| Sorghaghtani | |||||||||
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| Empress (Khatun) | |||||||||
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The Christian queen Sorghaghtani with her husband, Tolui. Rashid al-Din, early 14th century.
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| Reign | 1204–1252 | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Börte | ||||||||
| Successor |
Chabi Nambui |
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| Born | Mongolia | ||||||||
| Died | 1252 | ||||||||
| Burial | Gansu (at church) | ||||||||
| Spouse | Tolui | ||||||||
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| House | Keraite | ||||||||
| Father | Jakha Gambhu, brother of Ong Khan | ||||||||
| Mother | Wasai | ||||||||
| Religion | Christianity (Church of the East) | ||||||||
| Full name | |
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| Sorghaghtani | |
| Posthumous name | |
| Empress Xianyi Zhuangsheng (顯懿莊聖皇后) |
Sorghaghtani Beki or Bekhi (Bek(h)i is a title), also written Sorkaktani, Sorkhokhtani, Sorkhogtani, Siyurkuktiti (d. 1252; posthumous name: 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. Sorghaghtani Beki was a Christian, specifically a member of the Church of the East (often referred to as "Nestorian Christianity"). 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.
Sorghaghtani was the daughter of Jakha Gambhu, the younger brother of the powerful Keraite leader Toghrul, also known as Ong Khan. According to The Secret History of the Mongols, around 1203, when Toghrul was a more powerful leader than Temüjin, Temüjin proposed to Toghrul that Temüjin's eldest son Jochi might marry Toghrul's daughter or granddaughter, thus binding the two groups. However, Toghrul refused this alliance, and later attempted to kill the increasingly powerful Temüjin through an invitation to discuss this proposal. However, Temüjin discovered this plan and they escaped at the last moment. Eventually, the Keraites were routed in the ensuing war and Toghrul was killed, possibly by the Naimans.