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Altani

Altani (Traditional Mongolian: ᠠᠯᠲᠠᠨᠢ; Cyrillic: Алтани; Classical Armenian: Էլտինա, Այլթանա) was a Mongol woman mentioned in The Secret History of the Mongols and possibly in medieval Armenian sources.

Biography

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In The Secret History of the Mongols, Altani's name appears seven times, as the wife of Boroghul, one of Chinggis Khan's four steeds (Traditional Mongolian: ᠬᠦᠯᠢᠭ).[1][2] Chinggis Khan's mother, Hö'elün, raised Boroghul along with other orphans—Shigi Qutuqu, Kücü, and Kökecu—who would later become influential statesmen of the Mongol Empire.[3] Altani's clan identity is unknown.

After the Mongols defeated their longstanding rivals, the Tatars, in 1202,[4] a Tatar refugee named Qargil-Shira, disguised as a traveler, sought food at Hö'elün's ger. The Tatar warrior then attempted to kidnap and kill five-year-old Tolui, the son of Chinggis Khan and the future father of Möngke, Qubilai, Hulegu, and Ariq-Boke. Hearing Hö'elün's scream for help, the unarmed Altani confronted Qargil-Shira who wielded a knife, engaging him in a hand-to-hand fight until two of Chinggis Khan's commanders, Jetei and Jelme, Subutai’s older brother, arrived to help.[5] According to Jack Weatherford, Altani was about ten to fourteen years old during the incident.[6] During the 1206 quriltai, Chinggis Khan praised both Boroghul and Altani for their bravery, specifically remarking that “Boroghul's wife (Altani), as the other axle for Boroghul, saved Tolui's life.”[7][8] However, some historians question the authenticity of this story, as Rashid al-Din records that Shigi Qutuqu saved Tolui.[9][10] Nevertheless, Altani's story exemplifies the skill of Mongolian women in the arts of war and their ability to train their sons in weaponry independently of men.[11]

The Secret History of the Mongols does not mention Altani after 1206. However, the name Altani, appearing as Eltina or Aylt'ana in Armenian records, is cited as the wife (khatun) of Chormaqan, the Mongol commander overseeing western Iran, Armenia, and Georgia.[12] The thirteenth-century Armenian historian Gregory of Akner mentions that they resided in Mughan from 1230 onwards, however, he identified her as Chinggis Khan's wife, rather than as the wife of his champion Boroghul.[13] Altani's husband, Boroghul, was killed by the Tumad rebels around 1217,[14] so it is possible she remarried Chinggis Khan's guard and commander Chormaqan, as was common among the Mongols. The American historian Timothy May interpreted Eltina as Altan and hypothesized that she was the wife of Ogedei.[15] However, Francis W. Cleaves confirmed Eltina or Aylt'ana was Altani.[16] Jack Weatherford speculated that Altani may have been one of Hö'elün's granddaughters or an adopted child, thus establishing a connection to Chinggis Khan's family.[17]

After Chormaqan became deaf around 1240, Eltina (Altani) shared command with Baiju until her death.[18] All important aristocrats and envoys from western Asia passed through Eltina and Baiju in Azerbaijan before reaching the Great Khan's court in Mongolia.[19] Altani [Eltina or Aylt'ana] maintained friendly relations with Christians, including Georgians, Assyrians, and Armenians.[20]

It is known that Chormaqan's wife Altani had two sons-Shiremun and Bora,[21] and one daughter.[22] Hulegu executed Bora upon his arrival in Iran in the late 1250s.[23] Shiremun successfully served the Great Khan Güyük and the Ilkhans Hulegu and Abagha and patronized Christian churches and Christians in Caucasia and Iran.[24][25][26]

References

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  1. ^ The Secret History of the Mongols, translated by Christopher P. Atwood (Penguin Classics, 2023). Section 214
  2. ^ Francis Woodman Cleaves, "The Mongolian Names and Terms in 'The History of the Nation of the Archers' by Grigor of Akanc," Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, Vol. 12, No. 3/4 (1949), pp. 411
  3. ^ The Secret History of the Mongols, translated by Christopher Atwood (Penguin Classics, 2023), Section 214
  4. ^ Christopher Atwood, Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire (New York: Facts on File, 2004), p. 98
  5. ^ The Secret History of the Mongols, translated by Christopher Atwood (Penguin Classics, 2023), Section 214
  6. ^ Jack Weatherford, The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan Rescued His Empire (Crown, 2010), pp. 9, 31
  7. ^ Jack Weatherford, The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan Rescued His Empire (Crown, 2010), pp. 9, 31–32
  8. ^ The Secret History of the Mongols, translated by Christopher Atwood (Penguin Classics, 2023), Section 214
  9. ^ Christopher Atwood, "Informants and Sources for the 'Secret History of the Mongols,'" Mongolian Studies, 2007 (29), p. 31
  10. ^ De Nicola, Bruno, “Women's Role and Participation in Warfare in the Mongol Empire.” In: K. Klaus Latzel, S. Satjukow, and F. Maubach, eds. Soldatinnen. Gewalt und Geschlecht im Krieg vom Mittelalter bis Heute. Paderborn: Schöningh, 2010, p. 99
  11. ^ De Nicola, Bruno, “Women's Role and Participation in Warfare in the Mongol Empire.” In: K. Klaus Latzel, S. Satjukow, and F. Maubach, eds. Soldatinnen. Gewalt und Geschlecht im Krieg vom Mittelalter bis Heute. Paderborn: Schöningh, 2010, p. 100
  12. ^ Francis Woodman Cleaves, "The Mongolian Names and Terms in 'The History of the Nation of the Archers' by Grigor of Akanc," Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, Vol. 12, No. 3/4 (1949), pp. 410–411
  13. ^ Grigor Aknerts'i's History of the Nation of Archers. Translated by Robert Bedrosian. Sources of the Armenian Tradition (Long Branch, New Jersey, 2003), chapter 4
  14. ^ Christopher Atwood, Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire (New York: Facts on File, 2004), p. 502
  15. ^ Timothy May. Chormaqan Noyan: The First Mongol Military Governor in the Middle East, MA Thesis (Indiana University, 1996). p. 47
  16. ^ Francis Woodman Cleaves, "The Mongolian Names and Terms in 'The History of the Nation of the Archers' by Grigor of Akanc," Harvard Journal of Asiatic Studies, Vol. 12, No. 3/4 (1949), pp. 410–411
  17. ^ Jack Weatherford, The Secret History of the Mongol Queens: How the Daughters of Genghis Khan Rescued His Empire (Crown, 2010), pp. 9, 31
  18. ^ Christopher Atwood, Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire (New York: Facts on File, 2004), p. 106
  19. ^ Kirakos Gandzakets'i's History of the Armenians. translated by Robert Bedrosian, Sources of the Armenian Tradition (New York, 1986), Chapter 36
  20. ^ Kirakos Gandzakets'i's History of the Armenians. translated by Robert Bedrosian, Sources of the Armenian Tradition (New York, 1986), Chapter 39
  21. ^ Grigor Aknerts'i's History of the Nation of Archers. Translated by Robert Bedrosian. Sources of the Armenian Tradition (Long Branch, New Jersey, 2003), chapter 9
  22. ^ Kirakos Gandzakets'i's History of the Armenians. translated by Robert Bedrosian, Sources of the Armenian Tradition (New York, 1986), Chapter 39
  23. ^ Grigor Aknerts'i's History of the Nation of Archers. Translated by Robert Bedrosian. Sources of the Armenian Tradition (Long Branch, New Jersey, 2003), chapter 9
  24. ^ Grigor Aknerts'i's History of the Nation of Archers. Translated by Robert Bedrosian. Sources of the Armenian Tradition (Long Branch, New Jersey, 2003), chapter 9
  25. ^ Biran, Michal (2002). The battle of Herat (1240): a case of inter-mongol warfare. In Warfare in Inner Asian History (500-1800). Brill, pp. 196
  26. ^ Rashīd al-Din Faḍlallāh. Jāmiʿ al-tavārīkh. Translated and annotated by Thackston, Wheeler M.. 3 vols. Sources of Oriental Languages & Literatures 45, edited by Tekin, Şinasi and Alpay Tekin, Gönül. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1998, p. 388, 507, 491
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