Spouse Qara Hulegu Grandparents Genghis Khan, Borte Name Orghana Orghana | Parents Checheikhen | |
Great-grandparents Yesugei, Hoelun, Tacchotan Seichen, Dei Seichen People also search for Qara Hulegu, Mubarak Shah, Genghis Khan, Borte, Checheikhen | ||
Orghana (Orakina or Ergene Khatun) was an Oirat princess of the Mongol Empire and Empress of the Chagatai Khanate. She was a descendant of Qutuqi Beki, chief of the Oirats and Checheyikhen, daughter of Genghis Khan.
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Early life
She married Qara Hulegu, a grandson of Chagatai Khan. Her husband was enthroned as Chagatayid Khan in 1242 after deaths of both Ogedei and Chagatai. However, Guyuk Khan replaced Qara Hulagu with his uncle Yesu Mongke in 1246.
Regent
When the Toluid family overthrew the Ogedeids, Qara Hulagu supported Mongke Khan in 1251. Mongke reappointed Qara Hulagu khan of the Chagatai Khanate and executed Yesu Mongke. However, he died on the way and Mongke permitted his widow Orghana to serve as regent in the name of her infant son. She ruled the Khanate from 1252 to 1261, nine years.
According to Rashid al-Din, she organized a banquet for Hulagu when his army was marching through Central Asia to Iran in 1255.
Civil war
In 1260, the Toluid Civil War broke out in the Mongol Empire with the death of Mongke, and his brother Ariq Boke dispatched Alghu to Beshbalik to consolidate his power. Alghu removed Orghana from power whereupon she fled to Mongolia. Taking advantage of the struggle between Ariq Boke and the older brother Kublai, Alghu acted as an autonomous khan who sided with Kublai and killed Ariq Boke's officials. After several battles, Ariq Boke sent Masud Beg and Orghana to Alghu to negotiate peace.
Alghu married the beautiful, wise and discerning princess Orghana, and appointed Masud viceroy in Central Asia.
After the death of Alghu in 1266, Orghana nominated her son Mubarak Shah by her first husband, Qara Hulagu as khan of the Chagatai Khanate.
The Great Khan Kublai was furious at this and sent Baraq to take power in the Chagatai Khanate. After few months, he usurped the throne from Mubarak Shah with the assistance of the Mongol noblemen.
However, Orghana had apparently died by that time.