Mongol Empire's Resurgence: Ghenghis Khan and His Daughter's Kingdom
Historian Jack Weatherford presents a groundbreaking reassessment of Genghis Khan, challenging traditional views of the Mongol leader. In his earlier work, Weatherford highlighted Genghis Khan’s positive influences on world history, such as establishing a vast free-trade zone and promoting religious tolerance within the Mongol Empire. He also credits Genghis Khan with introducing the concept of diplomatic immunity.
In his latest book, Weatherford argues that Genghis Khan’s daughters played a crucial role in the success of his empire, contrary to the usual focus on his sons. He suggests that when Genghis Khan’s sons contributed to the empire’s decline, it was actually a woman who revitalized Mongolia in the late 15th century.
Temujin, who later became Genghis Khan, originated from a relatively insignificant clan among the pastoral nations of the 12th-century steppes. Despite the Mongols being overshadowed by other groups engaged in raiding, trading, and vying for control of the Silk Road, Temujin’s upbringing under his mother’s guidance instilled in him a respect for Mongol spirituality, which emphasized a balance between male and female principles, contrasting with the prevailing disregard for feminine aspects among more powerful Mongol lords.
When Temujin ascended to the position of Great Khan of the Mongols in 1206, he was in his forties and had a sizable family. His four sons were characterized as self-indulgent, proficient in drinking, mediocre in combat, and lacking in other skills. However, Temujin also had seven or eight daughters, whose names and achievements are less documented. Historian Jack Weatherford has pieced together their stories from diverse sources, revealing these daughters to be exceptional individuals with remarkable lives.
Matrimony as a Strategic Military Duty
Genghis Khan implemented a strategic marriage policy by marrying off his daughters to allied kings, who were then sent into military service, while the daughters assumed rulership of the kingdoms. This strategy fortified Mongol territories while facilitating expansion. By the time of Genghis Khan’s death, his daughters wielded significant power across a vast region. However, after his death, his sons gradually eroded this power by seizing territory from their sisters. As the daughters passed away, their kingdoms fell into the hands of their sons and grandsons, with a new generation of women, the daughters-in-law of Genghis Khan, rising to power as their husbands succumbed to excesses.
Undermining Genghis Khan’s Heritage
As the Mongol Empire disintegrated into feuding territories, rulers had to come from the Borijin family of Genghis Khan, often installed by powerful local warlords and later eliminated to prevent challenges. In 1464, Manduhai, a seemingly insignificant teenage bride, married the Great Khan Manduul, who was essentially a captive of warlords. When both Manduul and his heir died, leaving only a five-year-old Borijin, Manduhai rejected potential suitors and instead married the young Borijin, Batu Mongke, proclaiming him Dayan Khan. Despite their isolation in a society where family connections were paramount, Manduhai and Batu Mongke found strength in each other, forming an unlikely but resilient partnership as they navigated the chaotic political landscape.
Queen’s Kingdom
While supporting her husband, Manduhai actively engaged in warfare, undertaking the tasks of uniting her people, managing crucial grasslands, subduing local warlords, and safeguarding against Ming dynasty influence. She led her troops into battle, steadily achieving victories. Concurrently, she diligently educated her young husband in effective rulership, compensating for Genghis Khan’s paternal shortcomings which contributed to the empire’s downfall. Manduhai’s determination to mold her husband into a competent leader paid off, as she successfully united Mongolia through three decades of warfare and diplomacy without conflict with China, as the Ming dynasty focused on constructing the Great Wall. With eight children, including three sets of twins, Manduhai ensured the succession of Dayan Khan’s descendants, who governed Mongolia until the arrival of the Soviets in the 1920s.
Weatherford, an anthropologist, adeptly navigates the intricacies of Mongol culture and politics, illustrating their impact on various aspects of life, from familial dynamics to military strategy. He emphasizes the significant role of women in Mongol society, facilitated by Genghis Khan’s personal regard for them, which amplified his achievements beyond what could have been accomplished with male allies alone. While historical records about Manduhai are scarce, Weatherford reconstructs her remarkable tale from diverse sources, portraying her as a legendary figure—an empire constructed by a ruthless yet enlightened leader who respected the contributions of his wives and daughters, lost by ineffectual heirs, and eventually reclaimed by a courageous woman and the last descendant of the old khan.
