Witchcraft and Politics in the Court of the Great Khan: the Case of Fāṭima Khatun

Лов на вещици и политически игри в двора на великия хан: случаят на Фатима хатун

Известия на Института за исторически изследвания, том 41, 2025, с. 101‒115.
Proceedings of Institute for Historical Studies, Vol. 41, 2025, p. 101‒115.
ISSN: 2367-5187 (print), 2815-2913 (online)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.71069/III41.25.GK08

Konstantin Golev / Константин Голев

Institute for Historical Studies / Институт за исторически изследвания - Bulgarian Academy of Sciences / Българска академия на науките
ORCID ID: 0000-0002-6324-6978

Summary: The article examines the favorite Fāṭima Khatun’s ascendency in the Mongol imperial court during the regency of Toregene Khatun (1241‒1246) and her execution in the beginning of Güyük’s reign (1246‒1248). The instrumentalization of accusations in witchcraft in the struggles against political rivals lies in the focus of the research, while the events are placed in the context of medieval Mongols’ understanding about “illegal” usage of magic and the corresponding public attitudes.

Keywords: Mongol Empire, Witch-hunt, Witchcraft, Güyük Khan, Mongol Regency, Mongol Interregnum

The fulltext of this article can be purchased on CEEOL: https://www.ceeol.com/search/journal-detail?id=2000.