Tomris Hatun

Tomris Hatun (The First Turkish Female Ruler)

Tomris Hatun (Generated by Artificial Intelligence.)

Tomris Hatun is one of the first known Turkish female rulers in history. She belonged to the Saka Turks (according to some sources the Massagetae). Both peoples are of Turkic origin. In some accounts she is described as the granddaughter of the famous Turkish ruler Alper Tunga.

Meaning of Her Name

The name Tomris is of Turkish origin and means “iron”. This name reflects her strength and determination, likening her to iron in resilience.

Life and Youth

Tomris was born in Central Asia in the 6th century BCE. She lost her mother at an early age. Her father was Farkapın, the Saka ruler. He raised her personally. From a young age, Tomris learned to ride horses, shoot arrows, and use swords and spears.

As she grew older, she married a warrior named Rüstem at a festival. After her father’s death, Tomris became the sole heir of the Saka people. Following her husband’s death in battle, she became ruler by uniting both her father’s and her husband’s territories.

Tomris and the War Against the Persians

Tomris Hatun’s people desired peace, but the Persian king Cyrus the Great launched an invasion of Saka lands. Tomris prepared for war to protect her people. Cyrus offered her marriage, but Tomris saw this as a trap and rejected it.

The Loss of Her Son Spargapises

Cyrus lured Tomris’s son into a trap. He was captured and, unable to endure his captivity, took his own life. This event deeply saddened Tomris, yet she continued her struggle to protect her people.

The Great Battle and Victory

The Great Battle of 526 BCE

Tomris assembled her army and fought against the Persians. She employed a battle strategy known as the “Turan Tactics” to defeat the enemy. She personally participated in the battle and defeated the Persian king Cyrus.

References:

Ankad. “An Examination of the First Female Ruler Tomris and Descriptions About Her.” Ankad. Accessed 28 May 2025. https://ankad.org/index.php/Ankad/article/view/145.

Bilgin, Orhan. “Tomris Hatun.” In 100 Turkish Greats and Statesmen of the Republic’s 100th Year Volume 2, 45–49. Istanbul: Avesis. Accessed 28 May 2025. https://avesis.istanbul.edu.tr/yayin/3b408db1-ccb6-42f5-84bd-bb8bd651bbd2/cumhuriyetin-100-yilinda-100-turk-buyugu-devlet-adamlari-2.

Derin, Zeynep. “‘The Journey of the Hatun: Tomris and the Path of the Female Hero.’” E-GIFDER 12 (2019): 80–98. https://dergipark.org.tr/tr/pub/e-gifder/article/1283957.

Terzioğlu, Ahmet Haldun. “Tomris Han.” Academia.edu. Accessed 28 May 2025. https://www.academia.edu/14942982/Ahmet_Haldun_Terzio%C4%9Flu_Tomris_Han.