Qojin
| Qojin | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1179 |
| Consort of | Butu |
| Issue | Temegen Uladai |
| Dynasty | |
| Father | Genghis Khan |
| Mother | Börte |
Qojin (Mongolian: Хожин; c. 1179 – ?) was the eldest child and daughter of Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire, and his primary wife, Börte. She married a member of the Ikires tribe, Butu, and had children with him.
Biography
[edit]Qojin was likely born in either 1179 or 1180, as the eldest child and daughter of Temüjin, later known as Genghis Khan, and his wife Börte,[1] who at the time would have been 18 or 19 years old.[2] Qojin had eight younger siblings: Jochi, Chagatai, Ögedei, Checheyigen, Alaqa, Tümelün, Tolui, and Al-Altan.[3]
Temüjin had a strong relationship with Toghrul, helping him reclaim rule over the Kerait tribe in the 1190s.[4] As Temüjin's power grew to nearly equal that of Toghrul's, their relationship required adjustment.[5] Toghrul proposed that he adopt Temüjin as his heir,[5][6] while Temüjin proposed that Qojin and Jochi marry Toghrul's grandson Tusaqa and daughter Cha'ur, respectively.[4] Qojin was around 23 years old when this proposal occurred, making her older than usual for a bride of the time period.[7] However, Toghrul's son Senggüm, who feared that Temüjin would usurp his own authority, convinced his father to not only reject the proposal but also to attack Temüjin.[5][7] Senggüm argued that the marriages would relegate Cha'ur to the place of a servant among the Mongols while designating Qojin an honoured lady among the Kerait,[8] a claim which disguised his greater fear of Temüjin's growing power.[7]
Qojin eventually married Butu of the Ikires tribe, a follower of Temüjin who had remained loyal in the difficult times after Senggüm's attack.[9][10] Butu had previously been married to Qojin's paternal aunt Temülün, who had died of unknown causes. Their marriage took place after 1203 but before 1206.[11] The strategic marriage gave her father a son-in-law with 2,000 troops to participate in military excursions.[10][12] In return, Butu retained the right to lead his own Ikires people on campaign (most Mongol military units were composed of troops from different tribes).[13]
Qojin became the matriarch of the Ikires.[14] She had at least two sons with Butu: Temegen, who married one of Genghis Khan's junior daughters,[15] and Uladai, whose daughter Qutuqtai became the senior wife of Möngke Khan.[16]
References
[edit]Citations
[edit]- ↑ Broadbridge 2018, p. 58.
- ↑ Broadbridge 2018, pp. 62–63.
- ↑ Broadbridge 2018, p. 67.
- 1 2 Broadbridge 2018, p. 78.
- 1 2 3 Biran 2012, p. 37.
- ↑ Falus 2025, p. 126.
- 1 2 3 Broadbridge 2018, p. 79.
- ↑ Cleaves 1948, p. 452.
- ↑ Broadbridge 2016, p. 121.
- 1 2 Broadbridge 2018, pp. 138–139.
- ↑ Broadbridge 2018, pp. 110–115.
- ↑ Birge & Broadbridge 2023, pp. 635–636.
- ↑ Broadbridge 2018, pp. 109–110.
- ↑ Broadbridge 2018, p. 200.
- ↑ Broadbridge 2018, p. 115.
- ↑ Broadbridge 2018, p. 251.
Sources
[edit]- Biran, Michal (2012). Chinggis Khan. Makers of the Muslim World. London: Oneworld Publications. ISBN 978-1-7807-4204-5.
- Birge, Bettine; Broadbridge, Anne F. (17 August 2023). "Women and Gender under Mongol Rule". The Cambridge History of the Mongol Empire. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781316337424.015. ISBN 978-1-316-33742-4. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
- Broadbridge, Anne F. (2016). "Marriage, Family and Politics: The Ilkhanid-Oirat Connection". Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society. 26 (1–2): 121–135. doi:10.1017/S1356186315000681. ISSN 1356-1863. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- Broadbridge, Anne F. (18 July 2018). Women and the Making of the Mongol Empire. Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/9781108347990. ISBN 978-1-108-34799-0. Retrieved 12 May 2026.
- Cleaves, Francis Woodman (1948). "The Expression Dur-a Qocarulcaju in the Letter of Oljeitu to Philippe le Bel". Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies. 11 (3/4): 452. doi:10.2307/2718155. Retrieved 13 May 2026.
- Falus, Orsolya (2025). "The Terror of Central- and Eastern Europe of the 13th Century: Genghis Khan. The Analysis of The Secret History of the Mongols as a Legal History Source Work". Journal on European History of Law. 16 (1): 120–134. Retrieved 12 May 2026.