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
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
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?
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.
