Temujin, the young son of Yesugei, was sent to live with his future wife Borte and her parents in 1171. After her and her family members were kidnapped by a rival clan, Temujin quickly used his new ally, Ong Khan, to rescue them. The Merkits kidnapped Borte before Temujin became khan and she was still known as Temujin. The operation to rescue her took months, and when they got her back, she was pregnant.
Temujin became the head of the family after killing Begter, but being a leader in the 12th century Mongolia came with a price. His first wife, Borte, was the only wife whose children could be considered his heirs. According to legend, Temujin was born clutching a blood clot in his right hand, which was a sign that the baby was destined for greatness.
Borte was the de facto leader of the civilians of the Mongol Empire when Chinggis Khan was away on extended campaigns. When Temujin returned to marry Börte, she was abducted by the rival Merkid confederation and stayed with them several months before Temüjin recovered her. In 1178, Temüjin traveled downstream along the Kelüren River to find Börte, and with the permission of her father, he took her and her mother to live in his family yurt.
Börte married Temujin as a teenager, but their marriage was not consummated. In his early 20s, Temujin married his young wife Börte, a bride from another powerful tribe. Tensions erupted, and Borte was kidnapped by a rival tribe. Shortly after her marriage to Temujin, Borte was kidnapped by the Merkits in retaliation for the kidnapping of his own wife, Höelün.
📹 Temudjin (Genghis Khan) Saving His Wife (Mongol: The Rise of Genghis Khan, 2007)
The epic story of a young Genghis Khan and how events in his early life led him to become a legendary conqueror. The 9-year-old …
How did Genghis Khan get his wives?
Genghis Khan had many wives and concubines. He often got them from conquered lands. Sometimes he got whole empires. The women were either his wives or concubines. They were often princesses or queens. He either captured them or gave them to him. He gave some of his wives their own camps to live in. Each camp also had junior wives, concubines, and children. The Kheshig (Mongol imperial guard) protected Genghis Khan’s wives. The guards had to pay attention to the yurt and camp where Genghis Khan slept. This could change every night as he visited different wives. When Genghis Khan set out on military conquests, he usually took one wife with him. The rest of his wives (and concubines) managed the empire in his absence.
List of primary wives Börte. Börte and Genghis Khan (Temüjin) were married when she was 10 and he was 9. Temüjin stayed with her and her family until he was called back to take care of his mother and younger siblings. In 1178, about 7 years later, Temüjin traveled to find Börte. Börtes father united Temüjin and Börte in marriage. Temüjin took Börte and her mother to live with him. Börte’s dowry was a black sable jacket. After the marriage, the Three Merkits attacked their family camp and kidnapped Börte. She was given to one of their warriors. Temüjin was upset by his wife’s kidnapping. He said his heart was broken and his chest was torn.Temüjin saved her several months later with the help of his allies Wang Khan and Jamukha. Many scholars say this was a turning point in Temüjin’s life, leading him to become a conqueror.
When did Genghis Khan get married to Börte?
Börte was Genghis Khan’s first wife and the first empress of the Mongol Empire. She had four sons, Jochi, Chagatai, Ogodei, and Tolui, who inherited the lands the Mongols conquered. Borte was born around 1161 into the Onggirat tribe. She was the daughter of Dei-Sechen and Chotan. When she was nine, her father arranged for her to marry Genghis. He stayed with his family until he was called back to help his mother and younger siblings after his father Yesugui was poisoned. In 1178, Genghis married Borte. She moved in with his family. She got a black sable jacket as a wedding gift. Borte was kidnapped by the Merkit tribe soon after they married. While in captivity, she was given to one of the Merkit men as a wife. It was several months before Genghis could rescue her.
Soon after she gave birth to Jochi, his parentage was still a mystery. She had three more sons between 1183 and 1192. She also had several daughters, but we don’t know their names. While Genghis was on campaign, she stayed in Mongolia to help govern the territory. Her lands were on the Kherlen River. She was Genghis’s advisor and a respected figure among the Mongols until her death in 1230.
Why did the merkid take Börte?
The Merkid tribe kidnapped Borte for revenge for the kidnapping of Temujins mother Hoelun. Temujin got away from the Merkid kidnappers. Temujin went to the Burkhan Khaldun mountain to ask for help. Space is full of gases. Coming soon. We haven’t uploaded a summary for this title yet. Your request has been sent to Instaread.
Which king had 1000 wives?
King Solomon Dorotheum via Wikimedia Commons. The Book of Kings says that King Solomon married or lived with hundreds of women. These women came from different places, including Egypt, Moab, Edom, Sidon, and Hittite. The hundreds of women said to have married King Solomon or lived in his harem included the daughter of Pharaoh and women from Moab, Edom, Sidon, and Hatti. As in other Biblical stories, the foreign women in Solomon’s story represented the threat of foreign influence on Israelite society.
Brenner, Athalya. The Israelite Woman: Social Role and Literary Type in the Bible. Sheffield, England: 1985.
Meyers, Carol, General Editor. Women in the Bible. New York: 2000.
Did Genghis Khan have 500 wives?
Genghis Khan had at least fourteen wives. He also had many other wives. Only his four sons with Börte were considered to succeed him. He probably had another 500 concubines who also bore him children.
Was wife stealing common on the steppe?
Men paid or worked for their future in-laws. Many nomadic men were poor, so it was common to steal a wife during a raid. In more formal marriages, the bride brought a dowry of valuable items like livestock, jewelry, cloth, servants, and possibly slaves. The dowry was paid over several years and was usually less than the bride price. The dowry stayed with the wife and was shared with her children after she died. Sometimes, two families would marry each other’s children. This avoided the need for a bride price from each family. Wives got a small share of their husbands’ property, which they managed until their death. Then it went to their youngest son. Women took care of the children and played an active role in family decisions. For example, the 13th-century CE Secret History of the Mongols says that wives of rulers spoke to encourage warriors and promote loyalty to their husbands. One way to show loyalty was to entertain guests. This was the wife’s job. If her husband died, she might be adopted by a relative. Mongol laws said women could divorce and own property, but it’s not clear how often this happened. If someone was caught having sex outside of marriage, both the man and woman were killed. Mongol society was based on the father’s family. Many men had more than one wife or concubine. However, one wife was always the senior one, and her children inherited their father’s property and/or position in the tribe. The youngest son usually got the family property, so he and his wife lived with his parents. Widows of tribal leaders often represented their late husbands at tribal gatherings.
How did Mongols marry?
Marriage and Family. Mongol marriages were about strengthening clan relationships. People often married outside their clan. They also abducted women from rival tribes to weaken the other clan. Most marriages were designed to strengthen family ties. Men paid or worked for their future in-laws. Many nomadic men were poor, so they would steal a wife during a raid. In more formal marriages, the bride brought a dowry of valuable items like livestock, jewelry, cloth, servants, and possibly slaves. The dowry was paid over several years and was usually less than the bride price. The dowry stayed with the wife and was shared with her children after she died. Sometimes, two families would marry together. Each family provided a groom and bride, so there was no need for a bride price. Wives got a small share of their husbands’ property, which they managed until their death. Then it went to their youngest son. Women took care of the children and played an active role in family decisions. For example, the 13th-century CE Secret History of the Mongols says that wives of rulers spoke to encourage warriors and make them loyal to their husbands. One way to show loyalty was to entertain guests. This was the wife’s job. If a husband died, his wife might be adopted by a relative. Mongolian women could divorce and own property, but it’s not clear how often this happened. If a man or woman had an affair, they were both killed.
Who helped Genghis Khan get his wife back?
List of wives. Börte. Börte and Genghis Khan (Temüjin) were married when she was 10 and he was 9. Temüjin stayed with her and her family until he was called back to take care of his mother and younger siblings. In 1178, about 7 years later, Temüjin traveled downstream to find Börte. Börtes father united Temüjin and Börte in marriage. Temüjin took Börte and her mother to live with him. Börte’s dowry was a black sable jacket. After the marriage, the Three Merkits attacked their family camp and kidnapped Börte. She was given to one of their warriors. Temüjin was upset by his wife’s kidnapping. He said that his heart was broken and that he felt like his chest was torn open. Temüjin rescued her several months later with the help of his allies Wang Khan and Jamukha. Many scholars say this event was a turning point in Temüjin’s life, which led him to become a conqueror. As the pillaging and plundering went on, Temüjin called, “Börte, Börte!” to the people who were fleeing. He found her, because Lady Börte was one of the people fleeing. She heard Temüjin’s voice and ran to him. Even though it was still night, Lady Börte and Qoaqčin both grabbed Temüjin’s reins and tether. It was moonlight. He looked at them and recognized Lady Börte. They hugged. Börte was held captive for eight months and gave birth to Jochi soon after she was rescued. This made it unclear who the father was. Her captor could have impregnated her. Temüjin let Jochi stay in the family and called him his son. Börte had three more sons: Chagatai, Ögedei, and Tolui. Temüjin had other children with other wives, but they were not his heirs. Only Börte’s sons could be considered his heirs. Börte also had several daughters: Kua Ujin Bekhi, Checheikhen, Alakhai Bekhi, Tümelün, and Altalun. However, it is unclear whether she gave birth to all of them because Mongol records are unclear.
How did Genghis Khan rescue his wife?
List of wives. Börte. Börte and Genghis Khan (Temüjin) were married when she was 10 and he was 9. Temüjin stayed with her and her family until he was called back to take care of his mother and younger siblings. In 1178, about 7 years later, Temüjin traveled downstream to find Börte. Börtes father united Temüjin and Börte in marriage. Temüjin took Börte and her mother to live with him. Börte’s dowry was a black sable jacket. After the marriage, the Three Merkits attacked their family camp and kidnapped Börte. She was given to one of their warriors. Temüjin was upset by his wife’s kidnapping. He said that his heart was broken and that he felt like his chest was torn open. Temüjin rescued her several months later with the help of his allies Wang Khan and Jamukha. Many scholars say this event was a turning point in Temüjin’s life, which led him to become a conqueror. As the pillaging and plundering went on, Temüjin called, “Börte, Börte!” to the people who were fleeing. He found her, because Lady Börte was one of the people fleeing. She heard Temüjin’s voice and ran to him. Even though it was still night, Lady Börte and Qoaqčin both grabbed Temüjin’s reins and tether. It was moonlight. He looked at them and recognized Lady Börte. They hugged. Börte was held captive for eight months and gave birth to Jochi soon after she was rescued. This made it unclear who the father was. Her captor could have impregnated her. Temüjin let Jochi stay in the family and called him his son. Börte had three more sons: Chagatai, Ögedei, and Tolui. Temüjin had other children with other wives, but they were not his heirs. Only Börte’s sons could be considered his heirs. Börte also had several daughters: Kua Ujin Bekhi, Checheikhen, Alakhai Bekhi, Tümelün, and Altalun. However, it is unclear whether she gave birth to all of them because Mongol records are unclear.
Why was Börte kidnapped?
Borte was kidnapped by the Merkits after she married Temujin. This was in revenge for Temujin’s mother being kidnapped by Temujin’s father. Temujin attacked the Merkits and got his bride back.
📹 The Life of Genghis Khan’s wife Borte
Join us in this informative video as we delve into the past and look at the life of Genghis Khan’s wife Borte.
Add comment