Jalkhanz Khutagt Sodnomyn Damdinbazar
Encyclopedia
The Jalkhanz Khutagt Sodnomyn Damdinbazar was a high lamaist incarnation in northwestern Mongolia
, and played a high-profile role in the country's independence movement. He served as Prime Minister
twice, 1921 in Baron Ungern
's puppet government, and 1922/23 under the MPRP
.
in the Nömrög district of present-day Zavkhan aimag. His father Tserensodnom and mother Sonom were middle-class herders. In 1877 he was inaugurated as Jalkhanz Khutagt at Jalkhanzyn Khüree, in what is today Bürentogtokh sum
in Khövsgöl aimag. From the ages of 16 to 20 he was instructed in Tibetan and Mongolian script, mathematics, astrology and religious matters and was a novice in a monastery at Ih Hüree.
. During 1911/1912, he publicly campaigned for independence. He was appointed to Minister for the Pacification of the Western Border Areas, and took part in the campaign to capture Khovd, together with such famous and infamous figures as Khatanbaatar Magsarjav
, Manlaibaatar Damdinsüren, Togtokh Taij, and Dambijantsan. For his merits in the campaign (he and other lamas recitated prayers on a nearby mountain), he was awarded the honorable title Samadi Nomun Khan in 1912.
He travelled several times to Beijing
in order to voice Mongolian concerns and demands. In 1919 he was part of a delegation that established contact with the American Consul in China
with a letter from the Bogd Khan
inviting the U.S. to open a consulate in Niislel Khüree
.
Damdinbazar was an official under the Chinese Minister Chen Yi after the Chinese occupied Niislel Khüree in 1919 and the Bogd Khan was placed under house arrest. He then served as Prime Minister (according to other sources: Minister of the Interior)in the short-lived puppet government established by Baron Ungern
after his occupation of Niislel Khüree in 1921.
Damdinbazar withdrew from public service after Baron Ungern was defeated by revolutionary forces under Sükhbaatar in 1921. Later that year, however, he was contacted by Comintern
agents and agreed to oppose White Russian
forces active in Mongolia. He then joined forces with Magsarjav
in Uliastai in the campaign against the Whites.
resigned as prime minister and was soon after executed after being accused of conspiring with reactionary enemies (including Ja Lama
and the U.S. Consul in Kagan) to overthrow the government. Looking to quell resulting religious anger (Bodoo was a lama)Party leaders including Sühkbaatar asked the Hutagt, or saint incarnate, Damdinbazar to become the next prime minister. Damdinbazar did not last very long in the job. He died a little more than 15 months later June 23, 1923.
Mongolia
Mongolia is a landlocked country in East and Central Asia. It is bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south, east and west. Although Mongolia does not share a border with Kazakhstan, its western-most point is only from Kazakhstan's eastern tip. Ulan Bator, the capital and largest...
, and played a high-profile role in the country's independence movement. He served as Prime Minister
Prime Minister of Mongolia
The Prime Minister of Mongolia is the highest member of the Mongolian government's executive arm, and heads the Mongolian cabinet. The Prime Minister is appointed by Parliament, and can be removed by a vote of no confidence.-Powers:...
twice, 1921 in Baron Ungern
Roman Ungern von Sternberg
Baron Roman Nikolai Maximilian von Ungern-Sternberg was a Russian Yesaul , Lieutenant-general, and a hero of World War I...
's puppet government, and 1922/23 under the MPRP
Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party
The Mongolian People's Party formerly the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party is an ex-communist political party in Mongolia. The party is abbreviated MPP in English and ' in Mongolian...
.
Early life
Damdinbazar was born in 1874 at lake Oigon nuurOigon Nuur
Oigon Lake is a lake in Zavkhan, in north-western Mongolia.Mongolian prime minister and reborn lama Jalkhanz Khutagt Sodnomyn Damdinbazar was born there in 1874....
in the Nömrög district of present-day Zavkhan aimag. His father Tserensodnom and mother Sonom were middle-class herders. In 1877 he was inaugurated as Jalkhanz Khutagt at Jalkhanzyn Khüree, in what is today Bürentogtokh sum
Bürentogtokh, Khövsgöl
Bürentogtokh is a sum of Khövsgöl aimag . The area is about 3,760 km², of which 2,870 km² are pasture. In 2005, the sum had 4251 inhabitants, mainly Khalkha and Khotgoid...
in Khövsgöl aimag. From the ages of 16 to 20 he was instructed in Tibetan and Mongolian script, mathematics, astrology and religious matters and was a novice in a monastery at Ih Hüree.
Political career
Damdinbazar's sympathies for independence are said to have shown as early as during the 1900 military rebellion in UliastaiUliastai
Uliastai is a city in Mongolia. It is located in the western part of the country, 1,115 kilometers from the capital Ulaanbaatar. Uliastai is the capital of Zavkhan Province and was the 10th most populous city in the country with a population of 24,276 , now this city has 16,240 population and is...
. During 1911/1912, he publicly campaigned for independence. He was appointed to Minister for the Pacification of the Western Border Areas, and took part in the campaign to capture Khovd, together with such famous and infamous figures as Khatanbaatar Magsarjav
Khatanbaatar Magsarjav
Khatanbaatar Magsarjav was a Mongolian general and a leading figure in Mongolia's struggle for independence. His contingent of elite 800 Mongol soldiers fought White Russians and Chinese forces over 30 times between 1912 and 1921 without a single defeat. He is often noted by historians as one of...
, Manlaibaatar Damdinsüren, Togtokh Taij, and Dambijantsan. For his merits in the campaign (he and other lamas recitated prayers on a nearby mountain), he was awarded the honorable title Samadi Nomun Khan in 1912.
He travelled several times to Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
in order to voice Mongolian concerns and demands. In 1919 he was part of a delegation that established contact with the American Consul in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
with a letter from the Bogd Khan
Bogd Khan
The Bogd Khan was enthroned as the Great Khaan of Mongolia on 29 December 1911, when Outer Mongolia declared independence from the Qing Dynasty after the Xinhai Revolution. He was born in the Kham region of eastern Tibet, today's Sichuan province of the People's Republic of China...
inviting the U.S. to open a consulate in Niislel Khüree
Ulaanbaatar
Ulan Bator or Ulaanbaatar is the capital and largest city of Mongolia. An independent municipality, the city is not part of any province, and its population as of 2008 is over one million....
.
Damdinbazar was an official under the Chinese Minister Chen Yi after the Chinese occupied Niislel Khüree in 1919 and the Bogd Khan was placed under house arrest. He then served as Prime Minister (according to other sources: Minister of the Interior)in the short-lived puppet government established by Baron Ungern
Roman Ungern von Sternberg
Baron Roman Nikolai Maximilian von Ungern-Sternberg was a Russian Yesaul , Lieutenant-general, and a hero of World War I...
after his occupation of Niislel Khüree in 1921.
Damdinbazar withdrew from public service after Baron Ungern was defeated by revolutionary forces under Sükhbaatar in 1921. Later that year, however, he was contacted by Comintern
Comintern
The Communist International, abbreviated as Comintern, also known as the Third International, was an international communist organization initiated in Moscow during March 1919...
agents and agreed to oppose White Russian
White movement
The White movement and its military arm the White Army - known as the White Guard or the Whites - was a loose confederation of Anti-Communist forces.The movement comprised one of the politico-military Russian forces who fought...
forces active in Mongolia. He then joined forces with Magsarjav
Khatanbaatar Magsarjav
Khatanbaatar Magsarjav was a Mongolian general and a leading figure in Mongolia's struggle for independence. His contingent of elite 800 Mongol soldiers fought White Russians and Chinese forces over 30 times between 1912 and 1921 without a single defeat. He is often noted by historians as one of...
in Uliastai in the campaign against the Whites.
Prime minister
In 1922 Dogsomyn BodooDogsomyn Bodoo
Dogsomyn Bodoo was a Prime Minister of Mongolia from 1921 to 1922. He had been a lama before becoming a clerk and a founding member of the Mongolian People's Revolutionary Party. He became Prime Minister of the provisional parliamentary state from April 16, 1921 to January 7, 1922...
resigned as prime minister and was soon after executed after being accused of conspiring with reactionary enemies (including Ja Lama
Ja Lama
Ja Lama ) was an adventurer of unknown birth and background who posed as a Buddhist lama, though it is not clear whether he actually was one. He claimed to be a grandson and later the reincarnation of Amursana, the Khoit-Oirat prince who led the Dzungar Khanate to its extermination in 1757...
and the U.S. Consul in Kagan) to overthrow the government. Looking to quell resulting religious anger (Bodoo was a lama)Party leaders including Sühkbaatar asked the Hutagt, or saint incarnate, Damdinbazar to become the next prime minister. Damdinbazar did not last very long in the job. He died a little more than 15 months later June 23, 1923.