Börte: Encyclopedia - Börte

Börte

Börte was the primary empress of the Mongol Khan Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire and the largest empire in world history.

Borte is often portrayed as a beautiful woman dressed in a white silken gown, with gold coins in her hair, holding a white lamb, and riding a white steed. She mothered Jochi, Chagatai, Ögedei, Tului and five daughters. She was decided to marry Temujin (later Genghis Khan), perhaps by others at the marriageable age of 14. Temujin's father was murdered by the Tartars, enemy at the time of Temujin's father's tribe, when he was returning home from her house after leaving Temujin with her. Later, she was abducted by Merkits and Temujin with Wang Khan and Jamuqa's armies rescued her from her captors. Because she was held captive for nine months, the birth of Jochi right after she was rescued caused doubt of who Jochi's father was. She was revered after Temujin became the Great Khan and was crowned the high empress.

Few historical facts are known about her life, but Mongolians have many legends about her.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Börte", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki