Jelme, a member of the Uriankhai clan of the Mongol army, was a brilliant general under Genghis Khan. Jelme was the older brother of another outstanding general, Subutai, and he was also a close friend of Genghis. Rashid al-Din referred to Jelme in “A Compendium of Chronicles” by his nickname, “Uhe.” One Persian historian claims that this moniker means “daring [man], robber and hero,” which is interesting.
Early Life of Jelme
Jelme was the oldest child of the Uriankhai blacksmith Jarchiudai. Although Jarchiudai had wished to put him into the service even before the birth of Temujin (Genghis Khan), he got rejected due to Jelme’s young age. Jarchiudai later reintroduced Jelme to adult Temujin, before he became Genghis Khan.
Jelme’s statue at the entrance of the Genghis Khan’s Equestrian Statue.
Jelme quickly established himself as a trustworthy companion. He and his fellow nökör (“free companion”) Boorchu set out in pursuit of Temujin’s wife Borte when the Merkit tribe, who were at odds with the Mongols, abducted her. Therefore, he played a central role in the life of Temujin.
Both Jelme and Boorchu were promoted to higher positions in the khan’s headquarters following Temujin’s ascension to power. Today, there is a statue of Jelme at the entrance of the Equestrian Statue of Genghis Khan in Mongolia.
Jelme’s deeds have been recorded throughout history numerous times. In one instance, Jelme stayed up all night the next day tending to Temujin, who had been wounded in the neck by an arrow during the Battle of Thirteen Sides (also known as the Battle of Chakirmaut) in 1204.
Even after taking a poisonous arrow to the neck during the fight, Genghis Khan persisted in fighting until he passed out. Jelme stayed with Genghis and sucked the blood out of his neck for the whole night. (According to other sources, this happened in the Battle of Koiten in 1201.)
Jelme risked his life to go to the enemy camp and return with a horn of sour milk for the khan when Temujin requested a drink after coming to his senses.
“The Four Dogs of War”
After three years, in the fight with the Naimans on Mount Nahu-Gun, Jelme stood out with Jebe, Subutai, and Kublai (not Kublai Khan) as the “Four Dogs of War.” Even Temujin’s foes acknowledged the bravery of his nökör forces.
They are the Four Dogs of Temujin. They feed on human flesh and are tethered with an iron chain. They have foreheads of brass, their jaws are like scissors, their tongues like piercing awls, their heads are iron, their whipping tails swords. They feed on dew. Running, they ride on the back of the wind. In the day of battle, they devour enemy flesh. Behold, they are now unleashed, and they slobber at the mouth with glee. These four dogs are Jebe, and Kublai, Jelme, and Subotai.”
— The Secret History of the Mongols
Tolui, Temujin’s youngest son, had his life saved by Jelme once. After hearing a scream for aid, Jelme tracked down and murdered the fleeing Tatar of Qargil Shira who had sneaked his way into the Mongol camp and was about to butcher the infant:
When Tolui was around five years old, a Tatar called Qargil Shira almost murdered him. Qargil Shira feigned to be a guest at Tolui’s tent when he really broke in. He seized Tolui as soon as he entered the tent and fled with him.
Qargil Shira tried to stab the youngster, but Genghis Khan’s mother Hoelun‘s adoptive son Borokhul’s wife Altani pursued him and stopped the fugitive. To prevent the Tatar from escaping with Tolui, she clung to him until Jetei and Jelme arrived and murdered him. Aside from the deeds of both warriors, Genghis Khan hailed Altani as a baatar, or a Mongol heroine.
Jelme was awarded one of the thousands of noyans distributed at the 1206 All-Mongol kurultai (“assembly”) for his devoted devotion to Temujin.
It is unclear when precisely Dzhelme passed away; however, the “Collection of Chronicles” indicates it was somewhere during Temujin-Genghis Khan’s reign (between 1206 and 1227).
Jelme was one of the noyans awarded to the thousanders (an honorable military rank) at the All-Mongolian Kurultai in 1206, in recognition of his many services to Temujin even before he turned into Genghis Khan.
Genghis Khan made Yesuntei (or Yesuntege), son of Jelme, leader of the Kheshig. Kheshig were the elite military bodyguards of Mongol royalty, including Genghis Khan, which means “favored” or “blessed”.
The “Collection of Chronicles” also mentions a Yesu-Buka-taishi, who is said to be a son of Jelme. It could be another name for Yesuntei, just like Yisun-te’e.
Jelme’s Progeny
There are people who trace their ancestry back to Jelme who are now residing in Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Buryatia (Russian Republic). The connection of those people with Jelme has been confirmed as recently as the early 2000s.
Today, on Mongolian soil, there are registered members with the following last names, which are the ancestral families of Jelme: Jelme, Hun Jelme, Uriankhai Jelme, Jelmen Uriankhai, or Kostya Jelmen.
The carriers of these generic last names are known among the Khalkha Mongols (genus Zelme), and Khotogoids (genus Zelmen).
The descendants of Jelme were represented by four khoshuns (the banners of Inner Mongolia) of the Josutu League, in particular, the right, left, and middle khoshuns of the Kharchin Mongols and one khoshun of the left wing of the Tumeds.
The Uriankhais of the Jelme line, Aanchin, and Vaanchin clans migrated to the land of current Buryatia and established themselves in the Ichetui (Ichyotuy) River valley around the turn of the 18th century, after a catastrophic battle in Mongolia. Dede-Ichyotuy, in the Dzhidinsky area of the Republic of Buryatia, is where most of their descendants now reside.
Four brothers from the Jelmen Uriankhai family fled to Buryatia on the banks of the Ichyotuy River during the conflict between Galdan Boshugtu Khan and Tüsheet Khan, according to a legend that V.V. Popov recorded in 1926.
Jelme in Popular Culture
Jelme is mentioned in many parts of popular culture today. Here are some examples from literature and movies:
Books
“The Wolf of the Plains” (2007), a historical novel by English author Conn Iggulden.
“Cruel Age” novel by Isaak Kalashnikov (1978)
“At the behest of Genghis Khan” is a novel by Soviet writer Nikolay Alekseevich Luginov (2001).
Movies
“Genghis Khan” (China, 2004); Bao Hailong as Jelme.
“By the Will of Chingis Khan” (Russia, Mongolia, USA; 2009); Pyotr Makarov as Jelme.
The daughter of Kaidu Khan, Khutulun (Хутулун, 1260–1306), was a wrestler and the great-great-granddaughter of Genghis Khan, the head of the Mongol Empire. Her name originates from the ancient Turkic term “qutuq,” meaning “happiness.” Qutulun Chagan was another name for her. She joined her father’s troops and was an accomplished fighter and wrestler. Khutulun was also known as the Khotol Tsagaan Günj (“All White Princess”) and Ay Yaruq (“Moonlight”). She was also the great-granddaughter of Ögedei Khan, and her father Kaidu fought for the House of Ögedei during his life.
Kaidu Khan and his wrestling daughter Khutulun. Painting by Master of Mazarine, between 1410 and 1412.
Her story was told in the Middle East and Italy after being recorded by Marco Polo, Rashid al-Din, and Ibn Battuta. Marco Polo said she was stunningly attractive and an accomplished martial artist. Kaidu Khan (1235–1301) saw her potential and took her into battle with him. During the battle against the Yuan dynasty, Khutulun famously proclaimed that she would marry any man who could defeat her in a wrestling contest, prompting many men to accept the dare.
Khutulun, on the other hand, wanted a hundred horses as a reward if she beat the man. Many works of art, like the opera Turandot (1926) by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini, were inspired by her reputation as a famous female wrestler and athlete, especially in Europe in the 18th century.
Poster from April 25, 1926 advertising Giacomo Puccini’s musical Turandot which is based on Khutulun. Image: Wikimedia.
Note: “Turandot” means the “Turkic Daughter” or “Daughter of Turan.” It was a common moniker for Central Asian queens in Persian literature. Today, the term turan is a reference to the prehistoric Turkic settlement in Central Asia.
Reflection of Khutulun in Wrestling
Mongolian wrestlers fight each other regardless of body weight and size, and there is no limit to the arena. It is customary for two competitors to land first on each other’s elbows and chests.
Mongolian wrestlers usually wear a shirt with an open chest (called a “zodog”). This may have originated from officials having to check the sexes of both competitors.
When a wrestler extends his arms and slowly rotates to show the crowd his chest as a ceremonial dance of the victor, this may as well have the same purpose. According to Jack Weatherford, this is a memorial for the best female warrior in Mongolian history, Khutulun.
A Mongol wrestler with a zodog. (Image: AFP, Johannes Eisele)
Khutulun in Popular Culture
Many princes, nobles, and wrestlers were smitten by Khutulun’s beauty and wrestling skills and they lost a lot of horses in the process. This story became a hot topic in the coming centuries. In the 19th century, in Giacomo Puccini‘s play Turandot, men who wanted to marry Turandot risked their lives by trying to solve three riddles she posed.
In 1710, a French scholar named Francois Pétis de la Croix wrote a series of stories about the rulers of the Mongol Empire. In these stories, he told many Asian legends and myths. In his novel, he depicted a Turkic girl named Turandot who lived in the Golden Kingdom.
The Italian writer Carlo Gozzi used this as the basis for a play, which Friedrich Schiller translated into German. In 1802, Johann Wolfgang von Goethe put on the play Turandot Princess in Weimar, Germany. Jacopo Foroni’s Turandot was also presented as an opera and became a sensation.
In the Netflix show Marco Polo, Claudia Kim plays the role of Khutulun.
Khutulun in the TV series Marco Polo.
Between 2011 and 2019, an Australian racehorse named Khutulun earned roughly 334,000 USD in reward money, more than 30 times the amount of its initial purchase.
In 2021, a movie named Princess Khutulun was released, which starred the Mongolian actress Tsedoo Munkhbat.
Origin of Khutulun
Khutulun or Kutulun was born sometime around 1260, but her precise date of birth is unclear. Her grandfather was Khashin who died early, and her father was the powerful Mongol warlord Kaidu Khan. Her mother, Buman Dai Khatun, was also an influential character; she was Kaidu’s primary wife rather than a concubine.
The ancient Turkic term qutuq, meaning “happiness,” is the origin of Khutulun’s name. In “The Travels of Marco Polo”, she is called Aigiarne which translates to “Radiant Moon” in Tatar. Khotol Tsagaan (which means “All White” in Mongolian) is also attributed to her. In other sources, she is called Aiyurug or Ay Yaruq in Turkic which means “Moonlight”.
Aside from Marco Polo’s travels and the account of Ilkhanate vizier Rashid al-Din, the name “Khutulun” does not appear in the chronicles of the Mongol Empire or in the Secret History of the Mongols. In the genealogical charts of the Genghis family compiled by the Timurid Empire, she is known more as “Qutulun Chagan.”
Kaidu’s tamga (symbol).
Khutulun’s father, Kaidu, was a khan when she was born, and he controlled the Amu Darya River and the western Siberian steppe. By 1280, Kaidu Khan had become Central Asia’s preeminent ruler. Mongolia in the west, India in the south, and the Central Siberian Plateau in the north were all part of the House of Ögedei’s expansive territory at the time.
Rashid al-Din estimates that Kaidu had anywhere between 24 and 40 boys. And among his daughters, the names Khutulun and Kököchin especially stand out. However, details on Kököchin’s whereabouts are scant.
Khutulun’s Early Life
Khutulun grew up in the Mongol culture and, like other kids her age, learned to ride horses and shoot arrows. Rashid al-Din, a Persian scholar and the Khan’s advisor, claimed that Khutulun was the manliest of her sisters and she fought in her father’s troops.
Unlike her cousin Kublai Khan, Khutulun did not favor sedentary pursuits. She was an accomplished wrestler and a formidable fighter. In addition to her other talents, she was an excellent archer and demonstrated enthusiasm for horse riding. She often enjoyed spending time atop a horse.
Khutulun grew up in a competitive environment, often pitted against her 14 male siblings. She grew up fighting with her strong brothers and competing with them from childhood to overcome them by force.
Her Appearance and Military Career
According to Marco Polo, Khutulun was said to be tall, agile, and fast. Polo described her as being able to easily approach her enemies like a hawk catching a chicken and either capturing or killing them. Polo also recorded that Khutulun was powerful and courageous, and that there was no man in her father’s kingdom or the surrounding countries who could surpass her strength.
According to Rashid al-Din, Khutulun dressed like a man and showed bravery by participating in several wars. She was entrusted with important tasks by her father and handled administrative duties. Unlike her other sisters, she stayed by her parents’ side until the very end.
Some men who were jealous of her, including Mongols, Tatars, and Turkic tribal leaders, spread nasty rumors that Khutulun was engaged in incest with her father Kaidu to downplay her reputation.
Khutulun accompanied her father Kaidu Khan to the battlefields. After Mongke Khan’s rise to power, Kaidu opposed the Toluid clan and fought against Kublai Khan for the next half-century. Khutulun took part in the Kaidu–Kublai war (1268–1301).
Instead of consulting his 24 or 40 sons, Kaidu allegedly turned to his daughter Khutulun for guidance. According to Marco Polo, Khutulun was a skilled warrior who could easily mount her enemies and take them prisoner, like a hawk catching its prey.
Wrestling as a Marriage Challenge to Men
Khutulun during a wrestling in the TV show Marco Polo.
According to “The Travels of Marco Polo,” Kaidu Khan had every intention of marrying Khutulun off to a Mongol prince because of how much he loved her. Khutulun flatly rejected his proposal, saying she would wait to tie the knot until she met a man who could match her in power and ability.
Since Kaidu was powerless to change his daughter’s mind, he issued a consent document giving her the right to select her own husband, regardless of whether or not that meant challenging men from all over the world to wrestling matches.
According to Marco Polo, Khutulun did not actually want to get married. Instead, she offered to wrestle any potential suitors as a condition for marriage. No one was able to defeat her.
Khutulun challenged the sons of Mongol and Turkic nobles that they had to wrestle with her if they wanted to marry her. If they lost, they had to pay a fine of 100 horses. She reportedly acquired 10,000 horses through this condition.
In 1280, a wealthy nobleman who had won the favor of Kaidu Khan brought 1,000 horses to win Khutulun’s hand in marriage. Kaidu advised Khutulun to lose on purpose. But Khutulun was not to be trifled with, and after some wrestling, she lifted the nobleman up and threw him down. The nobleman was greatly discouraged and almost lost his mind over what happened.
She Finally Got Married
Khutulun ultimately refused to marry, as she always had. And her prolonged celibacy led to malicious rumors of an incestuous relationship with her father. Eventually, in 1296, Kaidu handed her over to a warrior named Abtakul of the Choros clan. According to Rashid al-Din, Abtakul was chosen as a husband by Khutulun herself.
But the man she loved, Rashid al-Din says, was Ghazan Khan who was the seventh ruler of the Mongol Empire’s Ilkhanate. According to the Ilkhanate vizier and historian al-Din, Khutulun later lived in Tarsakent and Karabalic and had two sons.
Four years after the marriage of Khutulun, in the year 1300, Kaidu led a large army to invade the Mongol plateau to challenge the supremacy of the Yeke Yuwan Ulus or “Great Yuan State”. He was met by the army of the Yuan dynasty led by Külüg Khan (later known as Emperor Wuzong of Yuan) in the Battle of Tekelik.
This battle became the largest and fiercest in the history of the Mongol Empire. However, Kaidu was unable to claim victory and was instead injured by the Külüg Khan army. As a result of his injuries, Kaidu passed away a month later at Lake Taikan in 1301.
His body was buried on a mountain called “Sonkurlik” between the Ile (Ili) and Chu rivers, where the Ögedei Khan was also buried.
Khutulun as the First Female Khan
Khutulun’s father Kaidu came to depend on her advice and political support more and more as he got older. She was undoubtedly her father’s favorite child, and according to some accounts Kaidu was actually planning to designate her as the next khan before he died of an injury in 1301.
However, Kaidu Khan’s choice is said to have been rejected by his male relatives beforehand. She continued to be challenged by her kinsman Duwa and other brothers from the Chagatai Khanate who opposed her right to inherit.
Khutulun, with the help of her brother Orus, and husband Abtakul, lived in the area around the mountain of Sonkurlik and guarded the graves of his father and family. Orus was also named as the successor by Kaidu and Khutulun supported him.
Before his death, Kaidu had nominated Orus, who was born of a regular khatun, as his successor, but Duwa, the head of the Chagatai family and second in power after Kaidu, nominated Kaidu’s firstborn son, Chapar, instead of Orus.
At this time, Orus, Tökme of the Güyük family, and Khutulun were against Chapar taking the throne, and Khutulun sided with Orus so he could be involved in politics and the military.
In response, Duwa taunted her by saying, “You must do scissors and needlework instead.” Khutulun was furious and fought with Orus against Chapar’s faction, but their battle ended up contributing to Duwa’s seizure of Central Asia.
In 1306, when Kaidu’s son Chapar raised an army against the Duwa of the Chagatai Khanate, Khutulun led a force of 1,000 men to support the Chapar, but was defeated. Khutulun was killed in 1306 by an assassin sent either by Duwa or Chapar. Because Khutulun had resisted the succession of both in favor of Orus.
She was only 45 or 46 years old at the time of her death. The leaders and followers of the House of Ögedei that had rallied around Khutulun were also captured.
Khutulun After Her Death
Marco Polo, Rashid al-Din, and Ibn Battuta were among the travelers who told people in Europe about Kuthulun. However, her name does not appear in the records of the Yuan and Ming dynasties, and she is not mentioned in the Mongolian and Chinese records and literature.
Even so, in Central Asia, Iran, and Arab countries, her name has been passed down through folklore. Her name was written down in Rashid al-Din’s Persian history book, and Kuthulun’s name came up several times when putting together the family tree of Genghis Khan’s clan in the Turco-Mongol Timurid Empire.
Khutulun at a Glance
Who was Khutulun, and what was her significance in Mongol history?
Khutulun was the daughter of Kaidu Khan, a Mongol warlord and grandson of Genghis Khan. She was an accomplished wrestler and fighter, and her story was told by many famous writers and historians, including Marco Polo, Ibn Battuta, and Rashid al-Din. Her legacy as a famous athlete and wrestler has inspired many works of art, including the opera Turandot by Italian composer Giacomo Puccini.
What is the origin of Khutulun’s name?
The ancient Turkic term “qutuq,” which means “happiness,” is the origin of Khutulun’s name. She was also called Khotol Tsagaan (“All White Princess”) and Ay Yaruq (“Moonlight”) in other sources.
How did Khutulun become famous?
Khutulun famously proclaimed that she would marry any man who could defeat her in a wrestling contest, but the man had to give her 100 horses as a reward if she won. This challenge became widely known, and many princes, nobles, and wrestlers tried to defeat her, but none succeeded. Her story became a popular topic in many stories, plays, and operas throughout history.
What is the significance of Khutulun in Mongolian wrestling tradition?
According to Jack Weatherford, the act of a Mongolian wrestler extending his arms and slowly rotating to show the crowd his chest as a ceremonial dance of the victor is a memorial for the best female warrior in Mongolian history, Khutulun. Mongolian wrestlers also wear a shirt with an open chest (called a “zodog”), which may have originated from officials having to check the sexes of both competitors.
The Kiyat group, a Mongol people, was located in the northeastern portion of the Mongolian steppe in the mid-12th century, and its clan chief, Yesugei, or Yesükhei in Mongolian (Есүхэй, ᠶᠢᠰᠦᠭᠡᠢ), was a powerful figure in the clan. Genghis Khan’s father and the progenitor of the Kiyat-Borjigin family, Yesugei (b. 1134 – d. 1171), is credited with establishing Mongol rule. He held the position of Baghatur, which means “hero” or “noble one”, so he was commonly referred to as Yesugei Baghatur. It was an honorable title given to the nomadic warriors who distinguished themselves in battle, but it later became a certain title bestowed by the Khan.
Meaning of the Name Yesugei
The name “Yesugei” means “like nine,” which alludes to the fact that the Mongols consider nine (yesün) to be a fortunate number. While “yesügei” is masculine, the feminine form of the same name is “yesülün.” Similar to his ancestors, Yesugei believed in Tengrism, one of the first monotheistic religions on Earth.
Yesugei’s Family, Wife, and Children
Yesugei was one of the four sons of Bartan Baghatur (1120–1161). The eldest is Möngke Kiyan, followed by Negün Taishi, and the youngest is Daridai Otchigin. Möngke was Yesugei’s elder brother, and Negün and Daridai were his younger brothers.
Yesugei’s paternal grandfather Khabul Khan’s statue in Gachuurt, Mongolia.
Yesugei’s father Bartan Baghatur was the second son of Khabul Khan (1100–1148). Khabul Khan, Yesugei’s grandfather, was the first pan-Mongol khan. He had seven sons who gave rise to the Kiyat tribe, one of the two ancestral tribes of Genghis Khan’s family.
Despite having so many direct heirs, Khabul Khan left the rule to his second cousin, Ambaghai. The relationship between Khabul Khan and Ambaghai goes back to their common great-grandfather Kaidu (1025–1100).
Kaidu had three sons: Bashinkhor Dogshin, Charaqai Lingqum, and Chaojin-Ortegai. Khabul Khan was the grandson of Bashinkhor Khan, and Ambaghai was the grandson of Charaqai. Ambaghai Khan and other descendants of Charaqai Lingqum founded the Taichiud clan in 1148.
In the later decades, it would be the same Taichiud clan that ambushed Yesugei’s helpless family, captured Temüjin, and chained him up with a neck cangue used for slaves.
The next khan, the fourth son of Khabul Khan was Hotula Khan (1111–1161), who was the uncle of Yesugei. Ambaghai Khan (Khabul Khan’s cousin), the leader of the Khamag Mongols (“the Whole Mongols”), was killed by the Jin dynasty after being conspired against by the Tatar tribe’s border garrison. This was long before Yesugei was born in 1134. And Yesugei died in 1171 after being poisoned by Tatars on his way back home.
Early Life of Yesugei
While out falconeering near the Onon River, Yesugei met Yeke Chiledu, a Merkit man who had recently married an Olkhonud woman. Yesugei thought the lady was a rare beauty, so he invited his elder and younger brothers, Negün Taishi and Daridai Otchigin, to come to check her out.
Afraid, Yeke Chiledu fled away, but his three siblings gave pursuit. Hoelun, the girl, warned Yeke Chiledu to abandon her and run away because three siblings were out to murder him: “Those three are trying to kill you, and as long as you are alive, you can meet another woman. Don’t lay down your life, leave me behind.” And just like that, Hoelun let Yeke Chiledu run. Later, the three siblings kidnapped Hoelun and married her brother Yesugei.
As a sign of great respect, Yesüdei made Hoelun his only primary wife. Thus, only Hoelun could bore child to the clan chieftain.
According to one account, Ambaghai Khan once traveled to the Tatars in person to marry his son Qadaan Taishi to the daughter of the Airu’ut Tatar leader. But the Tatars betrayed him and delivered him to the Jurchen leader Altan Khan Ulu, who promptly had him killed. In alternate narratives, he traveled to the Tatars either to pick out a bride from among the local women or to see off his daughter, who was getting married.
Either way, Altan Khan Ulu had Ambaghai Khan executed along with Yesugei’s uncle Hotula Khan’s brother Ökin Barkak. When his uncle Hotula Khan and his cousin Qadaan Taishi started seeking vengeance for Ambaghai Khan, Yesugei joined them to attack the Tatar clan.
Qadaan Taishi, the son of Ambaghai Khan, conducted thirteen futile battles against the Tatars, while Yesugei was more successful in this conflict. He seized the Tatar fighters Temüjin-Uge and Hori-Buha in 1162. Also around this time, Hoelun gave birth to his first son.
Birth of Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan surrounded by his children.
Lady Hoelun, Yesugei’s wife, was expecting their first child when they moved to Burkhan Khaldun Mountain on the Onon River. Their son Temüjin, or Genghis Khan, was born there.
The noble Tatar fighter caught by Yesugei inspired Lady Hoelun to give her son the name Temüjin. Because the slave Temüjin was executed at their son’s birth.
In addition to Temüjin, Hoelun bore Yesugei three more sons and one daughter: Qasar in 1164, Hachiun in 1166, Temuge in 1169, and Temülin (or Temülün) in 1169.
When Temüjin was nine years old, his father Yesugei took him to his mother’s clan the Olkhonud to look for a bride. Between the mountains of Chekchel and Chikurgu, they ran into Dei Sechen (or Dai Setsen), the Olkhonud clan leader.
They were welcomed into Dei Sechen’s house, where they met his daughter Börte, who was just a year older than Temüjin. Yesugei found her beautiful and set up a marriage between his son and her.
In the morning, Börte engaged Temüjin and Dei Sechen insisted that Temüjin should live with them for a while as a son-in-law first. Yesugei agreed and departed for home.
Death of Yesugei
On the way back home, Yesugei ran into some Tatar tribespeople who were feasting at a spot named Shira Kale (assumably the present-day town of Hulunbuir), near the base of Chekchel Mountain.
Yesugei, parched from the journey, sipped from their water. But the Tatars, seeking vengeance for an earlier defeat and the murder of their family member Temüjin-Uge eight years ago, had poisoned his water or food. Before stepping in, Yesugei already knew he could not disclose himself. However, someone recognized Yesügei and, under the pretense of kindness, poisoned him.
Yesugei, a warrior to the core, still managed to escape. On the way back, he became ill and spent three nights and four days reaching his house (or a man named Mönglik’s house near his home base).
Assuming Yesugei traveled 56 miles (90 km) a day on his horse after being poisoned, he returned to a place 168 miles (270 km) east of the Tatar base, on the south bank of the Kherlen River. Even after arriving home, Yesugei got increasingly worse.
Before his death, Yesugei requested the son of a senior called Caraqa Ebugen of the Khongirad clan, Mönglik Ečige, bring back Temüjin and care for his family. Mönglik answered, “I will return Temüjin and honor those who remained.” Yesugei died three days after arriving home and making his last wish.
According to the will of Yesugei, Mönglik brought back Temüjin from the custody of Dei Sechen. On that day, Temüjin or Genghis Khan swore vengeance against the Tatars for the death of his father.
When Yesugei was killed, many of his followers abandoned his family and forcibly removed them from their houses: The following spring, Targutai Khiriltug (a rival of Yesugei and grandson of Ambaghai Khan), the leader of the Taichiud tribe, announced his tribe’s departure from Yesugei’s Kiyat tribe, leaving the Yesugei family to their fate.
Yesugei’s wife Hoelun and their children, including Temüjin, were left helpless, and they were impoverished greatly for a number of years.
Blood Brothers
Khan Hotula’s death left the Khamag Mongol union without a chosen khan, but Yesügei nonetheless exercised effective control. Toghrul (1130–1203), a member of the Kerait clan, murdered his brother and fought his uncle, Gurkhan, over who would succeed the confederation (khanlig). Once Toghrul succeeded to the khanate, he had several of his kin put to death because they had attempted to disinherit him from his father’s realm.
Toghrul’s uncle Gurkhan (or Gur Khan, a title that means ‘universal ruler’) was one of the few who made it out alive. Gurkhan later became successful in deposing Toghrul. However, the khanate would again be restored to its rightful owner Toghrul by Yesugei in 1171, when he marched his troops to the Tuul River from beyond the Gobi Desert, among the Tanguts.
After suffering a loss, being dethroned by his uncle, and having to escape, Toghrul approached Yesugei for help. Yesugei easily consented, and with his renewed fortitude, Toghrul was able to vanquish his uncle and assume leadership of the Kerait people (Keraites).
Toghrul thanked Yesugei and vowed to be blood brothers (anda) with him. When Yesugei died and his son Temüjin ran into trouble, Toghrul took on the role of Temüjin’s foster father. He gave an anda pledge to Temüjin as his adopted son and called himself Temujin’s father-in-law. Toghrul had a significant impact on Temüjin’s life.
Yesugei as Revered Ancestor
The Yuan dynasty was established by one of Yesugei’s great-grandsons, Kublai Khan who ruled China under the name “Yuan dynasty”.
After the Mongol Empire had grown to rule a vast territory, Kublai Khan, the fifth khagan (“khan of khans”) and grandson of the first khagan Genghis Khan, posthumously bestowed the title of “Revered Ancestor, Divine Yuan Emperor” upon his great-grandfather Yesugei in accordance with Chinese tradition in 1266.
Again, according to The Secret History of the Mongols, Yesugei was granted the title Shenyuan Huangdi, which means “Supernaturally Prime Emperor,” and he was also given the temple name “Ardent Founder.”
Yesugei at a Glance
Who was Yesugei, and what was his role in establishing Mongol rule?
Yesugei was a Mongolian clan chief of the Kiyat group, located in the northeastern portion of the Mongolian steppe in the mid-12th century. He was the progenitor of the Kiyat-Borjigin family and the father of Genghis Khan. Yesugei held the position of Baghatur, which means “hero” or “noble one,” and established Mongol rule.
What is the meaning of Yesugei’s name?
The name “Yesugei” means “like nine,” which alludes to the fact that the Mongols consider nine (yesün) to be a fortunate number.
Who were Yesugei’s family members, wife, and children?
Yesugei was one of the four sons of Bartan Baghatur. His wife was Hoelun, and she bore him several children, including Temüjin (Genghis Khan), Jochi Qasar, Hachiun Alchi, Temuge Otchigin, and Temülin. Yesugei also had children from Sochigel, including Behter and Belgutei.
What is the origin of the Kiyat tribe, and how did Yesugei’s family come to power?
Yesugei’s grandfather was Khabul Khan, the first pan-Mongol khan, who had seven sons who gave rise to the Kiyat tribe, one of the two ancestral tribes of Genghis Khan’s family. Khabul Khan left the rule to his second cousin, Ambaghai, who was later killed by the Jin dynasty after being conspired against by the Tatar tribe’s border garrison. Yesugei’s father was Bartan Baghatur, the second son of Khabul Khan. Despite having so many direct heirs, Khabul Khan left the rule to Ambaghai.
Temulin, or Temülün in Mongolian (Тэмүлүн), was the sister of Genghis Khan and the daughter of Yesugei (Yesükhei) Baghatur, a prominent member of the Mongol tribe. Temulin died at a young age after marrying Butu Küregen of the Ikires tribe. The Ikires were a branch of the Khongirads, one of the largest Mongol groups in the 1100s. Temulin’s father, Yesugei, was the chief of the Borjigin clan in the Mongol Khamag confederation at the time.
Temulin’s Family
Temulin was born in the Khentii highlands in 1171.
Both Temulin (Temülün) and her brother Temüjin’s names derive from the “temü” or “temür” which means “iron”. -lun is a female suffix for Mongol names.
Temulin was born to Yesugei Baghatur and Hoelun (Höelün) in the highlands of the Khentii Mountains of the Khamag Mongol in 1171. This mountain range is located in north-eastern Mongolia. The children of Yesugei were raised in his primary camp near the Onon River, where they became proficient riders and archers.
Her siblings included her full brothers Temüjin (Genghis Khan, 1162–1227), Jochi Qasar, Hachiun, and Temüge Otchigin, as well as her half-brothers Belgutei and Behter from Yesugei. Her half-brothers were from Yesugei’s concubine or lesser wife Sochigel.
According to records, when Temüjin was nine years old, Temulin was still a baby in the care of her mother and was being laid in a cradle. She was nine years younger than the Great Khan, which makes her the youngest full sibling of Genghis Khan.
Her Early Life
“The Mongol Lady” by A. Senghetsokhio.
There were many threats to Temulin during Temüjin’s youth, when his and the Mongols’ power was still relatively weak and they faced many enemies. When Temulin was young, her father Yesugei was killed in a raid by the Tatars in 1171. So, she was born shortly after her father’s death. This put the mother Hoelun in charge of raising Temulin and the rest of the family.
When the father Yesugei was killed, his wife and children were left helpless and impoverished for a number of years after many of his followers abandoned the family and forcibly removed them from their houses.
On the Mongolian Plateau in the 12th century, the Khamag Mongol confederation was made up of three main tribes, one of which was the Taichiud. One day, Temulin, Hachiun, and Temüge hid in a cliff crevice when the Taichiud tribe suddenly attacked their camp:
Targutai-Kiriltuh, head of the Taichiud, had dispatched an armed group to their base, requesting Temujin’s return for the death of his half-brother Behter. The younger children, Temulin, Hachiun, and Temüge, hid in the gorge while Qasar fought the enemy and Belgutei built defenses out of downed trees. Despite his success, Temujin was recaptured by the Taichiud just a few days later.
During yet another assault by the Merkit people, Temulin is named as one of the lucky few who made it out alive. When their fierce enemy the Merkit tribe attacked their camp, her mother Hoelun tried to save Temulin’s life by running away while carrying her over her shoulders.
Similar to how Genghis Khan cared deeply for his mother Hoelun, his wife Borte, and his brothers, he was also close to his sister.
How Did Temulin Marry Butu?
Temulin was Genghis Khan’s only sister.
Following his split with Jamukha, a fellow Mongolian tribe member who vied with Temüjin for power, Temüjin sought to unite other Mongolian tribes into his own by implementing strategic measures.
He dispatched a representative to the Butu of the Ikires tribe, who had previously been allied with the Mongols, and received a positive response. To solidify this relationship, Temüjin opted to marry off his sister, Temulin, to Butu Küregen.
At the time Temulin was likely between the ages of fourteen and fifteen and Butu was a relative of their mother. After the marriage, Butu was given the honorable title “küregen” or “son-in-law.”
Upon receiving the marriage proposal from Butu’s clan representative, Evgendei, Temüjin inquired about the number of horses owned by Butu. Evgendei stated that Butu had 30 horses and offered to contribute half of them as a wedding gift.
Temüjin was displeased and remarked, “To discuss possessions while establishing a marriage is akin to being a trader. If the people of the Ikires tribe remain loyal to Butu, why would they require any form of compensation?” Consequently, Temüjin proceeded with the marriage of Temulin to Butu.
Temulin’s Death
Butu, who wed Temulin, proved himself a valuable asset to Genghis Khan by participating in the Taichiud and Naiman campaigns, two vicious enemies of Genghis Khan. Sadly, Temulin died after the Naiman campaign. Her precise date of death is unknown, but it was around 1201-1202 when she passed away. Jack Weatherford claims that Temulin did not have any children.
After suffering a devastating loss at the hands of the Mongols, Shah Ala ad-Din’s troops were said to have assaulted Mongol camps near the battleground, killing Temulin in the process. Genghis Khan swore vengeance against Shah Ala ad-Din of Khwarazm after this incident.
Nevertheless, Genghis Khan placed great importance on his relationship with Butu and solidified it further by arranging the marriage of his eldest daughter, Qocin Beki, to Butu.
Buku earned the title Küregen through his marriages to Temulin and Qocin Beki, and his offspring became the esteemed “Ikires Küregen royal family” within the Mongol Empire of the Yuan dynasty formed by Genghis Khan’s grandson Kublai Khan.
The women who married into the Butu family, including Temulin, were honored with the Chinese title of “Grand Changkoku Princes” (or Chang Guo). This was done posthumously in Gegeen Khan’s first year (1321). A record of the “Changkoku Princesses” can be found in Volume 109, Table 4, of the “History of Yuan,” and in the Secret History of the Mongols.
Temulin at a Glance
Who was Temulin and what was her background?
Temulin was the sister of Genghis Khan and the daughter of Yesugei Baghatur, a prominent member of the Mongol tribe. She was born in 1171 in the Khentii highlands, Mongolia. Temulin was raised with her siblings in her father’s primary camp near the Onon River, where they learned to ride horses and shoot arrows.
What were the threats faced by Temulin during her early life?
During her early life, Temulin faced many threats because her family’s power was relatively weak, and they faced many enemies. Her father, Yesugei, was killed in a raid by the Tatars, leaving her mother, Hoelun, in charge of raising Temulin and the rest of the family. Their family became helpless and impoverished for a number of years, and many of Yesugei’s followers abandoned them and forcibly removed them from their houses.
How did Temulin marry Butu, and what was her role after marriage?
Temulin married Butu Küregen of the Ikires tribe to strengthen Temüjin’s relationship with Butu’s tribe, which had previously been allied with the Mongols. After the marriage, Butu was given the honorable title “küregen” or “son-in-law.” Butu proved himself to be a valuable asset to Genghis Khan by participating in the Taichiud and Naiman campaigns, two of Genghis’s most vicious enemies.
How did Genghis Khan feel about his sister, Temulin?
Similar to how Genghis Khan cared deeply for his mother, Hoelun, his wife, Borte, and his brothers, he was also close to his sister, Temulin. She was the youngest full sibling of Genghis Khan and was only nine years younger than him. However, Temulin died at a young age after marrying Butu Küregen of the Ikires tribe.
Genghis Khan had seven wives. Along with his 13 official children, Temüjin (Genghis Khan) had around 120 children. They were from his seven Mongolian wives and 500 concubines of which 44 are documented including Chaga Khatun, Gurbasu Khatun, Abika Khatun, Gunju Khatun, Isukhan Khatun, Kunju Khatun and others. The nine children alone were from his first wife Börte, the Great Khatun. And Genghis Khan’s primary wives were as follows: Börte, Khulan, Juerbiesu, Yesugen, Yesui, Ibaqa, and Möge. They were the principal khatuns of the Great Khan. Let’s find out more about those wives.
During Genghis Khan’s rule, a tradition was followed where the most attractive women from each tribe were selected by Genghis Khan to be his concubines. Aside from Mongolian women, these concubines also comprised captives of other nationalities. The women selected by Genghis Khan were given to his queens or “khatuns” and also close relatives. The Great Khan’s seven primary wives operated his harems in the form of yurts which were the housings for the concubines. Genghis Khan’s concubines belonged to the “Four Great Ordos” (courts).
According to studies, 8% of men who live in or around the former Mongol Empire have the same Y-chromosome as Genghis Khan. Due to his numerous wives, Genghis Khan is the ancestor of as many as 20 million men today, or around 0.5% of all men on the planet.
Börte Khatun (l. 1161–1230)
Genghis Khan and his wife Börte Khatun in eastern costumes. (Image: Metmuseum, Public Domain)
Genghis Khan had seven first-class wives or consorts, among whom Börte Khatun was the highest-ranking. Along with the mother of Genghis, Höelun, Börte was one of the most important individuals in the life of the Khan. She was born into the Olkhonud of Khongirad in 1161, and the Olkhonud was also the tribe of Genghis’ mother. For Genghis Khan, only Börte’s sons were eligible to become the rulers of the Mongol Empire.
Her appearance
The Olkhonud tribe’s female members were renowned for having unusually stunning looks. Börte is often shown as a beautiful lady wearing a white silky gown, carrying a white lamb, wearing gold coins in her hair, and sitting atop a white horse. She was characterized as having a light complexion, fire in the eyes, and a vivid face, all of which indicated that she was bright.
Börte Khatun was the daughter of Teyin (or Dei Seichen), the 12th-century chieftain of Khongirad province. Just like Genghis, she practiced Tengrism, the ancient religion of Turks and Mongols. Temüjin and Börte married when they were 9 and 10 years old, respectively.
The kidnapping of Börte
Regarding the marriage between Temüjin and Börte, the Secret History of the Mongols states that Temüjin was favored by Teyin of the Khongirad tribe when he was still in his teens, and Teyin’s daughter Börte became Temüjin’s permitted wife. However, this is probably a fiction, and when Temüjin tried to marry Börte, Börte’s father Teyin allegedly opposed the marriage, but through the intercession of her younger brother, Archi Noyan, the couple was finally allowed to marry.
When Temüjin and Börte were still childless after their marriage, Temüjin was attacked by the Merkits, and his wife Börte was captured. However, the Khongirad tribe of Keraites decided to cooperate with Temüjin because they were sworn allies (anda) with Temüjin’s father, Yesugei, and Khongirad helped rescue Börte from the Merkits, and she was safely returned to Temüjin after staying captive for 8 months.
Börte gave birth to Jochi shortly after being rescued, indicating that she was raped by Merkits. But Genghis Khan saw the baby as his own and called him “Jochi,” which means “guest” in Mongolian. Without Khongirad’s help, Börte could have become the wife of a Merkit man, at least in the story.
The Mongols of that time had a custom of capturing married women, and it was common for the stronger tribe to capture the women of the weaker tribe, or for the tribe that won the battle to take the women of the losing tribe as wives.
Another version of the story
However, in another version of the story, Börte was already pregnant with Jochi when she was captured by the Merkit tribe, and Jochi’s father was actually Genghis Khan. In the “History of Mongolia,” Vol. 1, Part 1, it is written that when the Merkits took the opportunity to plunder the house of Genghis Khan, they sent his wife Börte, who was already carrying Jochi, to Khongirad, because peace had been established between two tribes at the time (p. 41). Thus, Börte was pregnant with Jochi when she was attacked by the Merkits.
Famously, there was also a conflict between Jochi, the firstborn, and Chagatai, the secondborn, regarding Jochi’s dubious origin. At the same time, Jochi withdraws from Genghis Khan’s battles for unknown reasons.
But there is no concrete source stating that Chagatai actually accused Jochi of having questionable origins. The claim that Jochi was the son of the Merkit tribe appears to be a fiction created by the author of The Secret History of the Mongols for dramatic effect.
Börte Khatun held the Chinese title of “Üjin,” a title given to the consort of the Chinese emperor or second-in-line to the empress. She was the mother of Jochi, Chagatai, Ögedei, and Tolui, Genghis’ only apparent heir. Börte Khatun also gave birth to five daughters who became wives of tribal and provincial princes: Alakhai Bekhi, Checheikhen, Alaltun, Tümelün, and Qocin Beki (Huochenbieji).
Khulan Khatun (l. 1164–1220)
Genghis Khan wife Khulan Khatun. Illustration from the Mongolian edition of The Secret History of the Mongols, 1989.
Khulan Khatun (1164–1220) was Kuoliejian’s (or Kölgen’s) mother. Among Genghis Khan’s seven wives, Khulan was second in rank to Börte, and she accompanied Genghis Khan on one of his famous western expeditions. Her son Kuoliejian was also second in status to Genghis Khan’s other sons from Börte.
Khulan Khatun was one of the wives of Genghis Khan. As the Great Khatun Börte Üjin’s second-in-command, she was known as the Second Khatun. A vassalage in the Khentii Mountains was awarded to her when she also led the Second Ordo (court) at the time. “Holan” refers to a “wild horse enclosure” and comes from medieval Mongolian.
Dairusun, a chieftain of the Uvas Merkit tribe, was Khulan Khatun’s father, and the Uvas Merkit clan was one of the Three Merkits. In 1204, when Mongolia was almost united under Temüjin, leader of the Borjigin tribe, his Mongols faced resistance from both the western Naimans and the eastern Merkits, but Genghis Khan ultimately prevailed in battle.
The Merkit chief, Toqtoa Beki, escaped, and the Uighur clan head, Dairusun, conceded defeat to Temüjin. With his surrender, the women of the Uvas were given in plunder marriages to Borjigin royalty, and Khulan became Temüjin’s wife. In 1206, at the Kurultai on the Onon River, Temüjin was crowned “Genghis Khan,” and he sealed Khulan as his second wife.
There was a child born to Khulan Khatun and Genghis Khan, and he was named Kölgen (or Kuoliejian). Genghis Khan brought Khulan Khatun on his western expeditions because he was so fond of her. Khulan Khatun became sick and died in 1220 during the Mongol invasion of India, ending the Anushtegin (or Khwarazmian) dynasty. Genghis Khan had her body buried under deep ice.
Yesugen Khatun (m. 1202)
A Tatar woman from the 1600s wearing traditional clothing. (Image)
Genghis Khan had many wives, and Yesugen Khatun was one of them. Yesugen was born in the Tatar province and married Genghis Khan through a plunder marriage when the Mongols conquered the region in 1202.
After Yesugen claimed that her elder sister Yesui was just a better fit for a khan’s wife in terms of appearance and intelligence, Genghis Khan set out to find Yesui, whose whereabouts were unknown, and married her. When he did, Yesugen abdicated in favor of her sister in 1206.
Genghis Khan, impressed by Yesugen’s behavior, once again accepted her as his own wife (khatun), elevating the status of the Yesui and Yesugen sisters. The two sisters thus became the wives of Genghis Khan together.
Their brothers Yeke Kutokut and Jochi were able to rise to the position of Mingghan (captain of a thousand households) in the Mongol Empire because of their sisters’ prominence as Genghis Khan’s wives.
After serving in the Third Ordo, Yesugen and her nobler elder sister Yesui Khatun were awarded the Khangai Mountains as a vassal town. This is true of each and every one of Genghis Khan’s wives.
According to the narrative in “Tatar Tribes,” Genghis Khan granted permission to Yesui and Yesugen to raise two sons, Kuri and Kara (“Black”) Mangut, who were selected from the same clan. The two sons went on to become prominent military leaders in the Iranian Tanmachi Mongols, and their descendants founded the Hulagu Ulus (Ilkhanate) in 1256.
“History of Yuan” (1370) places Yesugen at the top of the Fourth Ordo, but another source puts her third in order in the list of Genghis Khan’s wives. However, considering the anecdote that Yesugen handed over her position to Yesui, it is natural to make her the head of the Fourth Ordo.
It is known that Yesugen, like her sister, accompanied her Tatar father Yeke Cheren on many journeys, but nothing more is known about her. She is believed to have died early, before her older sister did, somewhere between 1195 and 1221, after giving birth to a boy named Cha’ur who also lived only for a short time.
Ibaqa Beki Khatun (m. 1204–1206)
Sorghaghtani Beki was a Kerait woman just like Ibaqa Beki Khatun.
Kerait princess Ibaqa Beki Khatun was also a wife of Genghis Khan from 1204 to 1206. Her father, Jakha Gambhu, was the younger brother of Keraites Khan Toghrul.
After Toghrul’s defeat, Jakha Gambhu and his Nestorian Christian daughter, Ibaqa Beki, went to Naiman, where Genghis Khan destroyed the tribe. Despite the defeat, Jakha Gambhu refused to give up his two daughters to Genghis Khan as a token of surrender.
But the eldest daughter, Ibaqa Beki, was taken by Genghis Khan as his wife, while the second daughter, Sorghaghtani Beki, became the mother of several of Genghis Khan’s grandsons, including Möngke Khan, Hulagu Khan, Ariq Böke, and Kublai Khan. Ibaqa’s other sister Begtütmish married Genghis Khan’s son Jochi.
In a more popular version of the story, Jakha Gambhu and Genghis Khan joined forces to crush the Naimans in 1204. Genghis Khan was granted Ibaqa Beki as a wife as part of this alliance.
Ibaqa and Genghis Khan were married for 24 months, but they were unable to have children, so the Khan divorced her and handed her over to the Uru’ut clan commander Jürchedei. Perhaps Genghis Khan rewarded Jürchedei with Ibaqa for helping him slay Jakha Gambhu and injure Nilga Senggum. Ibaqa moved to northern China, where Jürchedei was given leadership over 4,000 fighters by the Great Khan.
It was initially believed that Ibaqa had poisoned the infamous alcoholic Ögedei Khan, Genghis Khan’s most prominent son, but that was not the case. Once a year, Ibaqa Beki visited Mongolia to reestablish court contacts and throw parties with her powerful sister Sorghaghtani.
Yesui Khatun (m. 1206)
Genghis Khan’s wife Yesui Khatun. (Illustration from the Mongolian edition of “The Secret History of the Mongols”), 1989.
Yesui or Yesulun was one of Genghis Khan’s wives, and she was a native Tatar. According to the Yuanshi, or “The History of Yuan,” Yesui was in charge of the Third Ordo among Genghis Khan’s wives. Chinese accounts also list Yesui as third in rank among Genghis Khan’s seven wives. There is not much mention of Yesui in Mongolian history other than the details below.
The “Secret History of the Yuan Dynasty” contains the only narrative account of Yesui. And the “New Yuan History” essentially reprints this previous narrative of Yesui Khatun’s life as her biography.
Genghis Khan seized Yesui’s sister Yesugen and took her as one of his favorite wives when the Tatar division was conquered in 1202. Yesui was the daughter of Yeke Cheren of the Tatar division. One day Yesugen confessed to Khan, “My sister Yesui is more beautiful than I am. She was recently married, but she is probably drifting away somewhere.” Thus, Yesui was proposed to Genghis Khan by Yesugen.
In answer to such an odd claim, Genghis Khan said, “Then, if she is more beautiful than you, would you give up your position?” Yes, Yesui said, “I would.” Genghis Khan was so curious that he sent his warriors to find Yesui; unfortunately, she and her husband had already escaped into the woods.
Her husband received a large blow from Genghis Khan, and Genghis Khan abducted Yesui. After her sister Yesui arrived, Yesugen took a lesser seat and made her sister the new favorite khatun in 1206. But Genghis Khan was impressed by this move and kept Yesugen and Yesui in favor together.
Later, while Genghis Kang was having a banquet with Yesui and Yesugen by his side, Yesui kept sighing for some reason. Genghis Khan felt suspicious and asked the participants of the banquet to divide themselves into tribes. One young man did not belong to any tribe.
When questioned, he replied, “I am the husband of Yesui. I was attacked and fled, but I have returned now that things have cooled down. I thought I would not be noticed among the crowd.” Genghis Khan replied, “He is the one who came here with hostile intent because his wife was taken from him.” Genghis Khan killed the young man on the spot.
Yesui spoke on behalf of Genghis Khan’s household during the 1218 conquest of the Anushtegin (or Khwarazmian) dynasty to choose a successor in the event of Genghis Khan’s untimely death. On his 1226 invasion of Western Xia, Genghis Khan was joined by Yesui.
During the conquest, when Genghis Khan became unwell, Yesui called a meeting of his generals to determine the best course of action. Despite Genghis Khan’s eventual death, the Mongol Empire was able to crush Western Xia.
Möge Khatun
Kaidu with his wife from the Bekrin tribe, just like Möge Khatun. Ögedei’s son Khashi also married a Bekrin division woman and his son Kaidu (1230-1301) was born from this union. (Public Domain)
Möge Khatun, birth and death dates unknown, was an empress in the court of Ögedei Khan, the Mongol Empire’s second khan. She was from the Bekrin (Mekrin) tribe, which is located in the eastern Tengri Tagh (literally, “Mountain of Gods” or Tian Shan).
From what we can gather from the Shushi (History of the Mekrin Tribes), Möge Khatun was delivered to Genghis Khan upon the leader of the Bekrin tribe’s return to the Mongol Empire. Genghis Khan liked Möge Khatun, although it is reported that he was unable to produce children with her.
Genghis Khan also declared, “The clan of Bekrin should give up their daughters. To the one who is favored is given the right to marry me or my sons.” It was then that the practice of intertribal marriage between Genghis Khan’s family and the Bekrin people became commonplace.
Ögedei was also fond of her, and she often went on hunts with him. Soon after Genghis Khan’s death, his son Ögedei married Möge Khatun in a levirate union, showering her with such favor that all the other Khatuns envied her.
Despite the fact that Ögedei had already chosen Möge Khatun as his wife, his brother Chagatai was still interested in her and sent a messenger to ask for her hand in marriage.
Ögedei replied that because he had already taken Möge Khatun, he could have any other woman he desired, but Chagatai stated that he liked Möge Khatun and did not want to have any other woman. Möge took over as ruler after Ögedei Khan died in 1241. Töregene Khatun, however, had replaced the ministers of Ögedei and gained control as regent with a collaboration of Chagatai by early-1242.
There is evidence that Möge held a prominent position among the Ögedei’s wives, as she is mentioned alongside his first wife Boraqchin, and second wife Töregene in the first section of the Mongolian chronicles and is called “Empress II” in the Empress List of the History of Yuan (1370), Volume 106, Table 1.
Khashi, Ögedei’s son, followed in his father’s footsteps by marrying a Bekrin division woman named Shabkana Khatun, and Kaidu (1230-1301) was born from this union. Kaidu seized the Bekrin people under Jitanj’s leadership and made them his subjects, establishing a monarchy in Central Asia known as the Kaidu Ulus that did not acknowledge the sovereignty of the rightful Kublai Khan. Möge Khatun never had children.
Juerbiesu
A group of Khitan women, just like Juerbiesu, with their distinctive hairstyles. Liao Dynasty (907-1125) tomb mural by unknown painter. (Wikimedia, Public Domain)
The identity and background of Juerbiesu remain a mystery. She was the last wife of the Gurkhan (“The Universal Ruler”) of the Kara Khitai Khanate, Yelü Zhilugu. Originally Inanch Bilge Khan’s favorite concubine, Juerbiesu later became the wife of his son, Tayang Khan.
However, Tayang Khan was weak, so Juerbiesu ultimately wielded the lion’s share of political power in Naiman. Juerbiesu was the last empress of the Western Liao (Kara Khitai, “Black Khitan”) emperor Yelü Zhilugu.
During a hunting trip in 1211, Yelü Zhilugu was kidnapped by his son-in-law, Kuchlug, king of the Naiman barbarians, and his army of 8,000 men. Kuchlug then declared himself emperor of Khitan, an Eastern proto-Mongolic people of Donghu. Additionally, Kuchlug recognized Juerbiesu as his empress dowager.
From 1177 until Genghis Khan’s invasion of Mongolia in 1213, Juerbiesu dominated the region. The princess called Hunhu (d. 1218), who was Juerbiesu’s daughter, was also handed to Kuchlug. Tafgach Khatun was the historical name of Hunhu.
After Genghis Khan annihilated the Naiman tribe and Tayang Khan was murdered, Juerbiesu made numerous disparaging statements about Mongols, characterizing their appearance as disgusting. However, she soon revoked her claims and visited Genghis Khan’s tent alone, where he questioned her about the accusations but was immediately captivated by her beauty.
When Juerbiesu made a commitment to service, Genghis Khan made Juerbiesu one of his wives, ranking behind only Khulan and Börte Khatun. With Juerbiesu, Genghis Khan had seven first-class wives during his lifetime.
FAQs About Genghis Khan’s Wives
Genghis Khan’s wife Börte.
How many wives did Genghis Khan have?
Genghis Khan had seven wives. His 120 children were from his seven wives and 500 concubines of which 44 are documented including Chaga Khatun, Gurbasu Khatun, Abika Khatun, Gunju Khatun, Isukhan Khatun, Kunju Khatun and others. Genghis Khan’s primary wives were as follows: Börte, Khulan, Juerbiesu, Yesugen, Yesui, Ibaqa, and Möge. They were the principal khatuns of the Great Khan.
Who was the main wife of Genghis Khan?
Genghis Khan had seven first-class wives or consorts, among whom Börte Khatun was the main wife of Genghis Khan. Along with the mother of Genghis, Höelun, Börte was one of the most important individuals in the life of the Khan. She was born into the Olkhonud of Khongirad in 1161, and the Olkhonud was also the tribe of Genghis’ mother. For Genghis Khan, only Börte’s sons were eligible to become the rulers of the Mongol Empire.
Why did Genghis Khan have many wives?
During Genghis Khan’s rule, a tradition was followed where the most attractive women from each tribe were selected by the Khan to be his concubines. Every one of his wives stood for his achievements in politics and the military. The women selected by Genghis Khan were given to his queens or “khatuns” and also close relatives.
Who had most wives in history?
Genghis Khan had most wives in history. Temüjin (Genghis Khan) had around 120 children and they were from his seven Mongolian wives and 500 concubines of which 44 are documented including Chaga Khatun, Gurbasu Khatun, Abika Khatun, Gunju Khatun, Isukhan Khatun, Kunju Khatun, and his primary wives Börte, Khulan, Juerbiesu, Yesugen, Yesui, Ibaqa, and Möge.
How much DNA do we share with Genghis Khan?
According to studies, 8% of men who live in or around the former Mongol Empire have the same Y-chromosome as Genghis Khan. Due to his numerous wives, Genghis Khan is the ancestor of as many as 20 million males today, or around 0.5% of all men on the planet.
Genghis Khan had 13 officially documented children.
He also allegedly had over 120 children from other wives and concubines.
His four sons Jochi, Chagatai, Ögedei, and Tolui later became notable figures.
Genghis Khan considered any child who called him ‘father’ his own.
His daughters formed alliances through marriages, expanding Mongol influence.
Historical records on Genghis Khan’s number of children are incomplete. However, Genghis did have at least 13 children. He officially had eight sons and five daughters. His nine children (four sons and five daughters) were from his wife, Börte. Four of his sons from Börte were particularly notable, with one being the father of Kublai Khan, the greatest successor of the Great Khan. The oral tradition also claims that Genghis Khan had a total of 120 children with his many concubines and wives, who numbered 500.
Genghis Khan’s Number of Children
Genghis Khan next to his four prime sons: Chagatai, Jochi, Tolui, and Ögedei.
His Daughters
Alakhai Bekhi (1191–1230)
Checheikhen (died c. 1237)
Alaltun
Tümelün
Qocin Beki (Huochenbieji)
Other than his five daughters, there was actually a sixth daughter named Tulgha. This lesser-known daughter of Genghis Khan was allegedly conceived by Qulan Khatun and the Qarluqs took her as a wife.
His Sons
Jochi (1182–1227)
Chagatai (1183–1242)
Ögedei (1186–1241)
Tolui (1191–1232)
Ulugci (Wuluchi)
Chawuer (Cha’ur)
Kölgen (Kuoliejian)
Shuerche
Jochi was Genghis Khan’s first child and son, followed by Chagatai, Ögedei, and Tolui, all from the same mother, Börte. In addition, Genghis Khan four more sons from other concubines named Wuluchi (Ulugci), Kölgen, Chawuer, and Shuerche. Among them, Kölgen became a notable Mongol general, and Tolui was Kublai Khan’s father.
Ögedei Khan, artwork.
In 1226, Genghis Khan launched his last invasion of China, and he passed away on August 18th, 1227. The Mongol Empire continued to grow under the leadership of Genghis Khan’s numerous children. Every one of his four sons created a sizable nation. His many children and other descendants ruled an area that stretched from the coast of the China Sea to the European region of Russia.
Genghis Had 500 Wives and Concubines
Genghis Khan had 44 wives and over 500 concubines.
His descendants comprise 0.5% of the world’s male population.
Genghis Khan’s five sons alone (including Kuoliejian) gave him 43 grandchildren. We also know that Genghis Khan had 44 documented wives and more than 500 concubines. However, only six of his wives were considered higher-ranking khatuns “great empresses”, with Börte being the highest-ranked.
His alleged 500 concubines were mostly captives from the peoples and nations Genghis conquered. That is why there is a good chance that Genghis Khan is the historical figure with the widest spread of his descendants throughout the globe.
Due to his numerous wives, Genghis Khan’s children are the ancestors of as many as 20 million males today, or around 0.5% of all men on the planet. His numerous offspring make up around 8% of the Central Asian population.
For instance, there are 43 grandchildren in the third generation of his line alone. Even Genghis Khan was unsure of his family’s size. After all, he could have slept with women everywhere he traveled toward the west, and he had no say over who gave birth to his child whatsoever.
Genghis Khan’s personal harem comprised four distinct ordos (palaces).
Börte Khatun, his first wife, held the highest rank among empresses.
The personal harem of Genghis Khan was enormous. Housing such a large number of wives and concubines presented significant challenges. Therefore, Genghis Khan had four distinct harems, which the Mongols referred to as the “Four Ordos,” so that he could better organize his spouses. These four ordos (which means “palaces”) were entrusted to Börte (Börte Üjin), Khulan, Yesui, and Yesugen, the four principal wives of Genghis Khan. Yesugen also gave birth to Chawuer (Cha’ur) who died before adulthood.
His spouses had ranks descending from great empress (khatun) to empress and concubine. All of Genghis’ wives, concubines, and children had their own yurts (households), which were overseen by the four queens. Börte Khatun, the first and greatest of the empresses, lived in the first yurt. She was the first wife of Genghis Khan, and she had the highest rank among the four queens. Also, Genghis Khan fully acknowledged Börte’s four sons as his rightful heirs. With his other children, though, he was not as involved.
Genghis Khan’s Eight Sons
His first four sons, born to Börte, became influential Mongol leaders.
The Great Khan also had lesser-known sons like Kuoliejian, Wuluchi, and Chawuer.
All four sons of Genghis Khan from Börte became powerful figures in the Mongol Empire. They also became the most famous of Genghis Khan’s children. Genghis Khan’s other alleged children, Kuoliejian, Wuluchi, Chawuer, and Shuerche, three of whom died young, all had different mothers. That’s why they are mentioned less frequently in history. Genghis Khan favored Kuoliejian among his secondary sons, and Kuoliejian was later blessed with four sons.
Jochi, born to Börte, was respected in the Mongol Empire.
His skill on the battlefield resulted in important accomplishments.
The eldest son, Jochi, born to Börte, was a general in the Mongol Empire. He is known for his participation in battles to conquer the Jin State, Western Xia, and Central Asia. Lands in the western section of the Mongol Empire were allocated to Jochi as part of Genghis Khan’s tribute.
According to legend, Börte was not pregnant when she was taken away by the rival Merkit tribe. However, when Temujin (aka Genghis Khan), with the help of his tribe, sent troops to rescue Börte, she was already heavily pregnant. She later gave birth to Jochi (also Jöchi or Juchi).
If the Mongols had placed a high value on blood, they would not have married so many women from diverse cultures. For Genghis, a child would always be considered his own son as long as the child called him ‘father’. That’s why Genghis called the baby “Jochi,” which means “guest” in Mongolian.
Among Temujin’s many sons, Jochi had the greatest battle achievements. But in 1222, Jochi stopped taking part in Genghis Khan’s wars. Genghis Khan believed that Jochi was intending to kill him, but during Temujin’s mobilization of troops, Jochi became critically ill and died at the age of 45.
After Genghis Khan’s western expedition, the hereditary territory of the Mongolian Khans of the Jochi line was established as the “Ulus of Jochi”, also referred to as the Kipchak Khanate or Golden Horde (1242–1502).
Jochi’s lands were split among his sons. His firstborn, Orda, established the White Horde, while his second, Batu, established the Golden Horde.
Chagatai founded the Chagatai Khanate after Genghis Khan’s death.
He had 7 sons, including Baiju and Baidar, from concubines.
Chagatai, Genghis Khan’s second son, also born to Börte, founded the Chagatai Khanate (1227–1363). After Genghis Khan died, Chagatai took over as the vassal emperor of Kashgar and much of Transoxiana (between the Amu and Syr Darya rivers).
Chagatai had 7 sons and the last four of them were from his concubines:
Mutukan (the eldest)
Belgesh
Yesü Möngk
Mochi Yebe
Sarban
Baidar
Baiju.
Chagatai inherited the five modern-day nations in Central Asia. Also, Genghis Khan tasked him with seeing that his written code of law, the Yassa, was really put into practice. Chagatai was held in high regard for around 14 years as a fair and capable leader. Despite having many children, it was Qara Hülegü, his grandson, who took control after his death.
He had seven sons, including Güyük and Kadan, during his rule.
Ögedei, the third son of Genghis Khan, was also born to Börte. He was supported and enthroned in 1229 AD to manage the entire Mongol Empire. Throughout his father’s rise to power, Ögedei was involved in a number of conflicts. When referring to himself, he was the first Mongol leader to use the Turkic title “khagan,” which means “great khan.” He married Töregene and was a key figure in the Mongol conquest of the Khwarazmian Empire.
Ögedei had seven sons in total:
Güyük (the eldest)
Koden
Köchü
Qarachar
Qashi
Kadan
Melig
He inherited his father’s mandate to expand the territory and went south to destroy the Jin Dynasty of North China, also sending his nephew, Batu Khan (1205–1255), the founder of the Golden Horde, to conquer Europe. During his reign, his territory expanded to include Central Asia, North China, and Eastern Europe. In 1271, Kublai Khan, the founder of the Yuan Dynasty, listed Ögedei as “Taizong” on his official record.
Tolui (1191–1232)
Genghis Khan’s fourth son Tolui Khan. (W. Commons)
Tolui, Genghis Khan’s youngest son, supervised the country after Ögedei’s reign.
Tolui had 11 sons, including Möngke Khan and Kublai Khan.
Mongol culture emphasized the need to keep the youngest child on the main base since he was not capable enough for an expedition yet. Tolui, the fourth son of Genghis Khan and also born to Börte, stayed with his parents and inherited his father’s offices, pastureland, and army. When Ögedei succeeded to the throne, Tolui supervised the country. Kublai Khan, the greatest successor of Genghis Khan, was Tolui’s fourth child.
Tolui had a total of 11 sons:
Möngke Khan (the eldest)
Kublai Khan
Hulagu Khan
Ariq Böke
Qutuqtu
El-Temür
Jörike
Möge
Böchök
Sögetei
Sübügetei
Tolui’s son Kublai posthumously bestowed upon him the title of Chinese emperor, though he never used it in his lifetime, even if he had never used the title of Khagan himself. His father’s sister-in-law, Altani, saved Tolui from a Tatar who was ready to murder him when he was five. In 1213, Tolui and his brother-in-law, Chiqu, participated in their first battle against the Jin dynasty by storming the walls of Dexing.
Prior to his death, Genghis Khan designated his own son, Ögedei, as his successor. At the time of his passing in 1227, Genghis Khan commanded a formidable army of 129,000 soldiers. Upon his death, a portion of these troops, totaling 28,000, were distributed among his many siblings and children. The lion’s share of these soldiers, numbering over 100,000, were bequeathed to his youngest son, Tolui, since he was a skilled military leader. Notably, this group also included the vast majority of the elite Mongolian cavalry.
Wuluchi (Ulugci)
It is likely that Wuluchi’s (or Ulugci’s) mother, a Tatar woman, was the khatun Yesui, one of Genghis Khan’s principal khatuns. Since she was a queen of Genghis, it is clear that Wuluchi did not have a particularly low social standing among Genghis Khan’s many other sons. But he did not appear to be a general in the Mongol army, unlike Kölgen, another son of Genghis.
Chawuer
Not much is known about Chawuer. However, Chawuer was born into a royal mother too; her mother was a queen of Genghis Khan, and she ranked fourth among the four queens that managed Genghis Khan’s great harems (the Four Ordos) and the concubine yurts.
Kölgen (Kuoliejian) (1188–1238)
From a position of standing, he was not a “nobody” as well. Kölgen was Khulan Khatun’s only son, the youngest khatun of Genghis Khan. She was Genghis’ second favorite wife. Therefore, Kölgen was second only to Genghis Khan’s other sons from Börte. He accompanied Genghis Khan on one of his famous western expeditions.
Khulan Hatun of Uvas Merkits, a Tatar by birth and a Mongolian by adoption, gave birth to Kölgen during the Mongol invasions in 1188. In 1238, in the Siege of Kolomna, he met his demise while leading the army under Batu Khan in the Kipchak campaign.
During the conquest of the Russian Principalities, he was the only börçigin to lose his life. The oldest of Kölgen’s four sons, Kucha, was also the most famous. During the Mongol era in China, Hucha’s son Uguday received a royal title in 1265, and his son Ebugen succeeded him.
In 1287, he was stripped of the royal title and executed because of his participation in the rebellion against Kublai Khan. In 1313, a man named “Grandson of the Kölgen” was given the title “Khan”, and his son Dorjban succeeded him.
Kölgen is also called Kyul Khan, Kulkan, Kuoliejian, Gelejian, and Küregen, depending on the source. The character Kulkan appears in the book “Baty” by Vasili Yang.
Shuerche
For Shuerche, things were quite different. It is unknown who his mother was; however, she was a member of the medieval Naiman tribe, a notorious Genghis Khan adversary that Genghis first defeated in 1199 and later in 1203, ending their last khan.
Genghis Khan’s Five Daughters
Genghis Khan’s daughters, like Alakhai Bekhi, played key roles as regents.
Checheikhen’s marriage to Torolchi established Mongol dominance over trade routes.
Each of Genghis Khan’s known daughters married a prominent individual of the time. The candidates were hand-picked and were allies who declared their allegiance to Genghis Khan. The only fact known about Tümelün (one of Genghis’ daughters) is that she married her cousin Chigu, who was the son of Alchi, who was born to Teyin (Dei Seichen), Börte’s father.
There was also a sixth daughter named Tulgha who was allegedly conceived by Qulan Khatun and the Qarluqs took her as a wife.
Alakhai Bekhi (1191–1230)
Genghis Khan’s daughter from his first marriage to Börte, Alakhai Bekhi, was a powerful figure in the background of his rule and acted as a regent over the parts of China he conquered. To show his gratitude to the Ongud, one of Genghis Khan’s allies, Alakhai was engaged to an Ongud relative in 1206. Genghis Khan formed this alliance to further his conquests beyond the Gobi Desert.
Though her husband was killed during a revolt by the Ongud in 1211, Alakhai was able to escape and put down the uprising with the help of her father. She eventually married her stepson Jingue, and the two of them raised a child they called Negudei. Alakhai was well-known for her devotion to her family’s traditions, her interest in medical and holy books, her promotion of literacy, and her daily reading habit.
In the wake of Jingue’s death, she married another of her stepsons, Boyaohe, and saw to it that Boyaohe and his children were married off to members of the Borjigin Clan, the clan of Genghis Khan, so that they might further their own political interests.
Checheikhen (died c. 1237)
The marriage of Genghis Khan’s daughter Checheikhen to Torolchi, a descendant of the Oirat leader Khudugha Beki, took place in 1207 as part of a peace treaty between the Mongol leader and the Oirat tribe. It was through her marriage that Mongol hegemony was established over the northern trade routes, and the territories under her sisters’ control grew increasingly economically connected.
Sad to say, after Checheikhen’s death in 1237, her brother, Ögedei Khan, seized power in the Oirat territories and is suspected of having perpetrated acts of brutality against the Oirat people. Orghana was one of Checheikhen’s daughters; Oghul Qaimish could have been another.
Qocin Beki (Huochenbieji)
Qochin Beki (Bekhi or Begi) was supposedly the oldest of Genghis Khan’s daughters by Borte, but not much more is known about her. Genghis Khan gave Qocin Beki as a bride to the Ikires people, namely Butu Küregen. Butu was previously the husband of Genghis Khan’s sister, Temulin, until her death.
The Ikires were a branch of the Khongirads, one of the largest Mongol groups in the 1100s. It is often believed that the Khongirad people are descended from the long-vanished Wuku or Wugu people. Qocin Beki is also called as Khochen Beki.
Alaltun
Genghis Khan had a daughter with an unnamed concubine; she was actually known as Il-Alti, Il-Altun, or Ile Khatun (Qatun), and the name “Alaltun” was a mistake in transcription. She was one of nine half-siblings, although four of them didn’t make it to adulthood.
After Genghis Khan had won the obedience and devotion of the Uyghur leader Barjuk Idi-Qut, he promised Il-Alti to him as a reward. However, the marriage never took place since Idi-Qut already had a main spouse and Il-Alti had passed away.
The promise was tried to be fulfilled by Il-Alti’s half-brother Ögedei, who became Khan after Genghis Khan’s death, but it was too late. Some say that Il-Alti was executed by Ögedei’s supporters because she poisoned Ögedei; others say that her execution was unfair and against Genghis Khan’s Yassa (law code).
Throughout the history of the Mongol Empire, Il-Alti stood out as both the leader of the Uyghurs and a heroic figure. Rashid al-Din, a Persian historian, claims that among Genghis Khan’s 13 children, she was his favorite daughter.
Genghis Khan’s exact height is unknown, but estimates range from 5’6″ to 5’8″.
Genghis Khan’s family, the Borjigin clan, was known for producing tall individuals with striking features.
Genghis Khan imposed a ban on creating images of himself during his lifetime.
You can listen to this article.
How tall was Genghis Khan? Genghis Khan, the first emperor of the Mongol Empire, is a focal figure in global history. That is why the height of the emperor is also a topic of debate. The exact height of Genghis Khan was never recorded. Despite that, several historians place his height between 5’6″ and 5’8″ (1.68 and 1.73 m). Even though a clear answer to this question is elusive due to lack of hard facts, there are some convincing points, and clues regarding the Great Khan’s height.
Historical Records on How Tall Genghis Khan Was
The statue of Genghis Khan at the Government Palace in Ulan Bator. Image: Abhijit Chavda-YouTube.
Even though Genghis Khan’s actual height is unknown, Genghis is actually described as “tall” in contemporary Chinese documents. The truth is, people in Mongolia come in various shapes and sizes, so it shouldn’t come as much of a surprise that some of the world’s tallest men today also call this nation home.
However, considering the diminutive size of Mongolian horses, Genghis Khan probably wasn’t too tall either. The Mongols’ success was largely due to the size of their horses. The native Mongolian horses that Genghis Khan’s army rode into battle on were small, but powerful. Their horses were between 12 and 14 hands in height (48–56 inches, 122–142 cm).
On the other hand, the European riding horses are bigger, standing 16–18 hands (64–72 inches, 163–183 cm). For comparison, the average height of a British male citizen during Genghis Khan’s time was around 5 feet 8 inches (1.73 m), as the skeletal evidence suggests.
Many Mongols get their impressive strength by participating in archery and wrestling, two of their ancient activities. Genghis Khan’s siblings were outstanding wrestlers, and he thus inherited their power.
When put in perspective, the typical height of a man in China has increased from 5’3″ to 5’7″ (160 to 170 cm) just during the 19th century. Since Temujin (Genghis Khan) was simply described as “tall” by the Chinese, it is also possible that he stood at a height in the range of 5’7″ to 5’9″ (170–175 cm).
However, these are just estimations, and they cannot be absolutely precise. It is impossible to estimate Genghis Khan’s height with certainty because of the lack of reliable documents and measurements from the time period.
The Impact of Genghis Khan’s Origin on His Height
Battle between Mongols & Chinese (1430). Jami’ al-tawarikh, Rashid al-Din.
The Russian historian Lev Gumilyov (1912–1992) asserts that the warriors of Genghis Khan’s army were predominantly tall, fair-haired individuals with blue or green eyes. This is also supported by the frescoes found in Manchuria.
Genghis Khan himself belonged to the ancient Borjigin family, which translates to “blue-eyed” and was known for producing tall, robust individuals with reddish blonde hair and striking blue or green eyes.
Additionally, men of the Borjigin clan were known for their long beards and wide foreheads. This description is also echoed in the works of Persian scientist and physician Rashid al-Din (“A Compendium of Chronicles“) and Italian traveler Marco Polo, who both depict Genghis Khan as a European-like figure.
The Avars, a group of migrant warriors from Mongolia, were known for their large physiques. This is evidenced in both Russian and Frankish chronicles, which describe the Avars as formidable opponents on the battlefield.
A Turco-Mongol or Tatar king is depicted in Russian epics as a towering figure with the head of a beer kettle, the eyes of a beer bowl, and broad shoulders spanning the length of an “oblique sazhen” — roughly 2.5 meters (8.2 feet).
He is also described as having a body like a haystack. Overall, this Tatar king is portrayed as a giant of a man, with a huge frame and striking features. Because of Genghis Khan’s massive frame, other populations naturally feared the Mongols.
The Truth About the Chinese Sources Regarding Genghis Khan’s Height
Genghis Khan’s 40-meter (130 ft) tall statue in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. (François Philipp, CC BY 2.0)
Genghis Khan, the Great Mongol, was renowned as the greatest warrior, so it stands to reason that he was also a formidable and imposing physical man with a well-developed chest and powerful arms. And just like today, most Chinese men during Genghis Khan’s reign favored a slimmer physique.
Genghis Khan’s physical size definitely left a positive impression on Chinese historians, since their records portray Genghis as tall and stocky. For the Chinese, to look at Genghis was to see a prototypical Mongol wrestler.
The Chinese frequently claimed that the Mongols were godlike in stature and appeared massive. This, of course, includes how tall Genghis Khan was. This makes sense, considering the Mongols’ penchant for large stature due to their diet and a lot of fighting.
And back in Genghis Khan’s day, almost every Mongol was a wrestler. Given their fondness for red meat, it should come as no surprise that Mongol wrestlers tended to be more muscular than most other people.
Arguments for Genghis Khan’s Height
Genghis Khan in the movie Mongol.
Some historians contend that Genghis Khan was likely taller than believed. They reference paintings and monuments of Genghis Khan that portray him as a towering presence. But Genghis Khan may have stood tall in his own right since many of the Mongol troops in his army were said to be quite tall. For instance, in the Chinese records, Mongols are described as very tall troops.
These days, a typical Mongol stands between 160 and 180 centimeters (63 and 71 inches) tall. However, this doesn’t mean much since the average height of people in a nation can increase or decrease a lot in relatively short periods of time.
For example, the skeletal evidence suggests that the average height of Englishmen increased from 167 centimeters to 170 centimeters (about 5 feet 5 inches) during the Roman colonization of Britain (200–410 AD). And the Norman invasion in 1066 also coincided with a rebound in the average height of British males.
Average heights had risen to 172 (67.7 inches) centimeters by the end of the early medieval period; by the 1100s, they had risen to 173 centimeters (68.1 inches), approaching the heights attained at the turn of the twentieth century.
On the other hand, scholars who believe Genghis Khan was shorter than traditionally thought point out that Genghis was a nomadic warrior and that a lower height could have been more advantageous for horseback riding and other tasks for people like Genghis.
Even if Genghis Khan was tall for his people, he probably would have been shorter than many world leaders of the time since the average Mongolian man of his era was about 5 feet, 4 inches (162 cm) tall.
How Tall Were Mongol Warriors?
The appearance of Mongol warriors from the Genghis Khan: Conquest & Culture exhibit. (Andrea Olson, EastIdahoNews)
Historians frequently describe the Mongol warriors of Genghis Khan’s army as predominantly tall. Today, the average height of men in Mongolia is 170 centimeters (5’7″).
Given the recentness of the Mongol invasions and their still similar lifestyle, the Mongols’ height and physicality are likely to have remained similar since Genghis Khan. According to that, most Mongol warriors at the time could be taller than 1.75 meters (5′9″), if not close to 1.80 meters (5′11″).
Nutrition, lifestyle, and selection all have a role in growth. Frankish peasants, who seldom ate meat, were around 10 centimeters (3.9 inches) shorter than their feudal rulers throughout the early Middle Ages.
Because of their meat-based diet, the Mongols were expected to be physically larger than European nobility at the time. The Mongols’ bigger torsos would have made them seem towering to their foreign adversaries. Plus, their hefty frames and strong limbs make up for their lack of height.
How Tall is Genghis Khan’s Statue?
A 130-foot (40-meter) stainless-steel monument of Genghis Khan and his horse dominates the Mongolian steppe. The horse’s head has a walkable deck. (CC0 Image by Unsplash)
The Genghis Khan Equestrian Statue is a massive sculpture made of stainless steel that stands 130 feet tall and shows the great ruler riding a horse. This monument has the title of being the highest equestrian statue in the whole world.
It is perched atop a hill at a site named Tsonjin Boldog, barely 54 kilometers (33 miles) from Ulaanbaatar, the capital of Mongolia, where it is said that Genghis Khan discovered a whip. The discovery of the whips was a sign of impending power, wealth, and achievement. The height of the tourist center alone is 10 meters (33 feet).
Why Are Mongolian Horses Short in Height?
It’s possible that smaller horse breeds evolved as a result of having to adapt to harsher natural temperatures and fewer nutrition sources, which is why the Mongolian horse is shorter in height than many other breeds. Despite being a small horse with a short and huge neck, the Mongolian horse has exceptionally developed forequarters.
Their hips and shoulders are broad, their backs are short, and their legs are robust. Mongol horses became excellent warhorses because of their fortitude, stamina, and ability to forage for themselves. The Mongol horse’s slowness in comparison to other breeds it encountered in battle was its worst shortcoming as a military horse.
Why Are Asians Shorter Than Western People?
Those of Asian heritage tend to be shorter in stature than the average person. This is because, during the previous ice age, people in Asia benefited from maintaining their core body temperature by having a smaller, more compact body shape. The dietary habits of Asian culture also contribute to the height gap, since they usually consist of less dairy and protein than Western diets.
When East Asians take the same quantity of calcium as their Western counterparts, they tend to be of similar height. While Asians are becoming taller, Americans are shrinking today. Individuals from more prosperous socioeconomic situations tend to be taller simply because they have greater access to nutritious food.
Surprisingly little is known about Genghis Kahn’s life or appearance. There are no surviving pictures or sculptures of him from his time period. However, Genghis Khan’s Mongol warriors were mostly tall, fair-haired men with blue or green eyes.
Genghis Khan was a member of the Borjigin family, which is translated as “blue-eyed” and was known for producing strong, tall individuals with reddish blonde hair and blue or green eyes.
When it comes to Genghis Khan, the reports paint a picture of a towering, powerful man with a big, bushy beard and a thick, flowing mane of hair. 14th-century Persian historian Rashid al-Din reported that Genghis had red hair and green eyes.
Despite the fact that Al-Din never actually met the Khan, it is possible that members of the ethnically diverse Mongol people may have such stunning traits.
Why Was Genghis Never Portrayed?
Genghis Khan’s official portrait, painted after his death under the supervision of his grandson Kublai Khan. (Image)
Genghis Khan, the chief of the Mongols, imposed a strict ban on the production of any artwork that depicted his image, including statues and coins. However, after his passing, the first representations of him were released.
Only Kublai Khan, Genghis Khan’s grandson, who had spent 12 years in close proximity to him, was able to paint a portrait of the legendary leader. The artist was closely supervised by Genghis Khan himself as he created the painting. The portrait, which dates back to 1278, was later colored in the 14th century.
Conclusion
The historical sources are not particularly reliable, and it is difficult to conclude how tall Genghis Khan was. But most sources agree that Genghis Khan was between 5’6″ and 5’8″ (168 cm and 173 cm). Despite his diminutive height, Genghis Khan was one of history’s most influential leaders due to the powerful Mongol Empire he founded and expanded to enormous size, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death.
When it came to his “height,” Genghis Khan was unquestionably a “towering” figure who had a significant impact on the world as it is now, regardless of how tall he really was. With his leadership and military skills, Genghis Khan was a key part of the Mongol Empire’s growth both in Asia and Europe.
