File:Bloodline of Borte.JPG

Bloodline of Borte
Börte ( c. 1161–1230) was the first wife of Temüjin, who became Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire. Börte became the head of the first Court of Genghis Khan, and Grand Empress of his Empire. Börte was born around 1161 into the Olkhonud of Khongirad. This tribe was friendly to the Borjigin tribe, into which Temüjin was born. She was the daughter of Dei-Sechen and Chotan. She was described as having a "fair complexion" with "light in her face and fire in her eyes," meaning that she was intelligent The marriage was arranged by her father and Yesükhei, Genghis' father, when she was 10 and he was 9 years old. Temüjin then stayed with her family until he was called back to help his mother and younger siblings, due to the poisoning of Yesükhei by an enemy. In 1178, Temüjin traveled to find Börte. With the permission of Dei-Sechen, he took Börte and her mother to live in his family's Yurt, which was camped along the Senggür river. Börte's dowry was a fine black sable jacket. Soon after she married Temüjin, the Three Merkits attacked the family camp at dawn. Temüjin and the men escaped on horses but left the women behind because they did not have enough horses for all of the family members to get away. Börte was taken captive by the Merkits. The raid was in retaliation for the abduction of Hoelun, Temüjin's mother, by his father Yesügei many years earlier.[6] Several months later, Temüjin, with his allies Wang Khan and Jamukha, rescued her from her captors. Some scholars describe this event as one of the key crossroads in his life, which moved him along the path towards becoming a conqueror. Börte had been held captive for eight months, and she gave birth to Jochi. The decision by her husband to rescue her may have been one of the key decisions that started him on his path to conquer the world. She gave birth to four sons and five daughters, who, along with their own descendants, were the key bloodline which further expanded the Mongol Empire.She, together with his mother Hoelun, was counted as one of his most trusted advisors. She was revered by the Mongols after he became the Great Khan, and she was crowned the Grand Empress. As Genghis Khan continued to expand his influence and empire, Börte remained behind and assisted Genghis' brother Temüge in ruling the Mongol homeland. Other wives accompanied Genghis Khan on his campaigns, while she ruled her own territory and managed her own court.Most of the Kherlen River was assigned to her, and that had before belonged to the Tatars. Only her sons were considered to be candidates to succeed Temüjin as Khans. Börte's sons were Jochi, Chagatai, Ögedei and Tolui. After she was rescued, leaving doubt as to who the father of the child was, because her captor took her as a "wife", and therefore could have possibly impregnated her. However, Genghis let Jochi remain with his family and claimed him as his own son. He was supposed to be Genghis' successor but because of his doubt of being Jochi's real father, his brothers would not accept him as ruler and Genghis had to choose another son realizing they would not accept Jochi. Jochi then became the leader of the Golden Horde. About Börte's  Daughters: Khochen Bekhi, the eldest, was betrothed to Tusakha, son of Senggum, and grandson of Wang Khan, ruler of the Karaite tribe; she eventually married Botu, of the Ikires tribe, and widower of her paternal aunt Temulun. Alakhai Bekhi married first to Alaqush Digit Quri, chieftain of the Ongüt tribe; then to his nephew and heir Jingue; and finally to her stepson Boyaohe Tümelün, married to Chigu, son of Anchen, son of Dei Steichen, Börte's father Alaltun married first to Olar, chieftain of the Olkhunut tribe; then to her stepson Taichu, and later to the Uyghur idiqut. Checheikhen, married to Törölchi, son of Quduka Beki, of the Oirat tribe.

Read more about    Börte in "Khan the Great".....Sivkishen Ji, Author