The names of about 20 sons of Jochi are known – Zhaksylyk Sabitov

This time, we explore about little-known aspects of the personal life of Genghis Khan’s eldest son. Historian and PhD Zhaksylyk Sabitov shared his insights.

What is known about Jochi’s personal life?

When it comes to Jochi’s personal life, it is still not well studied. There are books about him, but there are no extensive articles specifically on his family, children, and wives. It is known that Jochi’s nickname was Ulush idi, meaning "Master of the Ulus." As for his family, he had many children—historical sources mention that he had at least 40 sons, and we know the names of around 20 of them. Regarding his wives and concubines, the names of nine women who bore him children, mostly sons, are known.

Which of them can be considered Jochi’s main wives?

Among his most important wives, four stand out. His first wife was a niece of Wang Khan (or Toghrul) from the Kereit tribe. According to one chronicle, her name was Niktutmysh (or Niktumysh), while other sources mention her as Bektumysh. The latter spelling is likely more accurate. She was one of his most significant wives, as this was essentially a dynastic marriage—she was the niece of Wang Khan, the ruler of the Kereit.

Jochi also had two wives from the Khongirad tribe. One of them was named Sartaq, and she was the mother of Orda-Ejen, Jochi’s eldest son. The second wife from the Khongirad tribe was Uki-Fujin, the mother of Batu. Uki-Fujin was related to Jochi’s mother, Börte Fujin.

Another important wife of Jochi was Khan-Sultan. She was a well-known figure—the daughter of Muhammad Khwarazmshah and granddaughter of Terken-Khatun. She carried the bloodlines of both the Oghuz rulers and the Kipchak khans. On her father’s side, she descended from the rulers of Khwarazm, the Oghuz khans, while her grandmother was of Kipchak khan lineage.

Khan-Sultan had previously been the wife of Osman Khan, the last ruler of the Western Karakhanid dynasty (1201–1212). He married her in 1210, but after his rebellion was crushed, he was executed on the orders of Muhammad Khwarezmshah.

Later, when Jochi conquered the lands of the Khwarezmshahs, she was taken captive and subsequently became his wife. There seems to have been a certain bond between them, as Khan-Sultan bore Jochi three sons—more than any of his other wives, who usually had one or two children. For instance, Bektumysh from the Kereit clan had no children with Jochi, Sartaq gave birth only to Orda-Ejen, and Uki-Fujin bore Batu (though some manuscripts also mention a son named Muhammad).

Notably, Khan-Sultan gave birth to three sons: Berke, Berkachar, and Bora. Berke later became one of the rulers of the Ulus of Jochi, ascending to power during a critical period and successfully maintaining the state's independence from the Mongol Empire. After Berke’s death, Berkachar served the Golden Horde’s Khan, Mengu-Timur, Batu’s grandson. He was responsible for the eastern border of the Ulus of Jochi, commanded an army of 50,000, and led the left flank of the military. He also represented the khan at the Talas Kurultai in 1269. The third son, Bora, remains a largely unknown figure.

What can be said about Jochi’s personal qualities?

When discussing Jochi’s life and personality, it is important to note that, unlike Genghis Khan, Jochi was a rather peaceful person. His main passion was hunting—he loved it deeply. This is reflected in the legendary kuy Aksak Kulan, which turns 800 years old this year. The kuy was composed after Jochi’s death, around 800 years ago, in 1225.

Jochi was quite different from Genghis Khan, who firmly believed that a person’s primary duty was to seek revenge for past grievances. In fact, this was the main ideological difference between Jochi and his father. Genghis Khan tasked Jochi with conquering the western lands, but Jochi was not particularly eager to wage war. He was also more compassionate. For example, when Genghis Khan decided to execute all the Merkit people, Jochi attempted to save the life of one Merkit archer. He pleaded with his father, arguing that the man was an excellent marksman and a brave warrior, but Genghis Khan ordered the execution to proceed.

Their approaches to conquered people also differed. Some sources suggest that Jochi sympathized more with the local population in the Dasht-i-Kipchak and did not see the need for excessive brutality toward enemies, as his father often practiced. It is possible that their relationship became strained toward the end of Jochi’s life. After moving to the Dasht-i-Kipchak, Jochi stopped responding to summonses to the kurultais. Because of this, theories about his violent death at the hands of a relative also persist.

Which of Jochi’s sons are particularly noteworthy?

One of Jochi’s notable sons was Tukha-Timur, who became an ancestor of the Kazakh khans. He ruled in Crimea and minted his own coins there during the period between the death of Ulagchi and Berke’s rise to power. After Tukha-Timur, Crimea was ruled by Uran-Timur, another ancestor of the Kazakh khans. Over time, their descendants moved to the Volga region and later to Zhetysu. One of Tukha-Timur’s descendants, Urus Khan, became a ruler in Zhetysu and was the great-grandfather of Janibek and Kerei.

You mentioned that Jochi died in 1225. Many history textbooks state that he died in 1227. What has changed?

It was indeed previously believed that Jochi died in 1227. However, after analyzing new sources, historians have concluded that he died around 1225. There is a clear reference to this date in primary historical sources. Therefore, the 1227 date is somewhat inaccurate, especially since the source that originally cited it was chronologically distant from the time of Jochi’s death.

What was the status of women in nomadic society? What role did they play in our ancestors’ way of life?

Women in nomadic society had a relatively high status. It was far from the stereotype of submissive Eastern women confined to a harem. That did not exist. Women were companions and supporters of men, and they could also hold leadership positions.

Earlier it was reported that Golden Empire TV drama shooting is set to start in Kazakhstan.