The name of Genghis Khan's wife. Wives of the Great Khans

ESUY - GENGISH KHAN

Genghis Khan was born in 1155, at the hour of the Mongol victory over the Tatar tribes. His father, a noble leader of a large tribe, Yesugai-baatur, considered the birth of his son an omen and named the child Temujin (Temujin), which meant “blacksmith.” In 1164, Yesugai-baatur married his son when he was barely nine years old. The girl came from a less noble family, but was from the Ungirat tribe, which has long been famous for the special beauty of girls. Borte was three years older than her young groom, well-mannered and beautiful. She became the first wife of little Temujin and remained devoted to him until the end of her life. They lived for more than forty years. In 1206, Temujin became the Great Khan of the Mongol Empire, taking the name of Genghis Khan.

According to long-standing traditions, the Mongols could have several wives, but the khan did not want to bring other women into the house. He loved Borte, but she was already old and could no longer produce heirs. Therefore, the khan’s inner circle began to beg him to bring his second wife into the house, and the wise Borte did not resist and obeyed her beloved husband in everything. He brought young girls from military campaigns, made them concubines, and a few years later the ruler already had about two thousand women, some of whom he, however, never even saw.

One day, the famous Mongol decided to expel the Tatars from his lands. Exterminating and driving them away from their native steppes, Genghis Khan saw the young Tatar Yesugan. She was so beautiful that the great ruler ordered his warriors to bring her into the harem, making her a concubine, and decided to marry the girl. When Genghis Khan came to her and announced his intention, Yesugan, hanging her head, began to cry. The surprised khan immediately demanded an answer from the concubine, and she told the story of her older sister, Yesui, whom she loved very much and did not want her to die at the hands of the enraged and bitter Mongols. Genghis Khan ordered to find Yesui, wanting to look at the girl.

When the warriors found her and brought her to the chambers of the Great Khan, he, blinded by the beauty of the young woman, immediately ordered preparations for the wedding. Yesugan, hugging her sister, gave her her place, and a few days later the beautiful Yesui became the wife of the Mongol Khan. However, the kind of love that the great ruler expected from the new khansha did not follow. Yesui was silent, sad and sat for hours near the yurt, peering into the distance.

Khan tried more than once to unravel the secret sadness of the girl, but she never opened her heart. And only once did her younger sister tell her secret: Yesui had long been in love with a young Tatar, to whom she wanted to become a beloved and faithful wife. The girl suffered, cried at night and waited for her lover, believing that he would someday come for her.

The angry Genghis Khan, having learned about everything, ordered his two warriors to keep an eye on his young wife and guard her even at night.

One day, after another military campaign, a tired khan was resting with his wives near the yurt. Yesui was sitting nearby and suddenly shuddered unexpectedly. The cunning Mongol ruler suspected something was wrong and ordered his entourage and warriors to divide into groups and stand together with their families. And when several hundred people stood up as their master ordered, he noticed a young man to the side, who turned out to be a stranger. He turned to the great lord and called himself the groom of the beautiful Yesui.
The angry khan, surprised by the courage of the brave Tatar, ordered the servants to cut off the young man's head. The young Khansha turned pale and fell unconscious. She spent several days without leaving the khan's yurt, bitterly mourning her lover. Borte, who did not like young wives, remained indifferent, and only Yesugan consoled her older sister and did not leave her side, fearing that Yesui would commit suicide out of grief.

Meanwhile, Genghis Khan was preparing for a new campaign. As always, he took his beloved wives with him, and this time he was followed by the hanshi Borte and Yesui. Trying to assuage his guilt before his young wife, the khan came to her yurt every night, but left with a feeling of annoyance and bitterness. Yesui was cold and silent, although she submitted to her husband’s every whim. Finally, despairing of breaking the girl, the Mongol ruler began to bring new wives to him, and within a few years there were already twenty-six of them. The khan's harem also expanded, in which Genghis Khan spent all his time free from military campaigns. Legitimate wives often complained that their ruler spent too little time with them and that the wives no longer produced heirs (Genghis Khan had only two sons - from Borte and Khulan). Only Yesui remained, as always, silent, and never complained about her life.

Several years passed, and one day the sad Yesui asked the aged and gray-haired khan who would rule his people after his death. Genghis Khan thought for the first time and realized that he, the great ruler of the Mongols, was mortal. Without closing his eyes, he spent several sleepless nights, thinking about the end and dreaming of gaining immortality. So, having long known about Chinese monks who prolong their lives for a long time, the khan ordered the Taoist monk Qiu Chuji to be found and brought to him. He, having arrived to Genghis Khan in mid-May 1222, told him about the teachings of Taoism. “There is no means for immortality, you can only prolong your life,” answered the wise monk.

However, having wasted his strength in military campaigns, and his health in excessive love for sensual hobbies, the khan realized that he was living out his last years. He appointed the son of his eldest wife Borte, the brave and courageous Ogedei, as heir.

The great founder of the Mongol Empire, Genghis Khan, died in 1227 at the age of seventy-two near the Yellow River. The place of his burial is still unknown. It is believed that loyal warriors killed anyone who witnessed the funeral procession. They even exterminated animals and birds so that no one, not even animals, could see where the tomb of the Mongol ruler was located. All his slaves and servants, gold, jewelry and trophies were buried in the grave along with the body of Genghis Khan. Historians have repeatedly tried to launch expeditions to excavate the conqueror’s grave, but local residents still protest, believing that no one should find out terrible secret the great Mongol. According to legend, if the grave is found, a terrible curse will fall on the people who live in those lands.

If you've ever thought about it, you've probably assumed that life under Genghis Khan was pretty terrible for women. And this is not surprising. However, the Mongols had fairly progressive ideas about women's rights, at least compared to many other cultures that existed at the time, including Western culture.

They, of course, had to fit into clearly defined roles and meet certain expectations, they just enjoyed more freedom compared to ladies in other countries of the world. So how did women live during the time of Genghis Khan?

The husband should have obeyed

In Mongolian society, women were truly respected and men were expected to listen to the advice of their wives. Sure, the Mongols were fierce fighters, but they weren't barbarians—at least not in every aspect of their lives. Mongolian women were respected, often served as leaders, and were highly valued members of society. Nobody respected a man who didn't listen to his wife - it was a sign of immaturity.

You could go to court

When you imagine early historical relationships between men and women, you probably think about unpleasant things. After all, countless women have been abused by countless men throughout history, so it's probably safe to say that men ruled just about everything, both in and out of the bedroom.

However, this was not the case in Mongolian society. Mongolian young ladies controlled a lot both at home and in the bedroom. In fact, if you were a Mongolian woman and your husband had no intention of fulfilling his manly duties in the bedroom, you could actually ask the government to intervene in the matter. Imagine walking into your local courthouse, presenting documented evidence of your husband's romantic failures, and asking the court to issue a prescription for Viagra. If this is not enough to rein in your husband, most likely nothing will help.

No submission

Meanwhile, in China, south of the Mongol Empire, Neo-Confucianism established strict rules for women's behavior - they were expected to be chaste and obedient, and wives were mainly expected to exist only to serve their husbands. In addition, girls in high school tied their legs, starting at the age of six, so that they would stop growing in size. This is a real atrocity!

This was not the case in Mongolia. Mongolian women were tough - they rode horses, fought in battle and were just very tough. They didn't want tiny feet. Mongol women were also not considered subservient to their husbands - they were expected to be strong, fierce and hardworking. And when a culture places such expectations on ladies, it promotes family dynamics.

Carriage management

In Mongolia during the time of Genghis Khan, women were in charge of carts, and men were strictly forbidden to ride them (unless they were sick). This was probably due to the fact that Mongol men had to be excellent horsemen (to make excellent warriors and robbers), and cart riding took away precious hours from equestrian practice.

Carts were not just a way to get to the grocery store, they were one of the most important components of the nomadic lifestyle. They carried the felt tents in which the Mongols lived and most of their goods and supplies.

Women performed physically difficult tasks

There is no place for slackers in a nomadic society. There's too much work to be done. Mongolian women not only had to bear great responsibility, but also do hard work. It involved taking down and putting up tents, and they had to do it quickly and efficiently. They were also expected to control often huge herds of tribal animals and do all those stereotypical feminine things like raising children and cooking.

Thus, ladies, as well as men, had to do the kind of work that today we would call hard physical labor. So it's no surprise that Mongolian men had so much respect for women - it's hard not to respect someone who is as hardworking and capable as you, especially if you see it with your own eyes every day.

If the Khan says: "Marry my daughter", you must do it

Genghis Khan had four sons, but most of his children were girls. And by most historical accounts, he valued his daughters as much as his sons. One day he killed a guy who refused his daughter's marriage.

Genghis Khan said that men and women are two important pieces of the cosmic puzzle - without one piece the whole cannot function.

Women in Mongolian society had the right to refuse marriage if it was a man they did not like, and this in itself was quite progressive for a society that existed 800 years ago. But for Genghis Khan's daughters, it hardly mattered whether their new husband liked them.

Not everyone's life was sugar

IN Peaceful time It was wonderful under Genghis Khan. But what if you were a woman in one of the nations he conquered? Women, gold, horses, and other items were considered spoils of war, which meant that soldiers could do almost whatever they wanted with them.

On the other hand, if you were lucky enough to be born very beautiful, you might be forced into one of Genghis Khan's strange beauty contests. As soon as the soldiers finished with the looting and bullying, they brought the most beautiful girls they met to the khan. The winner among them received the honor of becoming one of Genghis Khan's many wives, which was probably preferable to dying. However, it is clear that women whom the khan considered did not meet his standards of beauty were sent to the soldiers to be abused and then thrown out. So yes, it's great to be a woman in Mongolia during peacetime and not during war.

Evening with several women and children

Genghis Khan was not a particularly merciful conqueror - after he conquered a people, he enjoyed kidnapping the wives of his enemies and either courting or brutalizing them. In fact, in one of its most famous quotes he spoke poetically of the joys after conquest: "The greatest pleasure is to defeat your enemies, take away their wealth and see those dear to them in tears."

Khan also often spent evenings with several women. In addition, he did not control births and has many offspring.

A huge number of wives

There was no male monogamy in Genghis Khan's Mongolia. Men could have several wives, but each of them had to have her own tent in which she would live with her children. The whole family usually got along well, so perhaps jealousy and monogamy are just constructs of our unenlightened Western society (of course not).

A man's first wife was considered his legal wife. After her father's death, her children received an inheritance.

Impossibility of remarriage

After the death of their husband, many women did not remarry. Well, why? If you were the first wife, you inherited everything and became the head of the family. After this you should live largely autonomously and independently.

Genghis Khan wrote several pro-women laws

Having completed his conquest of most of Asia, Genghis Khan decided that he needed to write some laws. The document he prepared with the help of his competent adviser Tatatunga was called "Yasa", it was supposed to help maintain peace in the newly conquered lands.

Notable was the moratorium against wife kidnapping and the sale of women. Yasa also prohibited child soldiers and slavery (or at least the slavery of other Mongols), as well as discrimination based on religion. In fact, it was one of the first known legal codes that allowed its citizens religious freedom.

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Borte
1161–1230
Genghis Khan's wife

Borte-ujin (fujin), translated from Mongolian as “lady,” was born in 1161 in Mongolia. The exact date of death is unknown, perhaps around 1230. Borte was the daughter of Dai-Secen from the Ungirat clan and his wife Tsotan and came from a clan less influential than Genghis Khan.

Temujin (the future Genghis Khan) was born in the Delyun-Boldok tract on the banks of the Onon River in the family of Yesugei-baatur from the strong Borjigin family and his wife Hoelun. Yesugei-baatur - “hero”, “valiant warrior”, “hero” - was the leader of a large part of the Mongol tribes. One day, Yesugei, while hunting, met Merkit Chileda and his bride Hoelun from the Olkhonut tribe. Amazed by the rare beauty of the girl, he returned for his brothers Nekun-taiji and Daritai-otchigin and recaptured her. In addition to Temujin, Hoelun gave birth to Yesugei three more sons: Khasar, Khachiun, Temuge and daughter Temulun.

Yesugei died in his youth, when his eldest son Temujin was nine years old. Yesugei went to woo him a bride from the Olkhonut family, from which Hoelun came. On the way, he met the Ungirat Dai-Secen. Dai-Secen invited him and his son to spend the night and at the same time take a look at his daughter Borte. Yesugei liked Borte, and the next morning he betrothed Borte to Temujin, left him to stay with his sons-in-law and went back home. The bride was two years older than the groom.

On the way back, Yesugei stopped at a Tatar camp, where he was poisoned. Upon returning to his native ulus, he fell ill and died three days later.

After the death of his father, difficult times came for the family. A few years later, after being rescued from Taijiut captivity, Temujin found the Ungirat camp and took Borte as his wife. Borte's dowry was a luxurious sable fur coat.

She became the first wife of little Temujin and remained devoted to him until the end of her life. They lived for more than forty years. Life with Temujin can hardly be called calm; he was constantly at war. It is known that the Merkit kidnapped Borte as revenge for the fact that Yesugei took Hoelun from the Merkit warrior Chiledu. Temujin, together with the Kereyites and his brother-in-arms Jamukha, defeated the Merkits and freed Borte.

He loved Borte even when she was already old and could no longer produce heirs. Therefore, the khan’s inner circle began to beg him to bring his second wife into the house, and the wise Borte did not resist and obeyed her beloved husband in everything.

In total, as historians say, Genghis Khan had more than 26 wives and 2 thousand concubines, but all of them appeared after his 50th birthday, and before that his wife Borte was his only one. Perhaps by this time Borte herself could no longer give birth, and the khan needed to increase the number of his heirs.

Borte was the mother of four sons: Jochi, Chagatai, Ogedei, Tolui - and five daughters: Fujin-begi, Chichigan, Alagai-begi, Tumalun, Altalun. All of them were born and raised in difficult conditions, in constant danger of direct physical destruction. They were threatened with death not only from enemy arrows and swords, but also from basic hunger. In the spring of 1206, at the Kurultai, Temujin was proclaimed Great Khan over all the tribes of the Mongol Empire and received the title Genghis Khan.

The scattered and warring Mongol nomadic tribes united into single state. Borte, who was 45 years old at the time, became the empress, the owner of the lands on which huge herds and herds grazed. She was guarded by thousands of warriors and served by numerous maids. Her eldest son was 24 years old, the second was 21 years old, the third was 20 years old, and the last was 13 years old. When Genghis Khan was still just Temujin, in his worries about creating an army and a new state, he was constantly traveling and fighting, leaving his family for a long time and simply could not protect it constantly. Everything was on the shoulders of his faithful wife Borte. Her life was subordinated to the preservation of her children.

Although several of Genghis Khan's children by other wives or concubines received some form of recognition within the empire, including lands or military command, only Borte's children were Great Khans, the so-called Genghisids. She, along with Genghis Khan's mother Hoelun, was considered one of the most trusted advisors. She was crowned the Great Empress. Borte is often depicted as beautiful woman, dressed in a white silk dress, with gold coins in her hair, holding a white lamb and riding a white horse. In 1220, Genghis Khan founded Karakorum, the capital of the Mongol Empire. As Genghis Khan continued to expand his influence and empire, Borte remained in Karakorum and ruled Mongolia.

Jochi is the eldest son of Genghis Khan and Borte. Jochi Khan was born around 1182. It is not known for certain who his real father was. The main reason for challenging the paternity of Genghis Khan is the captivity of his wife Borte by the Merkit tribe, from which Jochi was born shortly after his liberation. Temujin recognized Jochi as his son, stating that at the time of his capture by the Merkits, Borte was already pregnant. Nevertheless, the “curse of Merkit captivity” hung on Jochi Khan all his life.

Jochi was a commander who participated in the conquest Central Asia, commanded an independent detachment in the lower reaches of the Syr Darya. Jochi received from his father the lands of the tribes he conquered, which became the beginning of the creation of the Jochi ulus. His lands in Russian historiography are known as “ Golden Horde». Last years Jochi's life was spent on bad terms with his father. Jochi declared his father's “recklessness towards lands and people.” Jochi died at about the age of 40. Six months later, in August 1227, Genghis Khan died. The mother outlived her firstborn by three years. Jochi's grave is known. In 1946, Jochi's body was dug up by Soviet archaeologists. A skeleton was found in the tomb without a right hand with a severed skull.

Chagatai (1185–1242) is the second son of Genghis Khan and Borte. He was known as the best expert on Yasa (the law of great power) and the highest authority in all matters related to laws and customs. Chagatai was unfavorably disposed towards Islam. It was only because of his hostility to Islam that Chagatai was known as a friend of Christians. According to the legend reported by Marco Polo, he even allegedly received baptism, which is not confirmed by any other information.

Ogedei (c. 1186–1241) was the third son of Genghis Khan and Borte and his father's successor as Khagan of the Mongol Empire. He was physically developed, intelligent, and had a stable character. To the father’s question: “What is the greatest pleasure for a person?” - It is young Ogedei who gives the answer he expected: “Taking care of the fatherland is the greatest pleasure for a person.” Continued the expansionist policy of Genghis Khan. In 1236–1242 he made a large-scale campaign to the West. He conquered Volga Bulgaria, a number of Russian principalities, conquered the Kipchaks, and ravaged Poland and Hungary.

Tolui, (c. 1193–1232) - the fourth, youngest son of Genghis Khan and Borte. Statesman of the Mongol Empire, military leader. When his older brother Ogedei became seriously ill, a traditional ceremony was performed to ransom the soul of the sick person from the spirits. The shamans asked the spirits to accept gold, silver, livestock or food as a ransom instead of Ogedei’s soul. However, it turned out that only a relative of the patient can become a ransom in this situation. Tolui, who was present at the time, with the words “instead of Ogedei-kaan, take me, give him healing from this illness, and put his illness in me,” drank the water enchanted by the shamans. Soon Ogedei recovered, but Tolui, who left his brother’s headquarters, fell ill on the road and died. Tolui was buried in the same place as his father.

Genghis Khan and Borte were children of their time, cruel and merciless. In order to survive ourselves and provide a future for our offspring and people, we had to be able to resist internal and external enemies. Genghis Khan created one of the greatest empires in the world, and Borte gave birth to and preserved sons in difficult conditions, who became statesmen and military leaders of his father's empire.

Isabella of Bavaria
OK. 1370-1435
Queen of France

Isabella of Bavaria (Elizabeth, Isabeau) Queen of France, wife of Charles VI, only daughter of the Bavarian Duke Stefan of Ingolstadt and Taddei Visconti.

Most likely, she was born in Munich, where she was baptized in the Church of Our Lady (a Romanesque cathedral on the site of the modern Frauenkirche) under the name “Elizabeth,” traditional for German rulers since the time of St. Elizabeth of Hungary. The exact year of birth is unknown. The youngest of two children of Stephen III the Magnificent, Duke of Bavaria-Ingolstadt, and Taddei Visconti (granddaughter of the Duke of Milan Bernabo Visconti, overthrown and executed by his nephew and co-ruler Gian Galeazzo Visconti). Little is known about the childhood of the future queen. It was established that she received a home education, among other things, was taught to read and write, Latin, and received all the necessary skills for running a household in a future marriage. At the age of 11, she lost her mother. It is believed that her father intended her for marriage with one of the small German princes, so the proposal of the uncle of the French king, Philip the Bold, who asked for her hand in marriage to Charles VI, came as a complete surprise. Isabella was fifteen years old at the time.

Before his death, King Charles V the Wise ordered his son’s regents to find him a “German woman” as a wife. Indeed, from a purely political point of view, France would have greatly benefited if the German princes had supported its fight against England.

Froissart described this meeting and Charles’s love for Isabella, which flared up at first sight: “When she, embarrassed, approached him and made a low bow, the king carefully took her arm and tenderly looked into her eyes. He felt that she was very pleasant to him, and that his heart was filled with love for this young and beautiful girl. He dreamed of only one thing: for her to become his wife.”

The wedding took place on July 18 in the cathedral in Amiens. Everything happened so hastily that most of the court ladies did not have enough time to dress luxuriously, as was customary for such ceremonies. Even Isabeau of Bavaria did not have wedding dress. Nevertheless, the celebrations were luxurious.

Isabeau, on the one hand, excited the intriguers, and on the other, gave the young sovereign complete sexual satisfaction.

After the wedding, Isabella devoted her time to studying the French language and the history of France.

On the occasion of the baptism of the Dauphin, magnificent festivities were organized; Count Karl de Dammartin became his successor from the font, but the child died in December of the same year.

Karl doted on his young wife. She attends all kinds of celebrations with him. Isabella and her court accompany her husband to the royal boar hunts.

Isabella celebrated with pomp the wedding of one of her German ladies-in-waiting, Catherine de Fastovrin, to Jean Morelet de Campreny. The bride's dowry, amounting to 4 thousand livres, was fully paid by the queen, and 1 thousand of this amount went to pay off the groom's debts; the rest of the money was used to purchase lands that became Catherine's dowry.

At the beginning of the following year, 1388, it was officially announced that Queen Isabella had “carried with child” for the second time. To provide for the unborn child, a new tax was introduced by special decree - the “Queen's Belt”, which brought in about 4 thousand livres from the sale of 31 thousand barrels of wine. On June 14, 1388, at ten o'clock in the morning, a girl named Jeanne was born, but she lived only two years.

On August 22, 1389, it was decided to arrange a ceremonial entry of the queen into the capital of France. Isabella was already very familiar with Paris, where she had invariably spent the winter for four years, but the king, who loved magnificent festivities and ceremonies, insisted on organizing a particularly solemn, theatrical procession. The Queen, who was then six months pregnant, was carried in a stretcher.

In November of the same year, their third child, Princess Isabella, was born. future queen English. Subsequently, the queen accompanied her husband on his inspection trip to the south of France and made a pilgrimage to the Cistercian Abbey of Maubuisson and further to Melun, where on January 24, 1391 she gave birth to her fourth child, Princess Jeanne.

The first fit of madness seized Charles VI on August 5, 1392, near Mans, in the forest through which he moved with his army, pursuing Pierre Craon, who attempted the life of the constable of France. The king's condition was deteriorating all the time. By this time, the queen was 22 years old and already the mother of three children.

In January 1393, the queen held a feast to celebrate the third marriage of her lady-in-waiting, the German Catherine de Fastovrin. During the festival, there was a fire accident, from which the king was seriously injured, after which the situation became completely deplorable. Attacks of madness became regular, interspersed with lucidity, however, the latter became shorter and shorter over time, and the former, accordingly, became more severe and longer lasting. In a darkened state of mind, the king stopped recognizing his wife.

The queen began to live separately from her husband, in the Barbet Palace, where she “was not afraid of being beaten half to death by Charles VI.”

But still, it is believed that in moments of enlightenment, Isabella was close to her husband.

Her next child, Charles (the second Dauphin), was born in 1392, followed by her daughter Maria, whom, according to the custom of that time, the queen “dedicated to God” even before birth, that is, she vowed that the girl would leave at the age of 4–5 to the monastery for the sake of his father’s recovery. In total, she bore him 12 children, although the paternity of some of them (starting with the fourth) is often questioned. Meanwhile, the king’s health was deteriorating, and there was less and less hope for his cure. After the doctors were finally forced to admit their powerlessness, the queen turned to the services of healers and charlatans, and finally, on her orders, numerous religious processions were organized in Paris, and Jews were expelled from the city.

Meanwhile, two court parties, led by the Duke of Orleans, the king's brother, and Philip the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, waged a fierce struggle for influence over the sick monarch, to the point that the king, during an attack of madness, succumbed to one of his rivals, during the next enlightenment canceled his own orders and gave new ones in favor of the second. At first, the king's brother and uncle acted together, ordering the dissolution and partial arrest of the previous government, composed of royal favorites - the so-called. "Marmusettes". But over time, disagreements arose between them; the more impatient and straightforward Louis tried to demand the French crown for himself under the pretext that “the king is unable to rule.” The proposal ended in scandal, since, according to medieval law, the act of anointing is a sacrament emanating from God, which people cannot cancel. However, according to the same laws, an incapacitated king must be replaced by a regent, who was usually rightfully recognized as the heir to the throne. But Karl was still too young, and therefore could only play this role nominally. In such conditions, a struggle for influence on the queen and the Dauphin inevitably began as the main condition for power. Isabella rushed between two parties, initially leaning towards the Burgundians, however, while trying to rely on her brother, Louis of Bavaria, which ultimately led to the fact that, objectively, the queen’s policy became the most beneficial to the Wittelsbach family.

Finding herself in a country with a mad king, Isabella was doomed to take the side of one of the feudal factions fighting for power in the kingdom. Isabella took the lead role in management public affairs in a catastrophic situation in the later years of her husband’s reign.

On February 22, 1403, Charles, Count of Ponthieu, the eleventh child of royal family, who was destined to become King Charles VII. In April 1403, Louis d'Orléans achieved a division of power. Isabella became not the sole ruler during the “absence of the king,” as his attacks were officially called, but the head state council. In 1404, she finally went over to the side of the Orleans party, after Philip the Bold died in Brabant from the plague on April 27, 1404. From now on, his son John the Fearless became the head of the Burgundians, who, having inherited his father’s love of power, did not at all have his flexibility and diplomacy in achieving his goals. The situation was also worsened by the fact that, according to medieval ideas, the king's cousin could not have the same degree of power and influence as his uncle, with which John the Fearless could not agree. However, at the first stage, he could not yet compete on equal terms with the king’s brother.

The queen at this time began to rapidly lose popularity among her subjects. She was accused of endless extortion, which she was engaged in in alliance with the Duke of Orleans, excessive luxury and wastefulness (which is true - treasury records have been preserved about the payment of 57 thousand francs, which, by order of the queen, were transported to Bavaria, another hundred thousand were received by her brother Louis after the wedding In addition, the Bavarians were given from the royal treasury a gold image of the Madonna and Child and a gold enameled image of a horse worth 25 thousand francs). At the same time, the queen began to be accused of connivance and lack of will in relation to Louis of Bavaria, despite the fact that the issue of adultery was not raised. As Michel Pentoin, a Benedictine monk from Saint-Denis, believed, these rumors were spread by John the Fearless in order to similarly discredit his political opponents: In order to restore the deceived people against them, vile people were sent to the taverns, spreading false rumors about what concerned the queen and the Duke of Orleans.

The life of Isabella of Bavaria is completely surrounded by rumors and intrigue. Since Isabella took part in the struggle between the Burgundian and Orleans parties, her life was provided with all kinds of gossip and rumors, not always reliable.

Modern historians write: “The story of Isabella of Bavaria has long been a fabricated mixture of rumors and propaganda, which were absorbed into historical tradition and repeated so often that legends became indistinguishable from facts.”

“Defenders” of the reputation of Isabella of Bavaria from among modern researchers paint her as a kind woman, but very narrow-minded, brought up for a reclusive life dedicated to children and festivities, which a noble lady was supposed to lead at that time. Forced by circumstances to intervene in politics, for which she was not ready either by her upbringing or her character, the queen rushed between two parties, trying to please both, and naturally ended up losing, which is what they blame her for before history. “Opponents,” taking on faith the rumors that arose about the queen since her husband’s madness, believe her to be insidious and intelligent, able to subjugate male ambition and not achieve her goals only because the circumstances turned out to be stronger. The question of the paternity of her children is also not entirely clear. If, according to the official version, they were all born from King Charles VI, the “opponents” of Queen Isabella believe that this applies only to the first five, while the father of Mary and Michelle could be the “nobleman” de Bois-Bourdon, the rest - Louis Orleans. Unfortunately, the primary sources relating to this period in the history of France talk about the queen extremely sparingly, noting only external events, while the behind-the-scenes springs remain in the shadows, and this incompleteness in many ways allows us to draw completely opposite conclusions.

It is generally accepted that Isabella was pretty, noting, however, that the queen did not meet the medieval ideal of beauty - she was short and dark-haired. According to legend, she bathed in donkey milk and covered her face with a cream made from boar brains, the secretion of crocodile musk glands and bird blood. Isabella was the first to introduce into fashion huge caps that completely hid her hair, and this fashion soon took root in the Netherlands, Germany and England. At Isabella's court, the custom subsequently arose of shaving the eyebrows and hair on the forehead to make the latter appear taller. When, over time, French fashion freed itself from the influence of Burgundy, the custom of hiding hair still continued to exist.

In high society, Queen Isabella of Bavaria introduced “dresses with a large neckline” into fashion. Her name is associated with the introduction into fashion of the ennen headdress - a complex women's headdress on a frame made of whalebone, metal, starched linen or hard paper. The most common versions of the ennen were made in the form of a cone, truncated cone or pipe.

Isabella is said to have led an extremely luxurious lifestyle.

She repeatedly used the services of prügelknabe (a kind of “whipping boys”, deputies): she forced the court doctor to perform the nine-day prayer in her place. She vowed to make a pilgrimage to Avignon, but sent a walker there as her deputy. An interesting item of expenditure is known from the court accounts: in 1417, the queen paid one person 9 livres and 6 sous for fasting for 36 days in her place. The queen’s “opponents” from among modern researchers compare her with Catherine de Medici, while her “supporters” compare her with Marie Antoinette. The Queen and her daughter-in-law Valentina Visconti (wife of Louis of Orleans) were recipients of Christina of Pisa and generally corresponded with this writer, patronizing her.

In people's memory she forever remained “the woman who destroyed France.” French chroniclers of those times often mentioned the legendary prophecy (the so-called prophecy of Merlin) that “France, destroyed by a dissolute woman (Wife), will be saved by a virgin (Virgo),” where the virgin meant Joan of Arc, and the libertine sometimes meant queen. In addition, according to one of the legends, she gave birth to an illegitimate child from her brother-in-law, Louis of Orleans, who was Joan of Arc, that is, the Virgin of Orleans was a royal bastard.

Borte-fujin - or Mrs. Borte - went down in history as the most beloved wife and wise adviser of Temujin-Genghis Khan. She was the eldest wife of the head of the great Mongol Empire. Borte's children continued their father's work, thereby increasing his fame many times over.

Long engagement

The ancient aristocratic families of Mongolia had their own rules and views on concluding marriages. As soon as Temujin turned 9 years old, his father Yesugei began looking for a bride for the boy. It was important to find a candidate from a noble noble family, an association with which would help strengthen the power of the ruling family.
We decided not to go far. Yesugei planned to contact the relatives of his wife Hoelun. She came from the Olkhonuts (a tribal branch of the Ungirates). Being pleased with his own wife, Yesugei reasoned that her relative would certainly become a good companion for his son. In addition, this marriage will help strengthen the connection with one of the most ancient families of the Mongol Empire.
From the “Secret History of the Mongols” (1240) it is known that Genghis Khan’s father came to the Ungirat camp and entered into a twinning alliance with a certain Dan Sechen. Yesugei promised to marry his daughter to Temujin. The girl's name was Borte (born in 1161). She was a year older than the groom, but this did not matter for marriage among the Mongols.
According to ancient tradition, Yesugei left the boy to live with his future wife’s tribe, and he himself returned home. After some time, the man began to get very sick. “The Secret History of the Mongols” indicates the cause of his illness was the poison that Yesugei was given to drink in one of the Buryat tribes. By order of his dying father, Temujin was taken from the bride's camp and brought home.
After the death of Yesugei, a struggle for supreme dominion began among the Mongol tribes. The widows of the deceased khan and all his children were expelled from their homes and doomed to a half-starved existence. Temujin himself turned out to be a tribal Taijuit. Being 11 years old, the clever and resourceful Genghis Khan managed to escape from captivity.
A couple of years after this test, he returned to the Borte camp and took her as his wife. Probably, during the short time they met, Temujin became attached to her and intuitively accepted his father’s choice as the most correct. The future ruler of the empire presented the beautiful bride with rich gifts, and after the marriage, he took her to his camp.

Empress on the throne

Temujin faced a long and bloody struggle for hegemony in the steppe. All this time, the faithful Byurte was next to her khan. She turned out to be an exceptionally wise and far-sighted lady. I often gave it to my husband useful tips, prompted important political decisions.
Already being the ruler of the Mongol Empire and the most formidable conqueror of Eurasia, Genghis Khan did not stop listening to his beloved and deeply revered Borte. She was not only his first and main wife, but also his co-ruler. Borte-fujin was crowned as the great empress. In this role, the woman gave birth to Temujin 4 sons and 5 daughters.
According to legend, until the age of 50, the Great Khan shared a bed only with his empress. Later, he began to take other wives in order to continue the family line and strengthen his power. By the age of 50, the khan’s first wife could no longer conceive or give birth to children, while the great ruler of the empire was supposed to be the father of a huge number of offspring.
Despite the fact that the khan had other wives and many concubines, only the children of Borte-fujin inherited supreme power in the empire and bore the title of Genghisids. Borte survived her husband by only a few years. Until her husband’s death, this amazing woman remained his wise adviser and most reliable friend. Her descendants ruled the lands conquered by Genghis Khan until 1920.

World history preserves the memory of many women whose deeds glorified their names for many centuries. Poets glorify their intelligence and beauty, scientists argue about the place, role and significance of each of them in the development of progress and the history of a particular country. And completely undeservedly, history consigned to oblivion the names of the most powerful women in the world throughout the existence of mankind - Mongolian women of the 13th century.

European and Asian contemporaries, and then historians, based on the views prevailing in their countries on the role and place of women in the life of society, could not understand the system of family and marriage relations among nomads. They either kept silent about the role of the wives of the Great Khans in political history, or underestimated their intellectual abilities, and sometimes even completely deprived them of them. In the modern era, too, little has changed. Researchers then and now are baffled by the very fact of the success of Mongolian weapons and political talent. Well, some wild nomads couldn’t create the greatest and most progressive empire in the world! The matter does not go further than recognition of the genius of Genghis Khan and his commanders. It would not hurt to look at the state of efficiency of the nomadic society itself, in which a woman was not considered simply as a necessary element for procreation. The economic role of women in the family exceeded that of men. Historical sources speak about this. The man’s business is the field, and everything else is on her shoulders. This doubled the military-political and economic potential with the same number of Mongols in the early Middle Ages.

History has been written and rewritten many times. But in it, the periods of interregnum still remain a “blank spot”. Despite the fact that they were quite long. Two years after the death of Genghis Khan in the Yuan-shi are written in one line: “... Tsarevich Tolui reigned.” This is despite the fact that even during the life of Genghis Khan, at the family council it was decided to give power to Ogedei. Why do sources miss the role and significance of Genghis Khan’s wife Yesui-khabun during this period? Not yet known.

Turakina-khatun

After the death of the Great Khan Ögedei, the interregnum lasted five years. Could a great power exist without power for such a long period of time? No. The campaigns of conquest were successful, and state structures developed. This would have been impossible without a steady hand. Western historical sources call this time the regency of Turakina-khatun, the widow of Ogedei. Chinese - during the reign of Empress Liu, who came from the Naimazhen family. “The Secret History of the Mongols” connects its origin with the Merkits. She was a powerful, purposeful woman with a strong will. Wisely managing the state, she concentrated in her hands all power from the Adriatic Sea to the Yellow Sea. She was able to win the dynastic struggle, making her son Guyuk the Great Khan, bypassing the existing rules of succession to the throne.

Historians are unfair to her. Repeating after the Catholic monk Plano Carpini the fiction that Turakina Khatun personally poisoned the Russian prince Yaroslav, her followers turn her into a not very smart person. Even such a great scientist as Gumilyov L.N. did not escape this fate, calling her “a quarrelsome, stupid woman.” And no one asked the question: “Why did she need this?” According to the reasoning of Carpini, a representative of barbaric Europe at that time, she wanted with this step to annex Yaroslav’s possessions to her ulus. It’s hard to come up with a more ridiculous assumption. The principality in the north-east of Rus', small compared to the Mongol empire, was already part of the orbit of Mongol influence. It would hardly have occurred to the Great Empress to personally participate in the internecine problems of the princes on the outskirts of her state. What was permissible for a monk who did not understand the realities can hardly correspond to the authority of a modern researcher.

Ogul-kaimish

Guyuk did not rule for long, and the new interregnum was led by his wife Ogul-Kaymish (Ogul-Gaymish), about whose personality we can glean little good from sources and research. And here the force of inertia worked. The state grew and strengthened, and she was blamed for her passion for sorcerers and sorcerers and the collapse of state affairs. But in vain! Yes, she lost the dynasty fight. But to whom? Run Sorkuktani herself!

This struggle lasted three long years and ended with the execution of Ogul-Kaymish, her son Shiremun and other prominent noyons. For three years, the powerful Sorkuktani could not cope with the “stupid and worthless” Ogul-Kaimish. Here in historical works obviously not everything is in order!

Sorkuktani-run

Sorkuktani-begi (it would be more correct to say Sorhag-tani, as Bello proved, but we are also subject to inertia) was certainly the most powerful woman in history. Neither great rulers nor historical writers, even such as Rashid ad-Din and Plano Carpini, who, due to their religious beliefs, treated women with a certain prejudice, could not resist the charm of her personality. The latter noted in his book: “... Seroktan, this lady enjoyed preferential respect among all the Tatars (Mongols) ....” But Carpini was at the court of the Great Khan even before the election of Guyuk.

“Sorkuktani-begi was very smart and capable and towered over the women of the world (even here Rashid ad-Din could not resist gender discrimination - auto). She possessed the fullest degree of firmness, modesty, bashfulness and chastity. Since her sons remained (small) children after their father, she, thanks to her abilities, made great efforts in raising them and taught them virtues and courtesy. She never allowed any dispute to happen between them, even about a hair, she made their wives friends (this alone is worth something - auto) and with prudence raised and protected children, grandchildren, all senior emirs (noyons) and the army that remained after Genghis Khan and Tului Khan and was under their subordination. And since they recognized her perfect mind and extreme abilities, they never “transgressed her commands even by a hair.”

One of the wives youngest son Genghis Khan Tolui, Sorkuktani could not claim a high position in the social hierarchy of Mongolian society. In addition, she was the niece of Van Khan of Kereit, in a fierce battle with whom Genghis Khan acquired his political weight and power in the Steppe. But reason and prudence, the ability to smooth out corners and reconcile irreconcilable Genghisids in the family made her first everyone’s favorite, and then an adviser. For her sake, many even forgave Yasa’s violation. In 1225, during the Mongol campaign against the Tangut state, Tolui's army was delayed in its performance. The conqueror of the world, who cruelly punished the slightest military offenses, was forced to leave the offense unpunished: the justification was weighty - Sorkuktani-begi fell ill.

She brought the royal houses of Jochi and Tolui closer together, probably because Jochi's wife was her sister Biktutmish-fujin. Batu Khan, already the eldest of the Genghisids in age and position, nevertheless always consulted with his uncle’s widow and listened to her opinion. Batu's rival, Ogedei Khan, like his descendants later, treated Sorkuktani Begi and her children with great love, which did not prevent the latter from seizing the reins of government of the empire. Rashid ad-Din: “Kaan (i.e. Ogedei) consulted with her about all matters, did not violate the decisions she made and did not allow changes in her orders, all the people dependent on her were marked with patronage and honor.”

Her subjects were also impressed by her refusal to marry even the Great Khan Guyuk after the death of her husband. This contributed to the fact that the love of the Mongol people for her became even higher than the veneration of Genghis Khan’s mother Hoelun-Eke.

The four sons of Sorkuktani Begi were great historical figures. The eldest son, Mongke, was elected khurultai by the Great Khan. Other sons were also awarded this title: Kublai and Arig-Bukha. The dispute between them ended in 1260 in favor of Kublai Kublai, whom historians today consider the most powerful sovereign in history. He founded the Yuan Dynasty in China. Her second son, Hulagu, led the Mongols to the Middle East, where he became the founder of the Ilkhan dynasty. Under Khubilai, the Mongol Empire reached its greatest power and a territory unprecedented in history. Sorkuktani-begi also made an effort to do this. The army she sent to the north annexed vast expanses of Siberia right up to the Arctic Ocean. The kings and princes of many nations sought her favor, and all foreign ambassadors passed through her headquarters.

Since Sorkuktani was a Christian, Russian, Armenian, Georgian rulers and rulers counted on her help and protection European countries. On the shores of all four oceans, her word was law, which even the Great Khans, her sons, could not challenge. Unlimited power did not spoil it. Being educated herself, she instilled a passion for science and her sons. She was merciful and gracious. She looked after not only Christians. With her money, a madrasah was built in Bukhara. And today, probably, no one can count how many other good deeds there were in her life.

Perhaps it was she who protected her once-disgraced cousins ​​and nephews, grandchildren and great-grandsons of Van Khan, and contributed to their rise among the Torgouts, the guard of the Great Khans, whose descendants in a few centuries would become Kalmyk khans.

Science has several dates for her death. But it is not important. Sorkuktani-begi completed her life's journey at the pinnacle of glory, honor and power, and found peace in the sacred place where Genghis Khan was buried. Neither before nor after her were there any more powerful Mongol empresses, both in scope and in strength of power.

Abike-run

One of the most interesting and remarkable personalities of the early history of the Mongolian peoples can be called Abike-begi, one of the senior wives of Genghis Khan. A princess by blood, an intelligent, strong-willed woman, she lived a life worthy of a plot for many poems, novels and even detective stories. The originality of her nature attracted ancient chroniclers and at the same time puzzled her.

In modern translations of ancient sources into Russian, her name can be found as Ibaha (in Kozin), Ibaka (in Darvaev), Abike (in Rashid ad-Din), etc. It seems that her name has, like a solid part modern names of many peoples, ethnic etymology. The Abacus people were quite respected in the Great Steppe. Even one of the Ilkhans in the Khulagid state had the name Abaka Khan. Abike, this is a diminutive derivative, so we will consider this pronunciation of the name to be correct.

Most ancient chronicles describe one important event in the life of Abike-begi. In verse 208 of Chapter 7 of the “Secret History of the Mongols” and in further Mongol translations, this incident is presented as Genghis Khan’s gift of his wife Abika for great merit to the noyon of the Urut tribe, Jurchedai. Listing his exploits, the khan mentions the exceptional role of Jurchedai in the defeat of the troops of the Kereit Van Khan, and then the Kereit Jahambo with the capture of their subjects. Next, it is necessary to quote from the translation of “The Legend…” by P. Darvaev in full:

“For the sake of the fact that in the days of battles he risked his life, that in the days of battles he galloped ahead, Chingis Kagan gave Jurchedai Ibaku-beki and told her: “I never said that you are stupid, that you are bad! I give you, who entered my heart and soul and sat next to me, to Jurchedai for the sake of the Great Cause, for the fact that in the days of battles he became a shield, he was a shelter from enemies, that he united those who had separated, gathered those who were scattered, for all his merits , for the sake of the Great Cause I am giving you up. After me, my descendants, when they sit in our place, let them also think about the benefit of the Cause, without distorting my words, until the descendants do not interrupt the duty (do not forget the merits) of Ibaki!

Chingis Kagan also said to Ibaka: “Your father Jaka-Kanbu gave you two hundred people, as well as Ashik-Temur-baurchi and Alchik-baurchi. Now, when you go to the Uruud tribe, give me Ashik-Temur-baurchi and a hundred people from the dowry as a souvenir!”

Chingis Kagan also said to Jurchedai: “I give you my Ibaka, you will be in charge of four thousand of your Uruuds yourself, won’t you?” So he rewarded Jurchedai.”

This quotation is not entirely accidental. “The Secret Legend of the Mongols,” like subsequent Mongolian interpretations of the life story of Genghis Khan, is, while claiming to be a chronicle, still a literary and artistic work, and its author was unlikely to be personally present at this episode. But he could not remain silent about such a fact. This caused too much resonance in nomadic society. And there was a reason!

The very act of giving a wife, even for the greatest merits to another in the history of mankind, cannot be called ordinary, especially in medieval nomadic society. It was inexplicable neither then, nor today, nor from the point of view of any morality. The Chinese chroniclers in the Yuan Shi, who diligently noted all the milestones in Genghis Khan’s life, simply did not mention him in this case.

The historian Rashid ad-Din in his Chronicles reveals the essence of what happened somewhat differently. The recipient of the amazing gift, Jurchedai, is referred to as Kyakhtay (Kehtay) - noyon. This is how he describes the events

“... From the stories about him, one is like this: one night he led the guards guard at the headquarters of Genghis Khan. Genghis Khan, seeing some horrible dream, woke up and demanded light. At headquarters there was a wife named Abika-begi, the daughter of Jakanbu. He said to this wife: “I have always been good to you and have not seen any evil or treachery from you. At that moment I saw a certain dream, and the Almighty God commanded that I give you as a gift. You shouldn't be angry." And he called out: “Who’s outside?” Kakhtei-noyon, who was on guard, answered: “I am.” He called him inside and said: “I gave you this lady, take her!” Kakhtay was quite frightened by this incident. Genghis Khan reassured him and said: “Do not be afraid, for I really say these words!” He said to his wife: “Leave me one steward as a souvenir (baurchi - auto.)… and such and such a golden cup from which I drink kumiss.” Everything else was completely given to his wife, giving it to his wife, giving it to Kakhtei-noyon. And that’s it!”

But that's not all! Genghis Khan committed this act when his power strengthened - all the Mongol tribes had already been conquered and the laws of Yasa had been established. Abike-begi was also not a simple woman who could be given as a gift.

She was the niece of Wang Khan, whose proximity to the aristocratic family in the Steppe meant a lot. Abike was the eldest of four daughters of Jahambo (Jakanbu). Her sisters were: Bektutmish-Fudzhin - the eldest wife of Jochi, the eldest son of Genghis Khan, and Sorkuktani-begi - the main wife of his youngest son Tolui. They had quite a lot of political influence among the Mongols. Another sister was given in marriage to the king of the Onguts or Tanguts. Sources vary on this. During his campaigns of conquest, Genghis Khan actively tried to find her, but to no avail. Therefore, her name was not preserved in history. The sisters had complete economic freedom and even military strength. Two hundred Abike-begi Torgaut guards, according to the laws of knights of honor, could protect the dignity of their mistress. Genghis Khan knew this, from which it follows that his act was not an insult to the wife given as a gift.

What really happened that night? According to custom, Genghis Khan could not refuse his wife of his own free will, even if she was ugly or barren, neither of which applied to her.

Did Genghis Khan turn out to be an unwitting witness to the meeting of lovers, or did he suspect his wife of infidelity? According to the laws of the Steppe and Yasa, adultery was punishable by the death of both. Genghis Khan could not go to execution for several reasons. This will undermine his authority as a ruler and husband among his subjects. Secondly, Abike’s violent death would not only lead to turmoil in the newly created state, but would also bring discord into the royal family. It is also unlikely to explain the ruler’s action as a noble impulse to unite loving hearts. History knows how he decided the fate of the groom of his other wife Yesui, the Tatar princess.

One thing is clear: the initiative for divorce did not come from Genghis Khan and the nightmare had nothing to do with it. This reason was invented as an excuse a century after the event described. If this was his will, then he had to not only return the entire dowry of his wife, but also replenish it. But it turned out the other way around: ex-husband asked for a good half of the dowry as a gift for himself. It is clear that a hundred brave, loyal nukers and a reliable manager of the khan’s table will not interfere with even the greatest ruler. But the golden cup-kise that Rashid ad-Din mentions?! It is undignified for a person with ambitions to own the whole world, if this is not the famous blue cup of Van Khan, from which the very young Temujin, Jamukha and Kilha-Sengum wanted to drink in the morning.

It looks like the idea was Abika's. But why should one of the senior wives of the steppe sovereign, who has real power, join her fate with a simple commander of the guards, even if he is a handsome and daring man? Moreover, with the most zealous destroyer of her uncle and cousin, the murderer of her own father? There was only one reason - revenge! While she was a member of Genghis Khan’s family, she could not do this; Djurchadai (Kyakhtai) had too much merit in exalting this family. For obvious reasons, the khan himself could not disgrace the hero. Noyons of thousands would not forgive this.

How and what the couple agreed on that night, we will never know. But, probably, Genghis Khan fully shared Abike’s desire for noble revenge. This did not contradict the code of knightly honor, and the khan agreed to it. Now revenge on the destroyer of the ancient family of Kereit rulers has become a family matter, not a state matter. Then the horror is understandable fearless warrior upon receiving such a “gift”.

After the fatal acquisitions, Jurchedai (Kyakhtay) was removed from the court, and further fate his is unknown. Even the tribe of brave Uruts, of which he was a member, disappeared. In any case, during the time of Rashid ad-Din this tribe no longer existed. His position passed to his relative Chanai. It is difficult to say which of the names, Jurchedai or Kyakhtay, was real and which was a nickname; perhaps these were two different people.

Abike-begi not only did not lose her authority among the Genghisids, but also strengthened it. Her son became a baurchi captain under the Great Khan Ogedei. From whom she gave birth to this son is unknown, but such a position at court indicates a very high degree of trust. In addition, Abike annually came from her city to the Headquarters of the Great Khan and held a feast. After one such feast, Ogedei Khan, having drunk wine, died. The court tongues tried to slander about the poisoning, but Elchidai-noyon, the khan's foster brother, stopped these conversations. The authors of Yuan-shi, however, blamed the poisoning on the Khan's minister Abd-ar-Rahman. Abd-ar-Rahman supervised the collection of taxes, including in China.

Thanks to the efforts of the sisters, the Kereit clan gradually began to gain strength. They married their cousin Duguz Khatun to Tolui, and then made him the eldest wife of Hulagu Khan. The niece of Duguz-Khatun, also a Kereyite, became the wife of Argun Khan and the mother of the heir Kharabande. By supporting their relatives, the sisters helped ancient family Kereit rulers will once again enter the political arena. Their descendants were the Kalmyk khans. And the distant great-niece of Abike, the daughter of Ho-Urlyuk Yumagas, turned out to be a worthy successor to her ancestor. Taking revenge for the failure of the relatives of her first husband to fulfill customs, she destroyed the power of the Khosheut khans in Dzungaria.

Victor Maglinov

Photo from the Internet