Börte Üjin (; Mongolian: ), better known as Börte (), 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. She was betrothed to Genghis at a young age, married at seventeen, and then kidnapped by a rival tribe. Her husband's rescue of her is considered one of the key events that started him on his path to becoming a conqueror. She gave birth to four sons and five daughters, who, along with their own descendants, were the primary bloodline in the expansion of the Mongol Empire.

Early life

Few historical facts are known about her early life, though she is a subject of a number of Mongolian legends. What little is known is generally from The Secret History of the Mongols, the oldest surviving literary work in the Mongolian language, written for the Mongol royal family some time after the death of Genghis Khan in 1227.

Börte was born into the Olkhonud of Khongirad. This tribe was friendly to the Borjigin tribe, into which Temüjin was born. She was the daughter of Dei-Sechen and Chotan. She was described as having a "fair complexion", with "light in her face and fire in her eyes", a term signifying intelligence. The girls that came from the Olkhonud tribe were known for being particularly beautiful.

Later, as Khan, Temüjin exterminated the Merkit people and enslaved their women.

Rule

Börte brought with her independent wealth, based on her dowry, and a shrewd and intelligent mind. She shared some responsibilities with her mother-in-law Hö'elün, including the management of human and animal resources and the economy of the camp overall.

Around 1179, the first of Börte's children, Qojin, was born. Börte's nine children were integral to Temüjin's rule; her five daughters would go on to marry key political allies to cement diplomatic relationships, while her four sons aided in Temüjin's conquests throughout Asia.

Additionally, Börte managed pan-Asian trade routes, and acted as advisor to officials and merchants traveling these roads. She maintained considerable power in this position as detailed by multiple documented events. In one particular instance, she had successfully advised Temüjin to cut ties with Jamuqa, a military leader, once she had deemed that the alliance was no longer mutually beneficial. Additionally, she insisted that a shaman, Teb Tenggeri, be challenged for insulting his youngest brother, Temuge Otchigin. Both of these requests were dutifully followed by Temüjin.

She was revered by the Mongols after Temüjin became Genghis Khan, and she was crowned the Grand Empress.

Börte, on several occasions, influenced her husband's decisions, as Genghis both respected and appreciated Börte's insight on political relationships. One such incident was when Otchigin came into Genghis Khan's tent while he was still in bed with Börte, and asked for help against the Qongqotan tribe. Before Genghis Khan could say anything, Börte "sat up in bed, covering her breasts with the edge of the blanket" and described the cruelty of the Qongqotan. After listening to his wife speak, Genghis Khan decided to help Otchigin. There is also evidence of Börte influencing how strict Genghis was with members of his cabinet.

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. Most of the Kherlen River was assigned to her, land that had before belonged to the Tatars. Only her sons were considered to be candidates to succeed Temüjin as Khans. Meanwhile, she also adopted multiple orphans, including Qutqu Noyan and Buda Noyan, and raised them as her own – greatly improving her reputation and social status as a mother.

Family

Sons

  • Jochi
  • Chagatai
  • Ögedei
  • Tolui

Daughters

  • Kua Ujin Bekhi, the eldest, was betrothed to Tusakha, son of Senggum, and grandson of Wang Khan, ruler of the Keraite tribe; she eventually married Botu, of the Ikires tribe, and widower of her paternal aunt Temulun.
  • Alakhai Bekhi, married first to Alaqush Digit Quri, chieftain of the Ongüt tribe; then to his nephew and heir Jingue; and finally to her stepson Boyaohe.
  • Tümelün, married to Chigu, son of Alchi, son of Dei Seichen, Börte's father.
  • Al Altan, married the powerful Uyghur ruler Barchuk.Shortly after the accession of Güyük Khan in the 1240s, she was tried and executed on charges that were later suppressed.
  • Checheikhen, married to Törölchi, son of Quduka beki, of the Oirat tribe.

thumb|Toloui and his wife Sorghaghtani

Börte and Temüjin placed great faith (and territory) unto their children, also supplying them with considerable wealth and positions to inherit. There was some family conflict over succession; there were doubts about the true father of Jochi, as it is feasible that Börte was raped during her kidnapping and, therefore, that Jochi's father may be one of her captors. Chagatai, Jochi's brother, often chided Jochi for these claims, which often led to quarrels between the two brothers. Temüjin reportedly wholeheartedly denied this accusation, calling them disrespectful and claiming Jochi as his son. As a result of this infighting, Genghis Khan opted for neither Jochi nor Chagatai to take over his legacy as Khan. Instead, Ogodei was selected to rule because he was a peacemaker between his two brothers. Ogodei and Tolui took the reins of their parents’ legacies and their children continued to rule as Khan in many later generations. Both Jochi and Chagatai would also go on to become rulers of territorial divisions, although not the entire empire. Jochi's descendants, for example, would found and rule over the Golden Horde in the west.

Legacy and modern representations

Börte died in 1230, after her husband. Ultimately, throughout her life, Börte earned reverence and respect from the Mongols. She was an admired mother figure for the whole empire, an image which was bolstered by her relationships with both her biological and adopted children. She also cultivated political marriages for her daughters, solidifying diplomatic relations. Throughout history, the Onggiard would use political marriages to ensure amicable relations between the parties involved, with the daughters acting as "intercessors". In this manner, Börte acted both as an advisor to her husband and as a trainer to her daughters, cultivating them to believe in their mission as "representatives, diplomats, and active participants in affairs of state".

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 and Chuluuny Khulan in the 2007 Oscar-nominated Russian film Mongol. She has also appeared as a playable character in the video game Iron Maiden: Legacy of the Beast, created by the popular metal band of the same name.

References

Bibliography

  • René Grousset. Conqueror of the World: The Life of Chingis-khan (New York: The Viking Press, 1944) .
  • Man, John. Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection (London; New York : Bantam Press, 2004) .