Hoelun

Hoelun (also Hoelun Üjin, Cyrillic: Өэлүн үжин, Өэлүн эх, Mother Hoelun) was the mother of Genghis Khan and the wife of his father Yesugei, the chief of the Khamag Mongol confederation.

Early life

Hoelun was born to the Olkhunut tribe. She later was engaged to a member of the Mergid confederation, but was abducted by Yesugei on her way back to the Mergid camp around 1159AD^{[citation needed]}. Yesugei made Hoelun his chief wife. This was an honor, since only the chief wife could give birth to his heirs.

Widowhood

After Yesugei's death, Yesugei's Khiyad tribe abandoned Hoelun and her sons, including Genghis Khan (Temüjin by birth). She raised Temujin and others in the harsh environment of the Mongolian steppes by herself with little support from others. According to Mongolian legend, Hoelun taught Genghis and his brothers the basics of unity and support for one another, even though Temüjin murdered his stepbrother in a disagreement which his stepbrother started over hunting spoils. She and her children managed to survive due to her skill at gathering food, hunting at Khentii Mountains and fishing in Onon River. Mother Hoelun was considered as a person with a very strong personality because of her hardships of raising all of her children alone without little or no support in the harsh Mongolian steppes.

Life with Temüjin

Together with his wife Börte, Hoelun was counted as one of the most trusted advisors of Genghis Khan. She also undertook the care of war orphans under the orders of her son, adopting them and bringing them into the family as a part of an inclusionist policy aimed at creating loyalty among conquered tribes.^[1]

References

1. ^ Weatherford, Jack (2004). "2: Tale of Three Rivers". Genghis Khan and the Making of the Modern World, Three Rivers Press. p.44. ISBN 0-609-80964-4.

See also

• History of Mongolia
• Genghis Khan
• Ogedei Khan