Sorghaghtani Beki

Sorghaghtani
The Christian queen Sorghaghtani with her husband, Tolui. Rashid al-Din Hamadani, early 14th century.
Bornc. 1190
Mongolian–Manchurian grassland
Died1252 (aged around 62)
Mongol Empire
Burial
Gansu (at church)
SpouseTolui
IssueMöngke Khan
Kublai Khan
Hulagu Khan
Ariq Böke
Names
Sorghaghtani
Posthumous name
Empress Xianyi Zhuangsheng (顯懿莊聖皇后)
HouseKeraite
FatherJakha Gambhu, brother of Toghril
MotherWasai
ReligionChurch of the East

Sorghaghtani Beki (Mongolian: Сорхагтани Бэхи/ ᠰᠤᠷᠬᠠᠭᠲᠠᠨᠢ
ᠪᠡᠬᠢ
; Chinese: 唆魯禾帖尼) or Bekhi (Bek(h)i is a title), also written Sorkaktani, Sorkhokhtani, Sorkhogtani, Siyurkuktiti (c. 1190 – 1252), posthumous name Empress Xianyi Zhuangsheng (Chinese: 顯懿莊聖皇后; pinyin: Xiǎnyì Zhuāngshèng Huánghòu), was a Keraite princess and daughter-in-law of Genghis Khan. Married to Tolui, Genghis' youngest son, Sorghaghtani Beki became one of the most powerful and competent people in the Mongol Empire. She made policy decisions at a pivotal moment that led to the transition of the Mongol Empire towards a more cosmopolitan and sophisticated style of administration. She raised her sons to be leaders and maneuvered the family politics so that all four of her sons, Möngke Khan, Hulagu Khan, Ariq Böke, and Kublai Khan, went on to inherit the legacy of their grandfather.

Given her enormous impact at such a critical point of the mighty Mongol Empire, she is likely one of the most influential and powerful women in history.[1] Sorghaghtani Beki was a Christian, specifically a member of the Church of the East (often misleadingly referred to as "Nestorianism"). As a moving spirit behind the Mongol Empire, Sorghaghtani is responsible for much of the trade openings and intellectual exchange of the largest contiguous empire in world history.[2]

  1. ^ Jack Weatherford, Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, The Secret History of the Mongol Queens. [ISBN missing]
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference weatherford was invoked but never defined (see the help page).

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