Empress Borte Fujin – Genghis Khan’s Empress

Empress Borte Fujin was one of the most respected empresses of the Mongolian Empire.^[1] She was the empress consort to Genghis Khan. As Genghis Khan’s Empress, she wielded much political influence.^[2] Empress Borte Fujin would often assist Genghis Khan with state affairs.^[3] Empress Borte Fujin would be known as a matriarch of the Mongolian Empire.^[4]

In circa 1161, Empress Borte Fujin of the Qonqirat Tribe was born.^[5] She was the daughter of Dei Sechen and Chotan.^[6] She had a brother named Alchi Noyan.^[7]At the age of ten, Borte Fujin was engaged to Temujin (the future leader of the tribe and more famously known as Genghis Khan).^[8] As was custom, Temujin was supposed to live with Borte Fujin’s family until they were old enough to marry.^[9] However, he was recalled home when his father, Yesugei, was poisoned and murdered by an enemy tribesman.^[10]

In 1178, Borte Fujin married Temujin.^[11] Shortly after her marriage, she was abducted by a Merkit tribesman, and she became his wife.^[12] With the aid of the Kereit Chief, Toghril Ong Khan, Temujin rescued Borte Fujin.^[13] In circa 1180, Borte Fujin gave birth to a son named Jochi. It is unclear who Jochi’s father was.^[14] Even though Temujin accepted Jochi as part of his family, he would later deny him and his descendants a leadership role.^[15] This meant that Genghis Khan did not believe that Jochi was his son.^[16]

Borte Fujin was described as being “light in face”^[17] and had a “fire in her eyes.”^[18] She was said to be a very intelligent woman.^[19] She gave advice, and her husband, Temujin, listened to her.^[20] Borte Fujin bore Temujin three sons.^[21] They were Chagatai (born 1183), Ogedei (born circa 1186), and Tolui (born in 1193). She also bore Temujin five daughters. They were Fujin Beki, Alaqa Becki, Temulun, Altalun, and Checheyigen.

For fourteen years, Borte Fujin accompanied Temujin on his military campaigns as he worked to establish his Mongolian Empire.^[22] She not only managed the camp, but she also helped him map out his strategies for uniting the nomadic tribes of the Mongolian steppes.^[23] In 1206, Temujin had finally united the nomadic tribes and became the first ruler of the Mongolian Empire.^[24] Temujin took the name of Genghis Khan. Borte Fujin became the first Mongolian Empress.^[25] Empress Borte Fujin oversaw one of the four ordos that served as Genghis Khan’s headquarters.^[26]

It was said that Empress Borte Fujin was very practical regarding state affairs.^[27] One instance concerned Genghis Khan’s sworn blood brother, Jamuqa. Empress Borte Fujin believed that Jamuqa would be a great rival to Genghis Khan and would fight him for control of the Mongolian Empire.^[28] She planted doubts in Genghis Khan’s mind about Jamuqa.^[29] After Genghis Khan severed ties with Jamuqa, he solidified his power base and unified the “northern deserts”^[30] (regions north of the Mongolian Desert plateau).

When Genghis Khan was about to attack the Uighur tribes, Empress Borte Fujin warned him.^[31] She said, “War is cruel and pitiless. You travel afar over mountains and rivers, and your sons lead armies on campaign elsewhere. Who should inherit your lofty throne if you suddenly met with ill fortune?”^[32] Empress Borte Fujin’s words convinced Genghis Khan that he needed a successor.^[33] He chose his third son, Ogedei, to be his successor should anything happen to him.^[34]

Genghis Khan also had a rift with his younger brother, Qasar. It was Kokechu (the fourth son of Menglik Echige of the Qongqotan clan) who caused the rift.^[35] Kokechu wanted to advance himself by trying to persuade Genghis Khan to eliminate Qasar and his youngest brother, Temuge (also known as Otchigin).^[36] Empress Borte Fujin convinced Genghis Khan to kill Kokechu and his supporters.^[37] Empress Borte Fujin also adopted orphans and raised them as her sons.^[38] Some of the orphans she adopted were Qutqu Noyan and Buda Noyan.^[39] Therefore, Empress Borte Fujin was seen as a mother figure.^[40] Mongolian empresses would later follow her example by adopting orphans.^[41]

In 1227, Genghis Khan died. Empress Borte Fujin passed away three years later in 1230.^[42] Empress Borte Fujin’s father, Dei Sechen, and her brother, Alchi Noyan, participated in Genghis Khan’s military campaigns.^[43] They received the title of Dynastic Elder and were made princes.^[44] In honour of Empress Borte Fujin, many imperial consorts of the Mongolian imperial family were members of her tribe, the Qonqirat.^[45] Even though Ogedei succeeded Genghis Khan, it was Empress Borte Fujin’s youngest son, Tolui, who became the father of Kublai Khan.^[46] Kublai Khan would later found the Yuan Dynasty in 1271.^[47] Kublai Khan honoured Empress Borte Fujin with the posthumous name of Empress Guangxian of the Yuan Dynasty.^[48] In 1309, Emperor Wuxi extended Empress Borte’s posthumous name to Empress Guangxian Yisheng Huanghou of the Yuan Dynasty.^[49]

Empress Borte Fujin has been described as a very resilient empress.^[50] She was originally kidnapped and forced to marry her abductor.^[51] However, she was rescued by Genghis Khan.^[52] Empress Borte Fujin became the matriarch of the Mongolian Dynasty.^[53] One of her descendants was Kublai Khan, who was the founder of the Yuan Dynasty.^[54] Empress Borte Fujin also wielded immense political influence as Genghis Khan’s Empress.^[55] She gave solid advice, and Genghis Khan would often listen to her.^[56] It is no wonder that Empress Borte Fujin would serve as a role model for later Mongolian Empresses.^[57] 

Sources:

Hamil, D. (2016). “Borte (ca. 1161-1230).” The Mongol Empire: A Historical Encyclopedia [2 Volumes]. (May, T.; Ed.). Santa Barbara, CA: ABC-CLIO. pp. 134-135

Xu, S. & Burns, J. (trans.). (2014). “Borte, Consort of Mongol Emperor Taizu.” Biographical Dictionary of Chinese Women, Volume II: Tang Through Ming 618 – 1644. (Xiao, H. Lee, L., Ed. & Wiles, S., Ed.) NY: Routledge. pp. 10-12.