The Rise of a Royal Family

The Yuan Dynasty (1271–1368) marked a period of Mongol rule over China, characterized by complex court politics and shifting alliances. At the center of this intrigue was Empress Danashili of the Qipchaq clan, daughter of the powerful Grand Preceptor and Prince of Taiping, El Temür. Her ascent to the throne in 1333 was not merely a personal achievement but a reflection of the delicate power dynamics that defined the Yuan court.

Danashili’s father, El Temür, had been a dominant figure in Yuan politics, wielding immense influence over Emperor Wenzong. However, his sudden death in 1333—reportedly due to excessive indulgence—left a power vacuum. Emperor Huizong (Toghon Temür), the eldest son of Emperor Mingzong, was placed on the throne through the machinations of Empress Dowager Budashiri, Wenzong’s widow. Initially, Budashiri had favored Toghon Temür’s younger brother, the seven-year-old Irinjibal, who briefly ruled as Emperor Ningzong before his untimely death after just 43 days. With no other options, Budashiri turned to Toghon Temür, then a 13-year-old exiled in Guangxi, and installed him as emperor.

The Coronation and Downfall of Empress Danashili

Danashili’s appointment as empress in 1334 was orchestrated by the Empress Dowager, who sought to consolidate her influence over the young emperor. The coronation was a grand affair, with elaborate ceremonies and flattering proclamations praising her virtues and lineage. Yet, the political tides soon turned against her.

In 1335, her brother Tangqishi, the Censor-in-Chief, was executed for treason. Her younger brother, Talahai, fled to the palace seeking refuge, and Danashili attempted to shield him—a fatal mistake. When her efforts failed, she was stripped of her title and exiled. Shortly after, the chancellor Bayan ordered her poisoning at a remote residence in Kaiping. Her tragic end underscored the ruthless nature of Yuan court politics, where loyalty and blood ties offered little protection.

The Reign of Empress Bayan Khutugh

Following Danashili’s death, the imperial harem remained without a principal consort for three years until 1337, when Bayan Khutugh of the Khongirad clan was installed as empress. A niece of Empress Zhenge, the wife of Emperor Wuzong, Bayan Khutugh was celebrated for her grace and virtue. Her coronation mirrored the pomp of her predecessor’s, complete with hyperbolic praise in the official edict.

Despite bearing a son, Zhenjin, who died in infancy, Bayan Khutugh never secured lasting favor. The emperor’s affections lay elsewhere—particularly with his second consort, Lady Ki, a captivating Korean beauty who resided in the Xingqing Palace. Unlike Danashili, Bayan Khutugh exhibited no jealousy, maintaining dignity even as the emperor spent most nights with Lady Ki. Her restraint was legendary: once, when the emperor sought her company during a nighttime excursion, she refused, citing propriety.

Bayan Khutugh’s frugality and humility became defining traits. Upon her death in 1365, Lady Ki mockingly noted the empress’s threadbare garments—a testament to her austere lifestyle.

Lady Ki’s Ascent and Political Ambitions

Lady Ki (Gi Seon-gyeong), originally a low-ranking palace attendant, rose to prominence through her beauty and cunning. After Danashili’s fall, Emperor Huizong sought to elevate her, but Chancellor Bayan blocked the move. Instead, she was named second empress in 1340, residing in the Xingqing Palace.

Despite her humble origins, Lady Ki embraced her role with surprising diligence. She studied historical texts on virtuous empresses, donated to famine relief efforts, and even organized mass burials during droughts. Yet her ambitions soon overshadowed her benevolence. Concerned by the emperor’s neglect of governance, she and her son, Crown Prince Ayushiridara, plotted to force his abdication. Their schemes alienated key officials, including Chancellor Toqto’a, and provoked the emperor’s wrath.

Her vendetta against the Goryeo dynasty—which had executed her family—ended in humiliation when a Yuan invasion force was annihilated in 1363. Later, during the Red Turban rebellions, she was briefly imprisoned by the warlord Bolad Temür, though she survived by bribing him with concubines.

The Fall of the Yuan and Legacy

In 1368, as rebel forces marched on Dadu, Emperor Huizong fled north with Lady Ki, abandoning the dynasty to its fate. Their departure marked the end of Mongol rule in China.

The lives of these empresses reveal the Yuan court’s volatility—where love, loyalty, and ambition collided with deadly consequences. Danashili’s tragedy, Bayan Khutugh’s stoicism, and Lady Ki’s ruthless pragmatism reflect the precariousness of power in a crumbling empire. Their stories endure as cautionary tales of the perils that awaited women who navigated the corridors of imperial authority.