Yesügei

Yesügei Baghatur (Mongolian: Есүхэй баатар, Yesuhei baatar; died 1171), was major chief of the Kiyad-Borjigin clan and the father of Temüjin (Genghis Khan), Hasar, Hachiun, Temüge, Temülen, Behter, and Belgutei. Yesügei was the son of Bartan Baghatur, who was the son of Khabul Khan, who was recognized as a khagan by the Jin Dynasty(see Khamag Mongol). Khabul Khan was, in turn, the grandson of the Mongol chief Khaidu, the first to try to unite all of the Mongols.

Yesügei's children by his chief wife, Hoelun, consisted of four sons and one daughter: Temüjin, (son, later known as Genghis Khan), Hasar (son), Hachiun (son), Temüge (son), and Temülen (daughter). He also had two sons by his lesser wife Sochigel: Behter and Belgutei. Temüjin killed Behter in a fight for food, but Belgutei was a good friend of him, and became a general when Temujin became Genghis Khan.

When Temüjin was nine years old, Yesügei died. It is unclear how he died, but most people believe he was poisoned by Tatars while sharing a meal on the way home from finding his son Temüjin a wife.

Yesügei's wife was Hoelun - a daughter of the Olkhunut forest tribe. Hoelun had been abducted by Yesügei and his brothers from her newlywed husband Yehe Chiledu of the Merkit tribe as she and her husband were traveling back to the Merkit camp. Yesügei then made Hoelun his chief wife, an honor since only one of his wives could bear his heirs.

Yesügei had also a bloodbrother, or anda, Thoghrul (later Wang Khan). Toghrul helped Temüjin conquer the tribes, because Temüjin had the same blood as Yesügei, thus the same blood as Toghrul.

Family

See also: Family tree of Genghis Khan

Hoelun

Yesügei Baghatur

Börte

Temüjin (Genghis Khan)

Hasar

Hachiun

Temüge

Belgutei

Behter

Jochi

Chagatai

Ögedei

Tolui