Palace women in the Ilkhanate state

The Mongol Empire, which profoundly influenced world history, was shaped by a social structure rooted in a tribal lifestyle where men and women shared responsibilities. Within the framework of Mongol laws, palace women were not only responsible for daily life duties but also played active roles in both domestic and foreign politics, warfare and hunting activities, diplomacy and religious affairs, trade and the arts, as well as in the education of princes and the management of family affairs. This dynamic significantly enhanced the social status and respectability of women, making them an integral part of Mongol society. Particularly during the reign of Genghis Khan, women held central positions within the family structure and societal organization, a phenomenon that persisted in the Mongol successor states. With the expansion of the Mongol Empire, certain changes occurred in the roles of women within society; however, their overall prestige and social significance remained intact. This study aims to portray Ilkhanid palace women and examine their multifaceted rights and freedoms. It seeks to analyze the influence of these women on the internal and external politics of the Ilkhanid state through historical sources and documents. To provide a comprehensive understanding of the topic, frequent references to pre-Ilkhanid Mongol history are made throughout the study. The research focuses on the life trajectories of twenty Ilkhanid palace women who left a significant mark on the history of the Ilkhanid state, including figures such as Dokuz, Kutuy, Bulugan, Il-Tüzmish, Uruk, and Baghdad. Thus, this study endeavors to offer a perspective on the political and social history of the Ilkhanid state, which shaped the history of the Near East in the 13th and 14th centuries, and to examine its administrative center—the Ilkhanid palace—through the lens of women.