Grand Empress Dowager Budashiri was one of the Yuan Dynasty’s most powerful empresses.[1] She was the empress consort to Emperor Tugh Temur (also known as Emperor Wenzong of the Yuan Dynasty). Grand Empress Dowager Budashiri had more power and influence as regent.[2] She would even rise to the highest position in the Yuan Dynasty court.[3] However, she had a sudden and swift downfall.[4]
In 1307, Grand Empress Dowager Budashiri was born.[5] She was from the Qonqirat tribe.[6] Her father was Prince Consort Diwabala (the Prince of Lu).[7] Her mother was Princess Supreme of Lu, Sengge Ragi.[8] It is not known when Princess Budashiri married Prince Tugh Temur.[9] She bore him a son named Prince Aradnadara.[10]
In 1328, the boy Emperor Arigibag (also known as Emperor Tianshundi) died.[11] On 16 October 1328, Tugh Temur ascended the Yuan throne as Emperor Wenzong. On that same day, Budashiri became empress. She would be given the imperial seal in early 1329.[12] On 26 February 1329, Emperor Tugh Temur abdicated in favour of his brother, Qoshila Temur.[13] Tugh Temur was emperor for four months.[14] Qoshila Temur ascended the throne as Emperor Mingzong. Emperor Qoshila Temur made Tugh Temur his heir apparent.[15] Therefore, the former Empress Budashiri became the Crown Princess.[16]
On 30 August 1329, Emperor Qoshila Temur suddenly died.[17] He reigned for six months.[18] On 8 September 1329, Tugh Temur ascended the throne for the second time.[19] On that same day, Budashiri became empress for the second time. Empress Budashiri gave birth to a second son named Prince El Tegus.[20] She also had a third son named Prince Taipinga, who died young.[21] It is not known if she had any daughters with Emperor Tugh Temur.[22]
It was said that Empress Budashiri had favoured Buddhism.[23] She gave 50,000 silver ingots to sponsor the construction of Great Chengtian Husheng Temple.[24] She also went with Emperor Tugh Temur and Crown Prince Aradnadara to take up layman Buddhist vows.[25] Even though she was into Buddhism, Empress Budashiri would commit ruthless deeds.[26] It was said that Empress Budashiri was responsible for exiling her nephew, Prince Toghon Temur, to Korea by claiming that he was not Emperor Qoshila Temur’s son.[27] It was also said that she ordered the execution of Emperor Qoshila Temur’s empress, Babusha.[28] Ancient chroniclers claimed that this was because Empress Babusha believed that her husband died under mysterious circumstances.[29]
In 1332, Crown Prince Aradnadara died.[30] This left the Crown Prince position vacant.[31] A few months later, on 2 September 1332, Emperor Tugh Temur died.[32] He reigned for almost three years.[33] Because Emperor Tugh Temur died without appointing an heir apparent, Empress Budashiri became regent.[34] Empress Budashiri did not appoint her only surviving son, Prince El Tegus, as emperor.[35] Instead, she appointed Emperor Qoshila Temur’s second son, Prince Irinjibal Temur, as the emperor.[36] He was six years old.[37] Irinjibal Temur ascended the throne as Emperor Ningzong on 23 October 1332. Empress Budashiri claimed that it was Emperor Tugh Temur’s wish for Prince Irinjibal Temur to be emperor.[38] However, historians believed that it was easier for Empress Budashiri to maintain her power and influence.[39] It was also to curb Chancellor El Temur’s rising influence.[40]
In November 1332, Budashiri was made the Empress Dowager and continued her regency.[41] However, Emperor Irinjibal Temur died on 14 December 1332. He reigned for almost two months.[42] Empress Dowager Budashiri decided not to appoint her son, Prince El Tegus, to the Yuan throne.[43] Instead, she chose her nephew, the thirteen-year-old Prince Toghon Temur, as Emperor and recalled him from exile.[44] On 19 July 1333, Prince Toghon Temur ascended the Yuan throne as Emperor Shundi. Emperor Toghon Temur made Budashiri the Empress Dowager for the second time.[45] In 1334, Emperor Toghon Temur added ten more characters to her title.[46] In 1336, Emperor Toghon Temur made Budashiri the Grand Empress Dowager.[47] He gave her ten more characters for her title.[48]
It was said that Grand Empress Dowager Budashiri was the most powerful and influential woman at court.[49] Her political influence extended into many agencies of the Central Secretariat.[50] Every decision was made only by Grand Empress Dowager Budashiri.[51] Emperor Toghon Temur quickly became disgusted with Grand Empress Dowager Budashiri’s political influence.[52] He wanted to eliminate her.[53]
In 1340, Emperor Toghon Temur openly investigated the deaths of Emperor Qoshila Temur and Empress Babusha.[54] He claimed that Grand Empress Dowager Budashiri was partly responsible for their deaths.[55] Emperor Toghon Temur stripped Grand Empress Dowager Budashiri of her imperial titles.[56] He then exiled Budashiri to Dong’an Prefecture (modern-day Langfang Municipality in Hebei Province).[57] Once she arrived at Dong’an Prefecture, Budashiri was executed.[58] She was thirty-three.[59] Emperor Toghon Temur also exiled her son, Prince El Tegus, to Korea, where he was killed shortly after his arrival.[60]
Grand Empress Dowager Budashiri was one of the most influential empresses of the Yuan Dynasty.[61] She became empress consort twice.[62] For eight years, she reigned as regent for two emperors: Emperor Irinjibal Temur and Emperor Toghon Temur.[63] She even rose to the position of Grand Empress Dowager.[64] All decisions regarding the state were made solely by her.[65] Even though her rise was gradual, her downfall was swift.[66] In order for Emperor Toghon Temur to eliminate her, he blamed her for the deaths of Emperor Qoshila Temur and Empress Babusha.[67] He exiled her from court and had her executed.[68] Therefore, Grand Empress Dowager Budashiri was forced to meet a tragic end.[69] Nevertheless, Grand Empress Dowager Budashiri’s story shows how royal Mongolian women were able to use their political power and influence to dominate the Yuan Dynasty court.[70]
Sources:
McMahon, K. (2016). Celestial Women: Imperial Wives and Concubines in China from Song to Qing. NY: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers.
Xu, S. & Burns, J. (trans.). (2014). “Budashiri, Empress of Emperor Wenzong of Yuan.” Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 – 1644. (Xiao, H. Lee, L., Ed. & Wiles, S., Ed.) NY: Routledge. pp. 13-16.
[1] McMahon, 2016
[2] Xu, 2014; McMahon, 2016
[3] Xu, 2014
[4] Xu, 2014
[5] Xu, 2014
[6] Xu, 2014
[7] Xu, 2014
[8] Xu, 2014
[9] Xu, 2014
[10] Xu, 2014
[11] Xu, 2014
[12] Xu, 2014
[13] Xu, 2014
[14] Xu, 2014
[15] Xu, 2014
[16] Xu, 2014
[17] Xu, 2014
[18] Xu, 2014
[19] Xu, 2014
[20] Xu, 2014
[21] Xu, 2014
[22] Xu, 2014
[23] Xu, 2014
[24] Xu, 2014
[25] Xu, 2014
[26] Xu, 2014
[27] McMahon, 2016; Xu, 2014
[28] Xu, 2014
[29] Xu, 2014
[30] Xu, 2014
[31] Xu, 2014
[32] Xu, 2014
[33] Xu, 2014
[34] Xu, 2014
[35] Xu, 2014
[36] Xu, 2014
[37] Xu, 2014
[38] Xu, 2014
[39] Xu, 2014; McMahon, 2016
[40] Xu, 2014
[41] Xu, 2014
[42] Xu, 2014
[43] Xu, 2014; McMahon, 2016
[44] Xu, 2014; McMahon, 2016
[45] Xu, 2014
[46] Xu, 2014
[47] Xu, 2014
[48] Xu, 2014
[49] Xu, 2014; McMahon, 2016
[50] Xu, 2014
[51] Xu, 2014
[52] Xu, 2014
[53] Xu, 2014
[54] Xu, 2014
[55] Xu, 2014
[56] Xu, 2014
[57] Xu, 2014
[58] Xu, 2014
[59] Xu, 2014
[60] Xu, 2014
[61] Xu, 2014; McMahon, 2016
[62] Xu, 2014
[63] Xu, 2014
[64] Xu, 2014
[65] Xu, 2014
[66] Xu, 2014
[67] Xu, 2014
[68] Xu, 2014
[69] Xu, 2014
[70] McMahon, 2016
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