Doquz Khatun was possibly a granddaughter of the Keraite khan
Toghrul, through his son Uyku or Abaqu. She was at first given to Genghis Khan and
Börte's youngest son
Tolui following the demise of her grandfather. After his death in 1232, she was wed to
Hulagu, his step-son in
levirate marriage. She was known to accompany Hulagu on campaigns. At the
Siege of Baghdad (1258), the
Mongols massacred tens of thousands of inhabitants, but through the influence of Doquz, the Christians were spared. Some sources indicate that Doquz Khatun was an
Assyrian by origin, who adhered the
Church of the East, and is often mentioned as a great benefactor of the Christian faith. When Mongol envoys were sent to Europe, they also tried to use Doquz's Christianity to their advantage, by claiming that Mongol princesses such as Doquz and her aunt
Sorghaghtani Beki were daughters of the legendary
Prester John. Doquz Khatun was a supporter of her step-son
Abaqa and retained her influential position even after the death of her husband. She secured succession of
Denha I to patriarchal throne of Church of the East in her capacity. She died on 16 June 1265, 4 months after her husband.
Stepanos Orbelian later claimed that she was poisoned by
Shams al-Din Juvayni. ==See also==