Dei Sechen (Mongolian: ᠳᠡᠢ ᠰᠡᠴᠡᠨ, romanized: Dei Sečen, Chinese: 特薛禪; pinyin: Tè Xuēchán) was the chief of Onggirat tribe's Bosqur (Chinese: 孛思忽兒; pinyin: Bèisīhūer) clan in 12th-13th centuries. His daughter Börte was the principal wife of Genghis Khan.
Dei Sechen | |
|---|---|
| Chief of the Onggirat | |
| Tenure | 12th-13th century |
| Successor | Anchen |
| Family | Bosqur |
| Spouse(s) | Čotan |
| Issue | Anchen Börte |
According to The Secret History of the Mongols Temujin was betrothed to Börte when the he was 9 years old by Yesugei and Dei, when Yesugei was looking for a bride for his son.[1] Yesugei put his son in care of Dei Sechen and returned to his tribe, only to be poisoned on the road during a lunch by Tatars. However, according to Rashid al-Din, Dei Sechen wasn't happy with bethothal, it was his son Anchen (按陳) who facilitated the process.[2] Japanese researcher Mako Fujii argued that Dei Sechen was involved in Yesugei's death.[3]
Later, when Temujin grew up, he still married his betrothed Börte. Part of her dowry was a luxurious black marten, which Temujin later presented to Toghrul, thus enlisting the support of the Keraites.
Descendants
He had a spouse named Chotan who bore his sons Anchen and Qogu and his daughter Börte. His descendants married into ruling Borjigin family, producing imperial son-in-laws and empresses.[4]