Ogedei may have consulted Sorghaghtani on various matters, and he always held her in high regard.
Ogodei sought to link her realm to his and proposed that she marry his son Güyük
Guyuk
Guyuk may refer to:*Guyuk, Nigeria, a town*Uğurtaş, a town in Turkey, formerly called Güyük*Güyük Khan , the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire...
(widows often married again within the family among Mongols), but she refused, claiming that her four sons needed her attention. This decision later turned out to be one of the most important ones in the formation of the Mongol Empire, as all four of Sorghatani's sons, grandsons of Genghis, became leaders in their own right. When Sorghaghtani asked for part of Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
province as her appanage in 1236, Ogedei hesitated, but not for long, after the end of the Mongol-Jin War. She shuned him into compliance by pointing out that the place was hers by right anyway, because her husband had conquered it. However, Ogedei expanded his personal appanage, seizing some territories of Tolui and took most of soldiers of Sorghaghtani.
After Ogedei Khan's death in 1241, his wife Töregene Khatun
Töregene Khatun
Töregene Khatun was the Great Khatun and regent of the Mongol Empire from the death of her husband Ögedei Khan in 1241 until the election of her eldest son Güyük Khan in 1246.-Background:...
ruled as regent until 1246, when she managed to get her son Güyük
Guyuk
Guyuk may refer to:*Guyuk, Nigeria, a town*Uğurtaş, a town in Turkey, formerly called Güyük*Güyük Khan , the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire...
elected as the Great Khan at a large kurultai
Kurultai
Kurultai is a political and military council of ancient Mongol and Turkic chiefs and khans. The root of the word "Khural" means political "meeting" or "assembly" in the Mongolian language, it is also a verb for "to be established"...
(Mongol congress). However, he immediately set out to undermine his mother's power, as well as that of Sorghaghtani, Alaqai Beki (the Ongut ruler and daughter of Genghis Khan) and Ebuskun
Ebuskun
Ebuskun served as regent for the Central Asian Mongol Empire from 1242 until 1246 for the minor Qara Hülëgü. She lost power when Güyük Khan replaced Qara Hülëgü with Möngke Khan....
(the wife of Chaghatai Khan, regent for the Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
n Empire).
Meanwhile, ambitious Sorghaghtani had secretly teamed up with Güyük's cousin Batu Khan
Batu Khan
Batu Khan was a Mongol ruler and founder of the Ulus of Jochi , the sub-khanate of the Mongol Empire. Batu was a son of Jochi and grandson of Genghis Khan. His ulus was the chief state of the Golden Horde , which ruled Rus and the Caucasus for around 250 years, after also destroying the armies...
, the senior male in the Borjigin
Borjigin
Borjigin , also known as the Altan urug , were the imperial clan of Genghis Khan and his successors....
and ruler of the Golden Horde
Golden Horde
The Golden Horde was a Mongol and later Turkicized khanate that formed the north-western sector of the Mongol Empire...
(north of Caspian Sea to Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
). In 1248, when Güyük
Guyuk
Guyuk may refer to:*Guyuk, Nigeria, a town*Uğurtaş, a town in Turkey, formerly called Güyük*Güyük Khan , the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire...
was setting out on a campaign to the Middle East (ostensibly for conquest, but possibly to defeat Batu Khan), he died under somewhat suspicious circumstances; some have speculated that Sorghaghtani may have taken "direct action against Güyük".
After Güyük's death, Sorghaghtani sent her eldest son Mongke to Batu Khan. Batu and Sorghaghtani championed the name of Möngke, who had fought along with Batu in the European campaign, as Khagan. Möngke was named Great Khan at a kurultai organized by Batu in Siberia some time before 1250, but this was contested as not being properly in Mongolia. However, the ancient Mongol homeland where Genghis was born was in her regency, so she organized a kurultai here which was attended by Batu's brother Berke
Berke
Berke Khan was the ruler of the Golden Horde who effectively consolidated the power of the Blue Horde and White Hordes from 1257 to 1266. He succeeded his brother Batu Khan of the Blue Horde and was responsible for the first official establishment of Islam in a khanate of the Mongol Empire...
. Möngke was formally named the Great Khan. The Ogedei and Güyük families attempted to overthrow him, but failed. Möngke arrested and drowned Güyük's widow Oghul Ghaimish, and many other members of Ogedei's family.
Sorghaghtani fell ill and died in February or March 1252 around the Mongol New Year festival, a few months after Möngke's accession ceremony. She was buried in a Christian church in Gansu
Gansu
' is a province located in the northwest of the People's Republic of China.It lies between the Tibetan and Huangtu plateaus, and borders Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Ningxia to the north, Xinjiang and Qinghai to the west, Sichuan to the south, and Shaanxi to the east...
.
Children
Sorghaghtani bore Tolui at least four children. They included:- Möngke KhanMöngke KhanMöngke Khan , born Möngke, , was the fourth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from July 1, 1251 – August 11, 1259. He was the first Great Khan from the Toluid line, and made significant reforms to improve the administration of the Empire during his reign...
: Great Khan (1251–59) of the Mongol EmpireMongol EmpireThe Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
. - Kublai KhanKublai KhanKublai Khan , born Kublai and also known by the temple name Shizu , was the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from 1260 to 1294 and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China...
: Great Khan (1260–94) of the Mongol EmpireMongol EmpireThe Mongol Empire , initially named as Greater Mongol State was a great empire during the 13th and 14th centuries...
and the Yuan dynastyYuan DynastyThe Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an... - Hulagu KhanHulagu KhanHulagu Khan, also known as Hülegü, Hulegu , was a Mongol ruler who conquered much of Southwest Asia...
: khan (1256–64) of the IlkhanateIlkhanateThe Ilkhanate, also spelled Il-khanate , was a Mongol khanate established in Azerbaijan and Persia in the 13th century, considered a part of the Mongol Empire...
dynasty that ruled Persia, TurkeyTurkeyTurkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, GeorgiaGeorgia (country)Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
and ArmeniaArmeniaArmenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
. - Ariq BökeAriq BokeAriq Böke , the components of his name also spelled Arigh, Arik, Bukha, Buka , was the youngest son of Tolui , a son of Genghis Khan. After the death of his brother the Great Khan Mongke, Ariq Boke briefly took power while his brothers Kublai and Hulagu were absent...
, her fourth son, was also declared Great Khan (rivalling Kublai) for a short period in 1260; he would eventually be captured by Kublai in 1264.
Legacy
In 1310, she was regarded as “Empress” in a ceremony that included a Nestorian mass. Sorghaghtani was enshrined in a Christian church in GanzhouZhangye
-Administration:Zhangye has 1 urban district, 4 counties, 1 autonomous county, 97 towns, and 977 villages.-Demographics:Zhangye has a total population of 1,260,000, only 260,000 being urban residents...
in 1335, and sacrifices were ordered to be offered here. By 1480 a cult had been conducted for her memory at the ordo
Ordo
Ordo may refer to:* A musical phrase constructed from one or more statements of a rhythmic mode pattern and ending in a rest* Ordo , is a nomadic palace for the Mongol aristocrats and the Turkic rulers...
that was kept by the Chahar (Mongols). This ordo moved to Ordos
Ordos
-Places:*Ordos Loop of the Yellow River, a region of China*Ordos Desert, in Inner Mongolia*Ordos City, city and district in Inner Mongolia*Ordos International Circuit, a race track in Ordos City.-People:...
(in modern Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia
Inner Mongolia is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China, located in the northern region of the country. Inner Mongolia shares an international border with the countries of Mongolia and the Russian Federation...
) in the 17th century.
She is spoken of very highly both in the Secret History, as well as by
Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
, Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
historians.
Prester John
Sorghaghtani was the niece of the powerful KeraitKerait
The Kereit tribe was one of the five major tribal confederations in Mongolian plateau in the 12th century, and dominant in the area and, as allies of Genghis Khan, influential in the rise of the Mongol Empire...
leader Wang Khan "Toghrul"
Wang Khan
Wang Khan, also Ong Khan, was the title given to the Kerait ruler Toghrul by the Jurchen Jin Dynasty of China. Like the rest of their tribe he may have been Nestorian Christian...
. To Europeans, Toghrul was one of the distant Eastern rulers who was sometimes associated with the legend of "Prester John
Prester John
The legends of Prester John were popular in Europe from the 12th through the 17th centuries, and told of a Christian patriarch and king said to rule over a Christian nation lost amidst the Muslims and pagans in the Orient. Written accounts of this kingdom are variegated collections of medieval...
". During Mongol-European diplomacy, the Mongols sometimes played upon this perception by the Europeans, describing Mongol princesses such as Sorghaghtani and Doquz Khatun
Doquz Khatun
Doquz Khatun was a Turkic Kerait princess of the 13th century, who was married to the Mongol ruler Hulagu. Their son Abaqa succeeded Hulagu upon his death.She was known to accompany Hulagu on campaigns...
as being "daughters of Prester John".