Jochi (also spelled Jöchi) (c. 1185-1227), was the first son of Genghis Khan's wife Börte. Shortly after her marriage to Genghis, Börte had been abducted by the members of the Merkit tribe. She was recovered, but shortly afterward, gave birth to Jöchi. Officially, Genghis treated Jochi as his first son, but the unspoken doubt as to his paternity would prevent him and his descendants from playing a major role in ruling the empire.

He played an important role in Genghis' campaigns until the early 1220s. Following the campaign against the Khwarezmid Empire, he retired to his lands in the Siberian steppe, where he was ordered to suppress the native tribes and assist the raid of Jebe and Subedei. Unfortunately, he was tardy, and arrived only after the raid had ended. Perhaps sulking over this disgrace, he did nothing to expand his domains in the west, though he did maintain correct formal relations with his father. It was widely known that Ögedei had been chosen as Ghengis' successor; this is a probable explanation for Jochi's withdrawal from court life.

Though the histories are unclear, there is evidence that Jochi conspired against Genghis, and that Genghis in return pondered a pre-emptive strike. Jochi died in early 1227, about six months before Genghis.

Jochi's inheritance was divided among his sons Orda and Batu, who founded the White Horde and the Blue Horde, respectively, and would later combine their territories into the Kipchak Khanate or Golden Horde.

See Also

• Mongol Empire
• Genghis Khan
• Mongols
• Ogedei Khan
• Subedei
• Batu Khan