Women Behind the Curtain: Sorghaghtani Beki

Sorghaghtani Beki (c. 1190-1252) was one of the most powerful people in the Mongol Empire. Daughter-in-law to Genghis Khan, she used unique forms of diplomacy to cement her place in Mongol society and create a path forward for all four of her sons to become Khans in their own right. Her reforms, passed on through her children, gave stability and prosperity to the Mongol Empire at a crucial moment.

For Further Reading:

• The Secret History of the Mongol Queens
• 2 Regents and Empresses: Women’s Rule in the Mongol’s Empire
• Sorghaghtani Beki and the Influence of Mongol Noblewomen on Succession

This month, we're pulling back the curtain to reveal women overlooked in their own lifetimes or in our historical accounts of the eras in which they lived. We're talking about the activists, thinkers, leaders, artists, and innovators history has forgotten.

History classes can get a bad rap, and sometimes for good reason. When we were students, we couldn’t help wondering... where were all the ladies at? Why were so many incredible stories missing from the typical curriculum? Enter, Womanica. On this Wonder Media Network podcast we explore the lives of inspiring women in history you may not know about, but definitely should.

Every weekday, listeners explore the trials, tragedies, and triumphs of groundbreaking women throughout history who have dramatically shaped the world around us. In each 5 minute episode, we’ll dive into the story behind one woman listeners may or may not know–but definitely should. These diverse women from across space and time are grouped into easily accessible and engaging monthly themes like Educators, Villains, Indigenous Storytellers, Activists, and many more.  Womanica is hosted by WMN co-founder and award-winning journalist Jenny Kaplan. The bite-sized episodes pack painstakingly researched content into fun, entertaining, and addictive daily adventures. 

Womanica was created by Liz Kaplan and Jenny Kaplan, executive produced by Jenny Kaplan, and produced by Grace Lynch, Maddy Foley, Brittany Martinez, Edie Allard, Lindsey Kratochwill, Adesuwa Agbonile, Carmen Borca-Carrillo, Taylor Williamson, Sara Schleede, Paloma Moreno Jimenez, and Abbey Delk. Special thanks to Shira Atkins. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Hello for Wonder Media Network. I'm Jenny Kaplan and this
is Womanica. This month, we're pulling back the curtain to
reveal women overlooked in their own lifetimes or in our
historical accounts of the eras in which they lived. We're
talking about the activists, thinkers, leaders, artists, and innovators. History
is forgotten. Without today's Womaniquin, the Mongol Empire might have

(00:23):
fallen into disrepair. She ushered forth a new era for
Genghis Khan's descendants through her unique style of diplomacy, and
she wasn't even a Khan herself. Let's talk about Surhochtani.
Becky Soorhochtani was born late in the twelfth century into

(00:44):
the Cariat tribe in central Mongolia. Her family was powerful.
It controlled territory and was often embroiled with its neighboring
clan led by one Genghis Khan. In twelve o three,
Genghis Khan launched a surprise attack and overtook the Cariats
in order to unify the two tribes, Genghis and Sorhoktani's
father decided their children would be married, and so Soorhoktani

(01:07):
became Sohoktani Becki Genghis Khan's daughter in law. Sohoktani and
her husband Tolai had four sons together. Women in Mongol
society were generally involved in most aspects of Mongol life.
As nomads, they took part in battle, helped relocate the community,
and managed livestock. They were also teachers, advisors, regents, and tutors.

(01:31):
Shoktani held remarkable power. Tolai commanded his men and his
children to follow Sarhoktani's command. When he died in twelve
thirty three, she took over her late husband's role as
a leader of their community and the military. From the start,
she was a well respected and well loved ruler, even
if she was a bit out of the norm for starters.

(01:54):
She refused to remarry. The sitting Great Khan offered his
son's hand, but Sorhoktani turned him to down. She wanted
to focus on raising her sons and as a single woman,
there wouldn't be another Khan bloodline edging in on her
son's claims to the throne. Even after refusing his offer,
the Great Khan sought out Sorohoktani's advice on administrative issues.

(02:15):
According to some stories, he never disregarded her opinion or
strayed from what she said to do, and soor Huktani's
advice was unusual in a society that usually valued force
as a means of expanding power, She preferred diplomacy. She
got the favor of allies by giving families and troops gifts.
She reminded people of their allegiance to her late father

(02:36):
in law and late husband, and when all else failed,
she reminded people who they were dealing with, a mother
and a widow who wielded great influence. Sorohoktani passed her
lessons on to her children. Though they'd all grow up
to be warriors, she also made sure they were diplomats
and leaders. She made sure they were taught useful languages
from around the Mongol Empire, and she stressed religon just tolerance.

(03:01):
Soorhoktani herself was a Christian, an outlier in the Mongol umpire,
but she donated to Muslim leaders and institutions, and welcomed
Daoist and Buddhist monks. In twelve forty one, the sitting
Great Khan died. He'd chosen a successor, but his eldest
wife wanted her son Gayuk to rule instead. The only
way to settle this issue was with the kurl taie

(03:23):
a meeting of the khans. Soroktani and her sons arrived
quickly in support of Gayuk, but the eldest and most
esteemed of the khans, Batu, was far away and in
ill health. Gayuk grew tired of waiting, his mother and
her allies broke tradition and named him Khan. His first
order of business was to storm out with a large

(03:45):
army to confront Batu. Soorhoktani feared it would lead to
endless bloodshed. She sent a message ahead to Batu, an
ally warning him of Gayuk's plan. Somewhere along his way
to Batu, the new Khan died, and the scramble for
the three began again. In the years since the Great
Khan's death, Sorhuktani had only become more popular. Her life's

(04:07):
work was coming to a head. She knew the support
she needed to win the throne for her sons. She
sent her eldest son, Monka to meet Batu and secure
his vote. It was a no brainer. Batu was indebted
to Sorhuktani. He gave his vote to Monka. Meanwhile, Sorhuktani
gathered her allies across the empire to attend the kurl Taie.

(04:30):
Her careful creation of allies, family, adherence to Mongol tradition,
and discipline in teaching her children leadership paid off in full.
In twelve fifty one, Monka was finally elected Great Khan.
Sorhouktani died the following winter, but her legacy lived on
through her sons, who shaped the future of the Mongol Empire.

(04:50):
They'd go on to expand the empire's territory and introduce
systems to ensure its future wealth, like taxation systems and
an investment in agriculture. Also recognize her second son's name
as the leader of China's Yuen dynasty, Kublai Khan. All month,
we've been talking about women behind the Curtain. For more information,

(05:11):
find us on Facebook and Instagram at Wamanica podcast special
thanks to Liz Kaplan, my favorite sister and co creator.
Tune in tomorrow for the start of a brand new theme.
Talk to you then,