Börte

Borte
Khatun of the Mongol Empire and Khamag Mongol
Reign 1189–1230
Successor Moqe
Born 1161
Died 1230 (aged 68–69)
Avarga, Mongolia
Spouse Genghis Khan
Issue Jochi
Chagatai
Ögedei
Tolui
Khochen Bekhi
Alakhai Bekhi
Tümelün
Alaltun
Checheikhen
House Onggirat
Father Dei Seichen
Mother Tacchotan

Börte (simply Borte, also Börte Üjin; Cyrillic: Бөртэ үжин; c. 1161–1230) was the first wife of Temüjin, who became Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire. Börte became the head of the first Court of Genghis Khan, and Grand Empress of his Empire. Little is known about the details of her early life, but she was betrothed to him at a young age, married at 17, and then kidnapped by a rival tribe. The decision by her husband to rescue her may have been one of the key decisions that started him on his path to conquer the world. She gave birth to four sons and five daughters, who, along with their own descendants, were the key bloodline which further expanded the Mongol Empire.

Early life

Few historical facts are known about her life, but Mongolians have many legends about her. What little is known is generally from The Secret History of the Mongols.

Börte was born around 1161 into the Olkhunut of Onggirat. This tribe was friendly to the Khiyad tribe, into which Temüjin was born. She was the daughter of Dei-Sechen and Chotan.[1] She was described as having a "fair complexion" with "light in her face and fire in her eyes," meaning that she was intelligent.[2]

The marriage was arranged by her father and Yesükhei, Genghis' father, when she was 10 and he was 9 years old. Temüjin then stayed with her family until he was called back to help his mother and younger siblings, due to the poisoning of Yesükhei by an enemy.[3] In 1178, Temüjin traveled to find Börte. With the permission of Dei-Sechen, he took Börte and her mother to live in his family's Yurt, which was camped along the Senggür river.[4] Börte's dowry was a fine black sable jacket.[5]

Abduction

Soon after she married Temüjin, the Three Mergids attacked the family camp at dawn. Temüjin and the men escaped on horses, but left the women behind because they did not have enough horses for all of the family members to get away. Börte was taken captive by the Merkits. The raid was in retaliation for the abduction of Hoelun, Temüjin's mother, by his father Yesügei many years earlier.[6] Several months later, Temüjin, with his allies Wang Khan and Jamukha, rescued her from her captors. Some scholars describe this event as one of the key crossroads in his life, which moved him along the path towards becoming a conqueror.

Börte had been held captive for eight months, and she gave birth to Jochi after she was rescued, leaving doubt as to who the father of the child was, because her captor took her as a "wife", and therefore could have possibly impregnated her. However, Genghis let Jochi remain with his family and claimed him as his own son. He was supposed to be Genghis' successor but because of his doubt of being Jochi's real father, his brothers would not accept him as ruler and Genghis had to choose another son realizing they would not accept Jochi. Jochi then became leader of the Golden Horde.

Grand Empress

Börte was the senior wife of Temüjin. She was revered by the Mongols after he became the Great Khan, and she was crowned the Grand Empress. As Genghis Khan continued to expand his influence and empire, Börte remained behind and assisted Genghis' brother Temüge in ruling the Mongol homeland. Other wives accompanied Genghis Khan on his campaigns, while she ruled her own territory and managed her own court.[7] Most of the Kherlen River was assigned to her, land that had before belonged to the Tatars.[8] Only her sons were considered to be candidates to succeed Temüjin as Khans.

Börte is often portrayed as a beautiful woman dressed in a white silken gown, with gold coins in her hair, holding a white lamb, and riding a white steed.

Children

Börte's sons:

Daughters:

Although several of Genghis Khan's children by other wives or concubines received some form of recognition in the empire, including land or military commands, including troops, only Börte's children were recognized as potential Great Khans. She, together with his mother Hoelun, was counted as one of his most trusted advisors.

Modern references

Given her significant role in Genghis Khan's life, Börte has appeared as a prominent character in the many films and television series based on her husband's life and conquests. The actresses who have portrayed her include Susan Hayward in The Conqueror, Françoise Dorléac in Genghis Khan (1965 film) and Chuluuny Khulan in the 2007 Oscar nominated Russian film Mongol.

Notes

  1. ↑ Onon, Urgunge (ed.). The secret history of the Mongols; The life and times of Chinggis Khan (Chapter 1) (PDF). section 65.
  2. ↑ Onon, Urgunge (ed.). The secret history of the Mongols; The life and times of Chinggis Khan (Chapter 1) (PDF). section 65-66.
  3. ↑ Onon, Urgunge (ed.). The secret history of the Mongols; The life and times of Chinggis Khan (Chapter 1) (PDF). section 61,66,68.
  4. ↑ Onon, Urgunge (ed.). The secret history of the Mongols; The life and times of Chinggis Khan (Chapter 2) (PDF). section 94.
  5. ↑ Onon, Urgunge (ed.). The secret history of the Mongols; The life and times of Chinggis Khan (Chapter 2) (PDF). section 96.
  6. ↑ Onon, Urgunge (ed.). The secret history of the Mongols; The life and times of Chinggis Khan (Chapter 2) (PDF). section 98-102.
  7. ↑ Ratchnevsky, Paul (1991). Genghis Khan: His Life and Legacy. Blackwell Publishing. pp. 164–5. ISBN 0-631-16785-4.
  8. ↑ Weatherford. The Secret History of the Mongol Queens. p. 28.

Sources

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