Empress Ki, also known as Ki-Sung Nyong, was a renowned woman of the 13th century. After being sent to the Yuan Dynasty in China as a concubine established by Genghis Khan, she ruled China with an iron fist for 37 years as the wife of Togon Khan, earning her the title of the Iron Lady Empress of China.
Empress Ki, originally named Ki-Sung Nyong (1315-1369), hailed from an aristocratic family of Goryeo in the Korean peninsula. Her father disappeared, leading to a difficult childhood. Eventually, she was sent to serve the Yuan Dynasty as a concubine, as Goryeo (Korea) had been invaded by the Mongols, necessitating the annual sending of young girls to serve in the palace.
Here is the story of Empress Ki, who would go down in history by this name. In the late 1320s, she arrived in the Yuan Dynasty in this manner. Genghis Khan conquered China and left Kublai Khan in charge. The descendants of Genghis began to take the throne of the Yuan Dynasty one after another. By the 14th century, in 1333, Togon Khan, the great-grandson of Genghis, ascended to power.
Togon Khan, also known as Togon Timur or Toghon Temür, is known as the last Khan of the Mongol Empire in China. His lineage, known as the Borjigin, saw Togon Timur (Togon Khan, 1320-1370), sent into exile after his father Ksala's death. Initially, his stepbrother held the actual power despite being the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty, with El Temur effectively controlling the throne. El Temur sought to replace Togon with his cousin El Tegüs.
However, in 1333, Togon Khan's path was cleared with the death of El Temur, and he took the throne. That same year, an uprising led by El Temur's son Tang Ki-se occurred, but Togon Khan quelled it and initiated a cleanup within the country. In 1333, Togon Khan met his future Empress, Ki-Sung Nyong, who would later be known as Empress Ki. Despite it being against the standards of taking a second wife in Mongol dynasties, he made the beautiful Korean Ki-Sung Nyong his wife in 1340.
Togon Khan became Emperor at the age of 13 and showed little interest in state affairs. Instead, the state affairs were managed by a figure named Bayan. Bayan pursued a xenophobic and repressive policy to prevent the Mongols from assimilating into Chinese culture, which led to the deterioration of the Yuan Dynasty's rule. In 1339, due to Bayan's poor governance, he was relieved of his duties, but the wounds in the country remained unhealed.
From 1339 onwards, rebellions and unrest began in the country. The salt trade was controlled by the Dynasty, which troubled illegal salt traders, leading to a rebellion in various parts of the Yuan Empire in 1348. The growing unrest culminated in the Red Turban Rebellion in 1351. This uprising marked the end of the Yuan Dynasty's rule in China, and the Ming Dynasty took over.
During all of these events, as Empress Ki's influence grew, initially the Mongol nobles were reluctant to accept the Korean-born Ki-Sung Nyong and her potential heir. Empress Ki gave birth to the heir of Togon Khan, Biligtu Khan, in 1338 and secured his acceptance.
In 1353, Lady Ki exerted pressure on her husband Togon to choose a successor in order to secure herself and her son. Her husband listened, and Biligtu Khan was chosen as the heir. Although Biligtu Khan attempted to stage a coup against his father due to fears of the growing influence of Buddhist monks and eunuchs within the palace, he failed. Biligtu Khan did not remain idle after the fall of the Yuan Dynasty and became the Khan of the Mongols in 1372 by going to Mongolia.
Finally, in 1365, Togon Khan declared Empress Ki's son as the designated heir to the throne. Togon Khan's love was so great that he entrusted the throne to his wife. Empress Ki, who guided her husband behind the scenes, officially went down in history as Empress Ki. From Temür Khan's marriage to her in 1333 until her death in 1370, Ki-Sung Nyong effectively played a role in the governance of the country for 37 years.
Empress Ki's real story is seen as that of an Empress who did not falter in the face of difficulties. In popular culture, Empress Ki's life was portrayed in a Korean drama titled "Empress Ki," which became quite popular in our country in 2013. Togay Timur is referred to as Huizong in the series.
In 1368, with Zhu Yuanzhang beginning to seize the capital, Togay Khan fled into the depths of Central Asia, and thereafter, the Yuan Dynasty in China collapsed.
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