Khulan (; ; – ) (also called Qulan) was an

empress consort A queen consort is the wife of a reigning king, and usually shares her spouse's social rank and status. She holds the feminine equivalent of the king's monarchical titles and may be crowned and anointed, but historically she does not formally ...

Genghis Khan Genghis Khan (born Temüjin; August 1227), also known as Chinggis Khan, was the founder and first khan (title), khan of the Mongol Empire. After spending most of his life uniting the Mongols, Mongol tribes, he launched Mongol invasions and ...

and head of the second Court of Genghis Khan. Her status in the

Mongol Empire The Mongol Empire was the List of largest empires, largest contiguous empire in human history, history. Originating in present-day Mongolia in East Asia, the Mongol Empire at its height stretched from the Sea of Japan to parts of Eastern Euro ...

was second only to Grand Empress Börte.

Biography

Khulan was a daughter of Dayir-Usun, Uvas Merkit chief. She was offered to Genghis Khan as a gift after the chief's surrender. Genghis Khan was enamored with Khulan and following his coronation as Khan, installed her as an empress. She had a son, Gelejian, with Genghis Khan, and Gelejian's status was second only to Börte's four sons as he grew up.

As Genghis Khan's wife

Like his other wives, Khulan had her own ''ordo'', or court. She was given the Khentii Mountains as her territory. Genghis Khan was very fond of Abika Khulan, and most of the time she was the only empress accompanying him on many campaigns, notably the western campaign against the Khwarezmid Empire. She continued to travel with Genghis Khan until she died during one of Genghis Khan's campaigns against India. She was buried under thick snow. As one of the many wives of Genghis Khan, Abika Khulan held a special place both in the Mongol Empire and in Genghis Khan's heart.

Popular culture

Khulan was portrayed in the 2007 Japanese film '' Genghis Khan: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea'', played by

South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia. It constitutes the southern half of the Korea, Korean Peninsula and borders North Korea along the Korean Demilitarized Zone, with the Yellow Sea to the west and t ...

n actress and model

Go Ara Go Ara (; born February 11, 1990) is a South Korean actress and model. She is best known for starring in the television series '' Sharp'' (2003), '' Heading to the Ground'' (2009), '' Reply 1994'' (2013), '' You're All Surrounded'' (2014), '' ...

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* Genghis Khan Year of birth uncertain 12th-century births 13th-century deaths 12th-century Mongol women 12th-century Mongols 13th-century Mongol women 13th-century Mongols Women in 12th-century warfare Women in war in East Asia Mongol empresses Wives of Genghis Khan {{CAsia-hist-stub