Börte (c. 1161-c. 1230) was **the first and principal wife of Genghis Khan** — betrothed to him at age 9, married at 17. Kidnapped by the Merkit tribe shortly after their marriage, **her rescue was the unifying campaign that began Temüjin's rise to becoming Genghis Khan**. **Mother of his four legitimate sons — Jochi, Chagatai, Ögedei, Tolui — through whom every Mongol Great Khan descended.**
Featured in The Secret History of the Mongols.
Börte reduces to eight — the number of Mongol mother-empress.