WEBVTT 00:00:07.886 --> 00:00:12.246 As dawn breaks over a moveable city of ten thousand yurts, 00:00:12.246 --> 00:00:15.971 Queen Boraqchin is in for a rude awakening. 00:00:15.971 --> 00:00:19.151 A rogue sheep has slipped past her servants and guards 00:00:19.151 --> 00:00:21.221 and bolted into her yurt, 00:00:21.221 --> 00:00:24.991 where he springs into bed and bleats in her ear. NOTE Paragraph 00:00:24.991 --> 00:00:28.261 Although she’s the formidable khatun of the Golden Horde, 00:00:28.261 --> 00:00:30.861 a huge kingdom in the Mongolian Empire, 00:00:30.861 --> 00:00:34.211 Boraqchin has a hands-on approach to ruling. 00:00:34.211 --> 00:00:36.131 She’s been married to Batu Khan, 00:00:36.131 --> 00:00:38.771 the fearsome grandson of Genghis Khan himself, 00:00:38.771 --> 00:00:40.531 since she was fifteen – 00:00:40.531 --> 00:00:42.781 and while her husband is out on his raids, 00:00:42.781 --> 00:00:48.211 she juggles the duties of flocks, family and empire at home. NOTE Paragraph 00:00:48.211 --> 00:00:52.784 This makes her the manager – and the mover – of a city of thousands. 00:00:52.784 --> 00:00:57.474 Twice a year, Boraqchin moves the city between two seasonal camping grounds. 00:00:57.474 --> 00:01:01.267 This ensures constant water and lush grass in summer, 00:01:01.267 --> 00:01:04.617 and protection from harsh winds in winter. NOTE Paragraph 00:01:04.617 --> 00:01:07.787 The whole operation requires weeks of strict planning, 00:01:07.787 --> 00:01:11.317 liaising with the other camps in her domain, strategic delegation – 00:01:11.317 --> 00:01:15.447 and the patience to move at the speed of dawdling animals. 00:01:15.447 --> 00:01:17.475 Today is moving day, 00:01:17.475 --> 00:01:22.445 and she’ll have to direct throngs of her ladies, commanders, slaves and animals 00:01:22.445 --> 00:01:25.091 up the river Volga for the summer. NOTE Paragraph 00:01:25.091 --> 00:01:27.131 As Boraqchin steps outside, 00:01:27.131 --> 00:01:29.461 she’s greeted by a commotion – 00:01:29.461 --> 00:01:33.491 her unwanted visitor is now running circles around her stewards. 00:01:33.491 --> 00:01:37.491 They’re attempting to stow her possessions securely into wagons. 00:01:37.491 --> 00:01:40.321 Boraqchin orders them to get it under control – 00:01:40.321 --> 00:01:44.021 but she’s the only one quick enough to catch the stray. NOTE Paragraph 00:01:44.021 --> 00:01:47.611 She next supervises her ladies who are unpinning her yurt 00:01:47.611 --> 00:01:50.281 and lifting it onto its custom wagon. 00:01:50.281 --> 00:01:53.021 It requires a team of twenty oxen to pull, 00:01:53.021 --> 00:01:57.161 and Boraqchin wouldn’t trust anyone to steer it but herself. NOTE Paragraph 00:01:57.161 --> 00:02:01.031 Next, Boraqchin and her woolly companion meet with the guards. 00:02:01.031 --> 00:02:04.971 She orders them to keep close watch on her husband's special reception yurt 00:02:04.971 --> 00:02:08.101 and port-able throne during the journey. 00:02:08.101 --> 00:02:09.981 They’ll also act as outriders, 00:02:09.981 --> 00:02:13.291 and she tells them how to secure the route, surround her for safety – 00:02:13.291 --> 00:02:16.371 and keep the animals in check. 00:02:16.371 --> 00:02:19.731 But when the sheep finally breaks free and makes for the fields, 00:02:19.731 --> 00:02:21.341 the guards can barely keep up 00:02:21.341 --> 00:02:24.801 as it scampers through crowds packing up their yurts. NOTE Paragraph 00:02:24.801 --> 00:02:28.781 Exasperated, Boraqchin rides down to the pastures herself. 00:02:28.781 --> 00:02:29.801 When she gets there, 00:02:29.801 --> 00:02:35.161 she catches sight of the troublesome sheep wriggling into the middle of a flock. 00:02:35.161 --> 00:02:36.400 When she follows him in, 00:02:36.400 --> 00:02:39.390 he’s nestled next to a ewe, his mother. 00:02:39.390 --> 00:02:42.220 She’s pregnant, and seems to be in pain. 00:02:42.220 --> 00:02:46.020 With a start, Boraqchin realizes that this ewe’s impending delivery 00:02:46.020 --> 00:02:49.190 has been forgotten in the flurry of moving day. NOTE Paragraph 00:02:49.190 --> 00:02:51.140 There’s no time to find a shepherd – 00:02:51.140 --> 00:02:55.150 instead, Boraqchin rolls up her sleeves, greases her arm 00:02:55.150 --> 00:03:00.180 and helps the ewe give birth to two new additions to the empire. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:00.180 --> 00:03:02.052 Leaving the lambs and their mother, 00:03:02.052 --> 00:03:04.372 Boraqchin dashes back to the camp. 00:03:04.372 --> 00:03:06.902 Here the final touches have been put to packing, 00:03:06.902 --> 00:03:09.902 and vehicles are starting to line up. 00:03:09.902 --> 00:03:12.282 This vast procession starts with the queen 00:03:12.282 --> 00:03:15.762 and two hundred wagons filled with her treasures. 00:03:15.762 --> 00:03:18.282 Next up are the junior wives and crew, 00:03:18.282 --> 00:03:19.722 then the concubines – 00:03:19.722 --> 00:03:22.602 and this is only Boraqchin's camp. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:22.602 --> 00:03:24.862 After this comes the second imperial camp 00:03:24.862 --> 00:03:26.852 led by another senior wife, 00:03:26.852 --> 00:03:30.002 then two more camps, also led by wives. 00:03:30.002 --> 00:03:32.862 Boraqchin has been checking in with them for weeks to ensure 00:03:32.862 --> 00:03:35.632 a smooth departure and orderly queue. 00:03:35.632 --> 00:03:38.692 But they only make up the royal portion of the line – 00:03:38.692 --> 00:03:41.992 behind them winds the entire civilian city, 00:03:41.992 --> 00:03:45.332 which includes holy men with portable chapels and mosques, 00:03:45.332 --> 00:03:48.412 families, tradesmen, and shepherds. NOTE Paragraph 00:03:48.412 --> 00:03:51.821 Finally, Boraqchin settles into her wagon. 00:03:51.821 --> 00:03:54.231 It’ll take weeks to reach their destination – 00:03:54.231 --> 00:03:55.941 but over the course of the journey, 00:03:55.941 --> 00:03:58.611 she’ll keep everyone expertly in check – 00:03:58.611 --> 00:04:01.311 from her proud children and attentive subjects, 00:04:01.311 --> 00:04:05.421 to the most meandering sheep at the back of line.