Töregene Khatun
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Töregene Khatun was a Khatun and ruled as regent of the Mongol Empire from the death of her husband Ögedei Khan in 1241 until the election of her eldest son Güyük Khan in 1246. She was effective in the exercise of power in a society that was traditionally led only by men. She managed to balance the various competing powers within the empire, and even within the extended family of the descendants of Genghis Khan, over a 5 year period in which she not only ruled the empire, but set the stage for the ascension of her son Güyük as Great Khan.
The Mongols practiced polygamy. Ögedei Khan's favorite son was Kochu, who was his through another wife, and he had nominated Kochu's son Siremun to succeed him. Töregene opposed the choice in favor of Güyük, but despite the enormous influence she had on him, she was unable to persuade Ögedei to change his selection. She did, however, achieve her aims through cunning. When the lesser khans appointed her regent after her husband´s death, she appointed her favorites to high positions in the imperial household and initiated what was to be a successful scheme to elevate her son Güyük. She managed to keep a Kurultai from being held until it was sure her son Güyük was favored by the majority.
| edit | Khagans of Mongol Empire | |
|---|---|---|
| Genghis Khan (1206-1227) | Tolui Khan (regent) (1227-1229) | Ogedei Khan (1229-1241) | Töregene Khatun (regent) (1241-1246) | Guyuk Khan (1246-1248) | Mongke Khan (1251-1259) | Khublai Khan (1260-1294)
|
||
