Who was Genghis Khan's mother?

Genghis Khan’s mother was Hö’elün. She was born into the Olkhonud clan of the Onggirat tribe and was originally married to Chiledu, a Merkit nobleman. Yesügei, Temüjin’s father, abducted her while she and Chiledu were travelling home, making her Yesügei’s principal wife.

After Yesügei was poisoned when Temüjin was still a child, Hö’elün was left to raise her family after their followers abandoned them. The Secret History of the Mongols presents her as exceptionally resilient: she gathered food, managed the household and protected her children through years of poverty. Her children included Temüjin, Qasar, Hachiun, Temüge and Temülün.

Hö’elün remained politically important after Temüjin became Genghis Khan in 1206. She advised him during conflicts involving his brothers and helped preserve the family’s unity. A common mix-up is confusing her with Börte, Genghis Khan’s principal wife and the mother of his sons Jochi, Chagatai, Ögedei and Tolui. Hö’elün was his mother; Börte was his wife.