Horde's Steppe Sisters: Mongol Women Who Ruled the Empire

When we think of the Mongol Empire, we think of Genghis Khan, Batu, and warrior horsemen. But behind the yurts and yarlyks, Mongol women wielded astonishing power—as regents, diplomats, estate managers, and even battlefield commanders. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the lives of figures like Töregene Khatun, who ruled the entire empire as regent after Ögedei's death; Sorghaghtani Beki, the Nestorian Christian mother of Kublai and Hulagu who shaped Jochid succession; and the lesser-known khatuns of Sarai who managed vast households and influenced Jochid policy. We look at how Mongol law (the Yasa) and steppe tradition (the role of the 'örgö') gave elite women control over property and movement, and contrast their freedoms with the more restricted lives of Russian princesses under the Horde. Using accounts from Ibn Battuta, Rashid al-Din, and the Secret History of the Mongols, we piece together a world where women could demand tribute, negotiate marriages, and even lead troops—all while stitching felt tents. This episode reframes the Horde not as a purely male enterprise, but as a family enterprise where women were indispensable partners in empire. #MongolWomen #Khatun #ToregeneKhatun #SorghaghtaniBeki #JochidUlus #Sarai #GoldenHorde #MongolEmpire #SteppeHistory #MedievalRussia #IbnBattuta #RashidAlDin #SecretHistoryOfTheMongols #Yasa #Örgö #Matriarchy #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo