Töregene Khatun

Töregene Khatun ruled as Regent of the Mongol Empire from the death of her husband Ögedei Khan in 1241 until the election of her son Güyük Khan in 1246. She was ruthless but effective in the exercise of power in a society that was traditionally led only by men. Despite this tradition, the Mongol regents were women, and none were more effective than Töregene Khatun, who combined charm with brutal ruthlessness. She managed to balance the various competing powers within the empire, and even within the extended family of the descendants of Ghenghis Khan, over a 5 year period in which she not only ruled the empire, but set the stage for the ascension of her son Guyuk as Great Khan.

The Mongols practiced polygamy. Ögedei Khan's favorite son was Kochu, who was his through another wife, and he had nominated Kochu's son Siremun to succeed him. Töregene opposed the choice in favor of her eldest son, Güyük Khan, but was unable to persuade Ögedei to change his selection. She did, however, achieve her aims through intrigue. She and her family encouraged the drunkenness to which Ögedei was already prone, in an attempt to hasten his death. There were rumors that this plan was taking too much time and that she or her sisters eventually resorted to poison. Either way, the Khan died in 1241, and Töregene became Regent until a new Khan could be elected.

Immediately upon her ascension she appointed her favorites to high positions in the imperial household and initiated what was to be a successful scheme to elevate her son Güyük.