Fatima.Mernessi_The-Forgotten-Queens-of-Islam-EN

Fifteen Queens 103
Even among the musicians who accompanied the troops, those of
the khatuns played a leading role: 'When the moment of departure
comes, the great drum is beaten, followed by the beating in succession
of the drums of the chief khatun, who is the queen, and of
the other khatuns, then of the vizier, then of those of the amirs all
at once.' 51
Ibn Battuta, who was very well versed in the shari'a, was also
impressed by the protocol and rituals of another court, that of
Sultan Muhammad Uzbeg Khan, the Mongol sovereign of the
Golden Horde (1312-41). In order to give his reader a general
framework, he first describes the greatness of this sovereign: This
sultan is mighty in sovereignty, exceedingly powerful, great in dignity,
lofty in station, victor over the enemies of God . . .. He is one
of the seven kings who are the great and mighty kings of the
world'. 52 He continues by describing a ceremonial audience:
He observes in his [public] sittings, his journeys, and his affairs in
general, a marvellous and magnificent ceremonial. It is his custom
to sit every Friday, after the prayers, in a pavilion magnificently
decorated, called the Gold Pavilion. It is constructed of wooden rods
covered with plaques of gold, and in the centre of it is a wooden
couch covered with plaques of silver gilt, its legs being of pure silver
and their bases encrusted with precious stones. The sultan sits on the
throne, having on his right hand the khatun Taitughli and next to
her the khatun Kabak, and on his left the khatun Bayalun and next
to her the khatun Urduja. Below the throne, to his right, stands the
sultan's son Tina Bak, and to his left his second son Jani Bak, and
in front of him sits his daughter It Kujujuk. 53
Seating the khatuns in such a prominent position during the Friday
ceremony was in itself astonishing enough to a Sunni, but this king,
one of the most powerful in the world, stands up upon the arrival
of each one. The astounded Ibn Battuta takes careful note of all
the details: 'As each of the khatuns comes in the sultan rises before
her, and takes her by the hand until she mounts to the couch ....
All this is done in full view of those present, without any use of
veils.' 54 Ibn Battuta was so astonished by the respect and consideration
shown to these women, whom the Mongols exhibited at
their side unveiled during the religious ceremonies, that he devoted
several chapters to them in his books: 'Account of the Khatuns and
their Ceremonial'; 'Account of the Principal Khatun'; 'Account of
the Second Khatun who comes after the Queen'; and finally accounts
of the third and the fourth khatuns. 55