KZBlog

An Iranian website has put up a list of historically significant women in and near Iran and Khanum Boraksin, the wife of Batu, son of Chinghis Khan, makes the list.

1255-57 Regent Dowager Khanum Boraqcin of Hwarizim Sahi (or the Khanate of Kipchak) (Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan) She was the widow of Batu, who was khan (1227-55). When he died in 1255 his son and heir, Sartaq, had gone to pay court to Grand Khan Mongka, his father’s friend. But he died before he could return home to the Khanate of Kipchak. Mongka nominated the young prince Ulagci, who was either the brother or son of Sartaq, and made Boraqchin regent of the Mongol tribe (The Golden Horde) in West Turkistan, roughly covering present day Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan.

According to some sources, women in the Mongol empire were quite powerful, especially the wives of the children and grandchildren of Chinghis Khan because while the men were off warring, the women were left in power. They also displayed great skill at political maneuvering to try to ensure power for their children and often ruled as regents when their sons were not yet of age.