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.
Ortogh, which translates to “companion,” “friend,” or “partner” in Turkish (“Ortak”), was the name of a joint venture trading organization under the Mongol Empire. Ortogh or ortoq was made up of Muslim aristocratic merchants and played a part in China’s political structure during the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty (1271–1368). Ortogh was one of the unique commercial forms that existed from the late 13th century to the mid-14th century, during the time when the Mongol Empire generated significant wealth. The Chinese word for Ortogh, “Wotuo” reflects the pronunciation of this Turkish term.
Merchants and moneylenders who worked with the Mongol Empire were referred to as ortogh.
Origin of Ortogh
Through Ortogh, traders from all across Asia and Europe, including Marco Polo’s family, partnered with the aristocracy of the Mongol Empire.
Due to their wealth but lack of business acumen, the Mongols opted to work with Semu (people from Central and West Asia) businesspeople in order to share risks and reduce the cost of trade.
In the Mongol Empire, a trader was called an ortogh if he worked with the Mongol state or nobility. The Ortogh system made it possible to pool resources, which reduced the risk of unsuccessful caravans and made long-distance trade possible at a much lower cost.
The risk of participating in caravan commerce during the Mongol era was quite high. Over the course of a protracted expedition, it was necessary to feed, pay, and outfit as many as a hundred people with supplies, including food, clothing, camels, horses, and so on.
Many caravans were in danger from things like natural calamities or robbery groups. Due to the high costs associated with such a catastrophe, a single failed caravan may completely wipe out a merchant’s wealth.
The Mongols devised the Ortogh system, wherein merchants pooled their resources to sponsor a single caravan to reduce the cost of failure.
It is believed that the original security relationship between nomads and merchants served as the basis for Ortogh. Nomads provided protection for merchants while they established contacts, transacted business, and gathered intelligence in their capacity as intermediaries.
In the Ortogh system, merchants pooled their resources to sponsor a single caravan. Even if a whole caravan perished, not a single trader would go out of business. When the caravans were successful, everyone involved would split the spoils.
Just like the word, the origin of the Ortogh system dates back to the Turkic tribes. Ibn Fadlan describes the relationship between the nomadic Oghuz Turks and Muslim traders under the Ortogh in his travelogue, which takes place in the 10th century.
History of Ortogh in the Mongol Empire
Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan created the practice of Ortogh by delegating authority over the distribution of gold and silver ingots for trade to members of his family and military leaders and suggesting they hire financial advisors from Muslims of Uyghur, and Central Asian Turkic.
Muslim businessmen led the way in establishing Ortogh, a joint investment organization that oversaw trade, transportation, banking, and tax collection.
Therefore, the ruling elite of the Mongol Empire relied on Muslim merchants who served as financial administrators due to their lack of expertise in areas like tax collection, which are essential to the administration of an agrarian society.
Muslim businessmen led the way in establishing Ortogh, a joint investment organization that oversaw trade, transportation, banking, and tax collection.
As long as the traders did not disrupt military operations, they were allowed generous commissions and access to official resting stations. Those stations were found every 20 to 30 miles with lodging, hot food, and rested horses.
If a business owner belonged to an Ortogh, the Mongols would lend them money at a cheap interest rate. The Mongols, who prized skill above ethnic background, typically held Muslim merchants in high regard who got in touch with the Mongol court through commerce, and they ultimately acquired the confidence of Mongol nobles and emperors.
Through Ortogh, traders from all across Asia and Europe, including Marco Polo‘s family, partnered with the aristocracy of the Mongol Empire.
Ortogh (“Ortak/Partner”) is mentioned in writings before Möngke Khan’s time (grandson of Genghis Khan, r. 1251–1259).
The Mongol Empire often possessed a thorough understanding of the dynamics of the economy. Mahmud Yalavach (d. 1254), the Muslim finance minister in the Mongol Empire, argued that currency had worth if supply and demand were in balance since it was a property.
To obtain silver, the international currency of the period, and to utilize it as an investment in commerce, the tax administration of the regions conquered by the Mongols specialized in collecting silver.
Members of Ortogh comprised mainly Muslim merchants but also Uyghur merchants, and even some Han Chinese and Christians.
The founder of the Yuan dynasty, Kublai Khan, had a diverse and multicultural staff that included Uyghurs, Khitans, Han Chinese, Jurchens, and others even before he became emperor in 1271.
After the Yuan Dynasty was established in China, the populace was split between the Mongols, Semu (mostly the speakers of Turkic languages), Han (northern Chinese, or Hanren), and Southerners (southern Chinese, or Nanren).
Among them, intelligent financiers were placed in control of the financial department, namely Muslim merchants. Members of Ortogh comprised mainly Muslim merchants but also Uyghur merchants, and even some Han Chinese and Christians.
Negative Effects of Ortogh
Kublai Khan (1215–1294) granted concessions to the administrators of the Ortogh, and they became an official part of the Yuan Dynasty’s government. In 1268, Kublai set up an administration for the monitoring of Ortogh to help the members there have access to low-interest loans.
In doing so, the members of the Ortogh frequently abused the local people economically through the imposition of commercial taxes and monopoly taxes, both of which went counter to the traditional Chinese understanding of banking and money in the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty.
Additionally, “royal edicts”—which means to proclaim the words of the emperor—were provided to particular people from ortogh, as well as Buddhist and Taoist temples.
Those edicts were known as “protection imperatives” or “precise imperatives” and they were provided without going through the government. So, it became something that often messed with the system and broke laws.
Therefore, Chinese people thought poorly of Ortogh businesspeople because of the preferential treatment they received from authorities and the exorbitant interest rates they charged on loans.
Politician Wang Yun of the Han dynasty was not a fan of the ortogh’s unique rights, especially the ability to keep and carry weapons. By the time of the Ming dynasty (1368–1644), the name ortogh signified little more than “merchant.”
Hanseatic League vs. Ortogh
One may ask, how did the Hanseatic League compare to the Ortogh? The Hanseatic League and the Ortogh existed at relatively similar times but in different places.
North German cities and German commercial communities overseas formed an association called the Hanseatic League to look out for each other’s economic interests. Between the 13th and 15th centuries, the League controlled much of the trade in northern Europe.
In contrast, the Ortogh system consisted of traders who worked hand in hand with the Mongol empire and its many aristocratic citizens. Because merchants could combine their resources and lower the probability of unsuccessful caravans, long-distance commerce could expand and become much more cost-effective.
So, although both groups and systems engaged in commerce, their aims and natures diverged significantly. Ortogh was concerned with lowering the danger of failed caravans and boosting long-distance commerce inside the Mongol Empire, whereas the Hanseatic League was concerned with preserving the mutual commercial interests of north German cities and merchant communities overseas.
Ortogh at a Glance
What is Ortogh?
Ortogh was a joint venture trading organization under the Mongol Empire made up of Muslim aristocratic merchants. It played a part in China’s political structure during the Mongol-led Yuan dynasty (1271–1368).
What was the origin of the Ortogh system?
The original security relationship between nomads and merchants served as the basis for the Ortogh system. Nomads provided protection for merchants while they established contacts, transacted business, and gathered intelligence in their capacity as intermediaries.
How did the Ortogh system help reduce the risk of caravans during the Mongol era?
The Ortogh system made it possible to pool resources, which reduced the risk of unsuccessful caravans and made long-distance trade possible at a much lower cost. Merchants pooled their resources to sponsor a single caravan, and even if a whole caravan perished, not a single trader would go out of business. When the caravans were successful, everyone involved would split the spoils.
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.
