Ok, so I’m reading this book: “The Secret History of the Mongol Queens” which is REALLY interesting, and I’m enjoying it a lot.
But I’ve gotten to the part where the book is talking about one of Genghis Khan’s daughters-in-law, Toregene Khatun (Queen Toregene), who was effectively the ruling empress of Northern China during and after her husband’s rule.
And like…the book is talking about how she promoted another woman high into the court- a Shiite Muslim woman who had been captured from Persia by the Mongol army- named Fatima.
And how, like, she and Fatima were very close. And spent most nights together, sharing secrets and being each other’s confidants. Fatima became so powerful in the court, and was so close to Toregene that she was called Fatima Khatun (Queen Fatima.) And how when one of Toregene’s sons turned on her, he arrested Fatima and put her on trial to make her confess that she had “bewitched” Toregene and killed her in retaliation against his mother.
And I’m like…..
Queer. Like, this definitely sounds like these women were lovers. Are we not going to point out how, like, yeah, ok, we’ll never know for sure. It’s all historical speculation. But…..
Like….????
