Mongol Women: Power Behind the Throne in the Steppe Empire

When we think of Mongol conquests, we imagine male warriors and khans. But the empire's rise was also shaped by formidable women. In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the roles of Mongol women—from the steppe traditions of female autonomy to the political influence of queens like Töregene Khatun, who ruled as regent after Ögedei's death, and Sorghaghtani Beki, the Nestorian Christian mother of Kublai and Hulagu who managed vast estates and navigated court intrigue. They discuss how women managed households, herds, and even military campaigns, and how the Mongol Yassa code granted them legal rights uncommon in other medieval societies. The episode also covers the darker side: the mass abduction of women in conquered cities and their fate as slaves. Through specific figures and events, the hosts reveal the hidden history of gender in the Mongol world, challenging the stereotype of the all-male conquest. #MongolWomen #TöregeneKhatun #SorghaghtaniBeki #Mongols #History #FexingoHistory #SteppeEmpire #Yassa #GenghisKhan #Ögedei #KublaiKhan #Hulagu #Nestorian #Regent #MedievalWomen #GenderHistory #CentralAsia #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo