American Perspectives: Powerful Women in Later Reigns- Targi and Budashiri

Targi

Budashiri

"At this point one of the most powerful women in Yuan history emerged, Targi, the mother of Khaishan and Ayurbarwada.  She arbitrated between the two, deciding that the elder, Khaishan, known as Wuzong, would rule first, to be succeeded by Ayurbarwada, known as Renzong.  During their rules and that of their successor, until her death in 1322, Targi was the dominant face behind the scenes...The worst succession crisis of Yuan history took place in the form of war between two of Khaishan's sons, of whom Tugh Temur was victorious, assuming the throne as Wenzong...His wife Budashiri was the next influential woman in Yuan history, coming to power after Tugh Temur's death at 28, when she became involved in the internecine battles that resulted in the selection of the 10th and final Emperor in 1333, the 13 year old Toghon Temur, grandson of Khaishan. Although Toghon Temur ruled longer than any other Yuan Emperor, he was dominated by Budashiri, Bayan, and Bayan's nephew Toghto, who in 1340 ousted Bayan, and had Budashiri exiled." -Keith McMahon "Celestial Women."

Empress Dowager Budashiri, Artwork by The Bluedevil

Interestingly enough, according to Jack Weatherford in "The Secret History of the Mongol Queens," the Yuan Dynasty was a time period when Mongol women were losing their power and authority.  However, relative to European and Han Chinese culture, Mongol women were still pretty damn authoritative.

Emperor Toghon, artwork by the Bluedevil

And while their men were blinded by this relatively new found wealth, and a relatively new found sedentary lifestyle that didn't require all men to hunt, herd, or go to war.  The women behind and beside the Mongol Emperors/Khans had to remain grounded in reality.  And while the Mongol Empire/Yuan Dynasty eventually ran itself into the ground due to 1)Getting caught up in the convenience of the excess goods obtained from other nations and burning through them (sounds like the culture of the United States), 2)Women's authority decreasing where you see them moving the Emperors from behind, instead of laterally, 3)An awkward cultural transition that did not have the chance to fully stabilize.

Empress Dowager Budashiri

As much as some would like to think it was these strong women who destroyed the empire, I don't believe that was the case.  The women were left with decreased authority that had to be used on a manipulative level, and a huge mess to prevent and clean up.  So while the "boys would be boys," "doing what boys do," the Empress Dowagers, Empresses, and Concubines who were not keen on watching it all fall apart, or descend into a Mongolian version of the Playboy mansion, because they knew damn well what was on the other side of the curtain.  They were often looked upon as stern, power hungry, and controlling.  But were they?

There was a reason why Chinggis/Genghis Khan had more faith in his daughters, and low confidence in his sons when it came to the continuation of his empire after his death.  His daughters were rational, and had strong leadership and organizational skills.  I do wonder why he didn't select any of them to be Great Khan.  His sons were blinded by the new found power and excess.

As easy as it is to look at Targi and Budashiri as being power hungry bitches, I don't think that was the case.  I think they saw the writing on the wall, and they were aware of how much it was going to hurt when the empire fell apart.