Sorkhatani Beki

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Sorkhatani Beki († 1252 ), from the Keraite tribe , was the daughter of the Keraiten prince Jakha Gambu Khan and the niece of the then king , Toghril Khan .

As the wife or widow of Genghis Khan 's fourth son Tolui (1191-1232), she was the mother of Möngke Khan (1209-1259), Kublai Khan (1215-1294), Hülegü (1217-1265) and Arigkbugha Khan († 1266) .

As a member of the Keraiten, she was probably a Christian of the Assyrian Church , which despite everything founded a Koran school in Bukhara and successfully expanded the religious tolerance already existing under Genghis Khan in the Mongol Empire.

An important contribution to the role of the Mongols was their insight that a purely economic exploitation of the conquered peoples was not very promising. So instead of relegating China to pasture for Mongolian cattle, she supported the established Chinese society in the provinces of her clan . The eased conditions increased production , taxes and tribute .

Sorkhatani Beki also tried to settle the disputes between the princes in the Mongol Empire. She played a key role in the election of her son Möngke as Great Khan in 1251. Since her sons followed the same state philosophy, she ensured continuity and stability for decades.

Sorkhatani Beki is praised by the papal envoy Johannes de Plano Carpini (around 1246) as well as by the Islamic chroniclers and ministers Juwaini (around 1260) and Raschīd ad-Dīn (around 1303) for their outstanding personal qualities.

Her daughter-in-law Chabi, Kublai Khan's main wife, can be regarded as her successor .