The most influential women of the Turkic Khaganate
The history of the Turkic peoples contains few references to influential women, since the conquerors of the khaganate often perceived their wives as trophies, things. But there were exceptions… For example, according to legend, Genghis Khan married a woman who was expecting a child from another man. He respected and loved her son equally, as well as his own children, bequeathed him a third of the kingdom and never hinted at his origin.
Hoelun, mother of Genghis Khan (year of birth unknown, died in 1208)
Genghis Khan’s mother was a Mongol from the Olkhonut tribe and was included in this list due to the kinship of Mongols and Turks, as well as the significant influence of her son on the Turkic world. Yesugei-baatur kidnapped his eldest wife Hoelun. Before marrying him, she already had a lover Chiledu, but one day they were attacked by Yesugei’s people: Chiledu was scared and ran away, and Yesugei took the girl for himself. Hoelun bore him four sons and one daughter. A year after the birth of the youngest child, Khan died, probably due to poisoning. Left alone with five children, she was faced with the fact that the head of the Taichiut clan took away her cattle and house, leaving the family without means of livelihood. Nevertheless, she was able to raise children, and her eldest son Temujin (Genghis Khan) founded the largest empire in history.
Fell in love and freed from captivity: the story of Genghis Khan’s beloved wife.
He fell in love with Borte as a child, and when he became an adult, he returned her and made her his main wife! At the age of 9, Temujin (the one who would later become Genghis Khan) was given the task by his father to find a bride. At that time, it was customary for the boy to remain in the tribe of his future wife. Borte lived among the nomadic Ungirats. Some sources say that she was a year older than him, while others say that she was two or three years older. This did not prevent their friendship, however, it did not last long. After the poisoning of his father, Temujin’s family lost all privileges, and he himself fell into slavery, having endured many trials.
For almost ten years, the khan’s daughter faithfully waited for Temujin, as promised. Her father was convinced that the guy had not survived, but she refused everyone, waiting for her lover. According to most sources, Genghis Khan possessed incredible charm and charisma. He was a green-eyed blond man with a reddish tinge of hair. An impressive feature of his influence on people was that the enemy warriors he captured went over to his side and became so loyal to him that their loyalty turned into obsession.
On that memorable day, he charmed his future father-in-law by promising to pay later for his wife, who showed touching fidelity. Borte’s father could not even imagine in his dreams what gifts he would receive for her! Historians will later call this agreement the most profitable deal in the history of mankind.
However, the happiness turned out to be short-lived. While Temujin was on a camping trip, Borte was kidnapped. From that moment, the formation of Genghis Khan (which means «Great Khan») began. Using all his diplomatic skills, Temujin gathered forty thousand warriors ready to go with him to free his wife, which was incredible, because women were then considered only a whim and mothers of children. He returned his beloved by defeating the invaders in the steppe. And then a delicate fact became clear: Borte was pregnant, and according to the timing, the kidnapper could be the father. When the firstborn was born, Genghis Khan raised him above his head and declared: «This is my son, and whoever dares to challenge this will know the sharpness of my sword.»
And here the story diverges.
According to another version, while being held captive by merkit Chilgir, Borte could have become a victim of violence, and Chilgir could have been the father of her first child. But Genghis Khan still accepted this child as his own.
Borte bore the great Khan four sons and five daughters. According to legend, their union was so happy and wise that for almost 50 years Genghis Khan and Borte were only with each other. The appearance of new wives was not a whim of the khan, but a necessity, since the emperor needed to have many children, and Borte eventually lost the ability to give birth to them.
Sarai-Malik khanim
At the beginning of the XV century, Spanish ambassadors arrived at the court of the great Tamerlane and, to their surprise, found that his main wife not only kept her own court, but also, uncharacteristically for Oriental women, had the right to receive men in her apartments. Moreover, she freely consumed alcohol at the same table with men and behaved very uninhibited. This woman was named Sarai-Mulk or Sarai-Malik khanim.
Translated, her name means «Mistress of the Palace», and perhaps it was not given at birth, but received in her first marriage. Sarai-Malik came from the Genghisid family. Her first husband unsuccessfully fought Tamerlane and was defeated. Tamerlane distributed all his property, including the harem, personally, and the twenty-nine-year-old Sarai-Malik became his wife.
It wasn’t about her special beauty: marrying a representative of Genghis Khan’s family gave Tamerlane legitimacy for his new empire. Together with his wife, he received the title of Guragan, which means son-in-law of Genghis Khan. Sarai-Malik began to be called Bibi khanim, the elder lady.
Tamerlane surrounded Sarai-Malik with honors, emphasizing both her innate high status and his acquired one. This helped to establish their relationship, and Sarai-Malik became his main adviser in all matters, as well as the main educator of his children. Almost like in «The Handmaid’s Tale»: other wives gave birth, and Sarai-Malik was engaged in upbringing. By the way, she provided her stepsons with a first-class education for those times and places. She had no children of her own.
Uljay Turkan agha, Tamerlane’s wife (exact years of life unknown, died in 1367)
Tamerlan’s beloved wife, Timur, was the mother of his first and beloved son, Jahangir.
Although Sarai-Malik was respected by Tamerlane, most of his heart belonged to Uljai-Turkan, the granddaughter of the ruler of the Chagatai ulus, which was one of the ruins of the Genghisid empire. Timur (Tamerlane) was twenty years old when he married Uljai, who was probably only a little younger than him. Shortly after the wedding, Uljay gave birth to his beloved firstborn, Jahangir. She accompanied him on his campaigns, and Tamerlane always took care of her comfort. Of course, he had another reason to show love to her: her grandfather could declare him his heir, especially after Timur had saved him from conspiracies more than once. Unfortunately, one of these plots led to the death of the emir before he could officially appoint a successor. Nevertheless, Tamerlane’s feelings for Uljay did not fade even after her political advantages dried up.
However, not everything was smooth for this couple. When Mughal Khan, another son-in-law of the Chagatai emir, came to power, he began to persecute Tamerlane. As a result, almost all his supporters turned away from him, except Uljai, and they wandered together across the steppe in search of shelter. At this difficult moment, fate smiled on them — an old acquaintance of Tamerlan tried to rob them, who, upon recognizing him, became sympathetic. Many later decided that Uljai brought Timur good luck.
Their marriage lasted only eleven years, as Uljay died young, unable to withstand the difficulties and hardships of life. It is said that Tamerlane never grieved so much for any woman as for her. The fate was unfortunate for Jahangir’s sons, who also died young.
Uljay was known for her dedication: She gave Timur her jewels in difficult times, was exposed to dangers with him and was even held captive. Tamerlan trusted only her, so she accompanied him everywhere.
Uljay died when Tamerlane was only 31 years old. It is unknown how old she was herself, since her date of birth has not been preserved.