Mandukhai Khatun
Encyclopedia
Mandukhai Khatun (c. 1449 - c. 1510) was the Empress of the Post-imperial Mongolia
. She united the warring Mongols
with her husband Batmunkh Dayan Khan
.
Mongols in eastern Mongolia. Her family were aristocrats. At the age of 18, Mandukhai was married to Manduul Khan (who ruled the Mongol Empire from 1473–1479), to whom she bore a daughter and was preferred over Yekhe Khabartu Yungin, his childless first queen.
After the death Manduul Khan in 1467 at the hands of his own advisor Eslem (who he didn`t know was a spy from Ming China), the throne was left without an heir. Mandukhai brought back and adopted the 7 year old orphan Batmunkh
, son of Bayan Monke Jonon (very high rank usually given to the brother of the king), a direct descendant (from the Golden Horde) of Genghis Khan, who had been killed by Eslem. Batu Monke was the last living descendant of Genghis Khan, and Mandukhai had him proclaimed Dayan Khan
, rejecting marriage to General Unubold. However, Unebold, a descendant of Hasar, younger brother of Genghis Khan, remained loyal to Mandukhai and her child Khan.
, and gloriously defeated them. After oppressing the Western Mongols who consistently waged civil wars, Mandukhai and Dayan Khan punished them by demanding that they follow five codes.
The codes included:
The Oirats accepted everything except for the second one. Her stunning victory over the Oirats brought back great reputation of the Chinggisids.
When Batmonkh turned nineteen, she married him and retained her control over the Mongols. The Oirats again rebelled and raided the Eastern Mongols. Mandukhai lead the great army against them. She was pregnant, but still fought and delivered twin boys during a long battle. Western Mongols were put down again.
From 1480 Dayan Khan and Mandukhai were pressured by the Ming Chinese territory because they closed the border trade and killed a Mongol envoy. To contain her, the Ming Chinese
rapidly expanded the Great Wall and now used the new artillery of gunpowder
to defeat her troops. Mandukhai married Dayan Khan but continued to rule Mongolia. She reoccupied Ordos area and stationed soldiers there to keep watch on China
. While Dayan Khaan was battling Ming army, Eslem Ming spy who had been a close king`s advisor for the past thirty years who lead much trouble attacked the fortress of the king trying to kill Mandukhai and the heir to the throne. Eslem was allowed in with no suspicion and opened the gates, Mandukhai and the outnumbered guards fought valiantly but were overwhelmed by surprise. The heir to the throne Ulasbold was secretely taken to safety, but Mandukhai died fighting Eslem in 1510.
She left seven sons and three daughters. The later khans and nobles of Mongolia
are her descendants.
Mandukhai the Wise (Мандуухай сэцэн хатан) is a Mongolian film based on a novel of the same title by Ts. Natsagdorj; both are a recounting of her life.
Post-imperial Mongolia
The Northern Yuan Dynasty refers to the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty which continued to rule Mongolia after the expulsion of the Mongol court from China in 1368, until the emergence of the Qing Dynasty in the 17th century. The period was marked by factional struggles and the often only nominal...
. She united the warring Mongols
Mongols
Mongols ) are a Central-East Asian ethnic group that lives mainly in the countries of Mongolia, China, and Russia. In China, ethnic Mongols can be found mainly in the central north region of China such as Inner Mongolia...
with her husband Batmunkh Dayan Khan
Dayan Khan
Dayan Khan , was a Mongol khan who reunited the Mongols under Chinggisid supremacy in the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia...
.
Background
Mandukhai was the only daughter of Chorosbai chingsang (grand councillor) of the OngudOngud
The Öngüd, or Öngüt, or Ongot were a Mongolic tribe, active in Mongolia around the time of Genghis Khan . Many members were Nestorian Christians. They lived in an area lining the Chinese Great Wall, in the northern part of the Ordos and territories to the northeast of it...
Mongols in eastern Mongolia. Her family were aristocrats. At the age of 18, Mandukhai was married to Manduul Khan (who ruled the Mongol Empire from 1473–1479), to whom she bore a daughter and was preferred over Yekhe Khabartu Yungin, his childless first queen.
After the death Manduul Khan in 1467 at the hands of his own advisor Eslem (who he didn`t know was a spy from Ming China), the throne was left without an heir. Mandukhai brought back and adopted the 7 year old orphan Batmunkh
Dayan Khan
Dayan Khan , was a Mongol khan who reunited the Mongols under Chinggisid supremacy in the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia...
, son of Bayan Monke Jonon (very high rank usually given to the brother of the king), a direct descendant (from the Golden Horde) of Genghis Khan, who had been killed by Eslem. Batu Monke was the last living descendant of Genghis Khan, and Mandukhai had him proclaimed Dayan Khan
Dayan Khan
Dayan Khan , was a Mongol khan who reunited the Mongols under Chinggisid supremacy in the Northern Yuan Dynasty in Mongolia...
, rejecting marriage to General Unubold. However, Unebold, a descendant of Hasar, younger brother of Genghis Khan, remained loyal to Mandukhai and her child Khan.
Empress of Mongolia
Thus Mandukhai took command over the Mongols and warred with the OiratsOirats
Oirats are the westernmost group of the Mongols who unified several tribes origin whose ancestral home is in the Altai region of western Mongolia. Although the Oirats originated in the eastern parts of Central Asia, the most prominent group today is located in the Republic of Kalmykia, a federal...
, and gloriously defeated them. After oppressing the Western Mongols who consistently waged civil wars, Mandukhai and Dayan Khan punished them by demanding that they follow five codes.
The codes included:
- Crests of helmets must not exceed two fingers long
- Eat meat without a knife
- Do not call your Ger (YurtYurtA yurt is a portable, bent wood-framed dwelling structure traditionally used by Turkic nomads in the steppes of Central Asia. The structure comprises a crown or compression wheel usually steam bent, supported by roof ribs which are bent down at the end where they meet the lattice wall...
) an Ordon (PalacePalaceA palace is a grand residence, especially a royal residence or the home of a head of state or some other high-ranking dignitary, such as a bishop or archbishop. The word itself is derived from the Latin name Palātium, for Palatine Hill, one of the seven hills in Rome. In many parts of Europe, the...
) - Do not call airag but tsegee
- Sit upon your knees before khans
The Oirats accepted everything except for the second one. Her stunning victory over the Oirats brought back great reputation of the Chinggisids.
When Batmonkh turned nineteen, she married him and retained her control over the Mongols. The Oirats again rebelled and raided the Eastern Mongols. Mandukhai lead the great army against them. She was pregnant, but still fought and delivered twin boys during a long battle. Western Mongols were put down again.
From 1480 Dayan Khan and Mandukhai were pressured by the Ming Chinese territory because they closed the border trade and killed a Mongol envoy. To contain her, the Ming Chinese
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
rapidly expanded the Great Wall and now used the new artillery of gunpowder
Gunpowder
Gunpowder, also known since in the late 19th century as black powder, was the first chemical explosive and the only one known until the mid 1800s. It is a mixture of sulfur, charcoal, and potassium nitrate - with the sulfur and charcoal acting as fuels, while the saltpeter works as an oxidizer...
to defeat her troops. Mandukhai married Dayan Khan but continued to rule Mongolia. She reoccupied Ordos area and stationed soldiers there to keep watch on 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...
. While Dayan Khaan was battling Ming army, Eslem Ming spy who had been a close king`s advisor for the past thirty years who lead much trouble attacked the fortress of the king trying to kill Mandukhai and the heir to the throne. Eslem was allowed in with no suspicion and opened the gates, Mandukhai and the outnumbered guards fought valiantly but were overwhelmed by surprise. The heir to the throne Ulasbold was secretely taken to safety, but Mandukhai died fighting Eslem in 1510.
Legacy
Mandukhai managed to keep Dayan Khan in power as a Chingis Khan's descendant and defeated the Oirats, actions which have contributed to the legends which formed about her life.She left seven sons and three daughters. The later khans and nobles of Mongolia
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...
are her descendants.
Mandukhai the Wise (Мандуухай сэцэн хатан) is a Mongolian film based on a novel of the same title by Ts. Natsagdorj; both are a recounting of her life.