Genghis Khan’s death left a void in the Mongol empire. His sons failed to fill that void, creating a volatile period of time for the Mongols. The former Great Khan’s governmental structure “…had placed Ogodei in the geographic center, surrounded by the territories of his brothers and sisters.” Because Ogodei’s were centrally located, he “…began encroaching” on the lands of his siblings “…as soon as he came to power.” Through violence, Ogodei dispersed his influence across his family’s lands. Although Genghis Khan’s daughters suffered the greatest at the hands of Ogodei, a new set of women came into control, partially in response to Ogodei’s lust for land and power. The wives of the Khans, the daughters-in-law of Genghis Khan, were the
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Mongol standard dictated that widows were to remarry brothers or relatives of their deceased husbands, but they could decline. Women who were married to powerful men, such as Genghis Khan or the subsequent Khans, would often not remarry, choosing to exercise their power passed on from their powerful husbands. Contrary to the generalized notion of Mongol Women, these women held a great deal of power within Mongol Society, complicating the view that they were solely a commodity. Widows of the Khans, for instance Toregene, Sorghaghtani Beki, Oghul Ghaymish and Borte Fujin challenged the typical roles forced upon Mongol women. Toregene and Sorghaghtani became regents after their husbands died, meaning “a person invested with royal authority by, or on behalf of, another. Periods of Mongol history with women rulers are glanced over and seen as interludes to the male dominated rule when in fact widow regent rule reflects great strides in Mongol culture and history. In comparison to women of other cultures such as China and Persia, these women had more freedom. Christian, Muslim and Confucian commentators were uncomfortable with the idea of a woman in government (CITE?) Certainly, women endured hardship, but they faced this issue equally with men. The equality that woman shared with men, even in Mongol patriarchic society, shaped their ability to be involved in matters of the state. Though a woman could not become a great Khan, they effectively achieved office up to the “highest imperial level. Mongolian women ran the state and participated in quriltais (CITE). Between 1241 and 1246 the Great Khan Ogodei’s (FIX) widow, Toregene (FIX), ruled as regent. After Chinggis Khan’s youngest son, Tolui, died (1231-32), his wife Sorghaghtani Beki resisted attempt to remarry her to Ogodei’s (FIX) son Guyuk (FIX). Instead, she ruled her late husband’s domain’s herself, and eventually she was able to
Mongol standard dictated that widows were to remarry brothers or relatives of their deceased husbands, but they could decline. Women who were married to powerful men, such as Genghis Khan or the subsequent Khans, would often not remarry, choosing to exercise their power passed on from their powerful husbands. Contrary to the generalized notion of Mongol Women, these women held a great deal of power within Mongol Society, complicating the view that they were solely a commodity. Widows of the Khans, for instance Toregene, Sorghaghtani Beki, Oghul Ghaymish and Borte Fujin challenged the typical roles forced upon Mongol women. Toregene and Sorghaghtani became regents after their husbands died, meaning “a person invested with royal authority by, or on behalf of, another. Periods of Mongol history with women rulers are glanced over and seen as interludes to the male dominated rule when in fact widow regent rule reflects great strides in Mongol culture and history. In comparison to women of other cultures such as China and Persia, these women had more freedom. Christian, Muslim and Confucian commentators were uncomfortable with the idea of a woman in government (CITE?) Certainly, women endured hardship, but they faced this issue equally with men. The equality that woman shared with men, even in Mongol patriarchic society, shaped their ability to be involved in matters of the state. Though a woman could not become a great Khan, they effectively achieved office up to the “highest imperial level. Mongolian women ran the state and participated in quriltais (CITE). Between 1241 and 1246 the Great Khan Ogodei’s (FIX) widow, Toregene (FIX), ruled as regent. After Chinggis Khan’s youngest son, Tolui, died (1231-32), his wife Sorghaghtani Beki resisted attempt to remarry her to Ogodei’s (FIX) son Guyuk (FIX). Instead, she ruled her late husband’s domain’s herself, and eventually she was able to