Mandukhai Khatun
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Mandukhai Khatun is also known as Queen Manduhai the Wise of the Mongols.
After the death of Mandukhai's husband, Manduulun Khan, in 1467 she adopted the five year old orphan Batmonkh, son of Bayanmonhe Jinong. He was the last living descendant of Kublai Khan and she had him proclaimed Dayan Khan. For this purpose she renounced her love for Önöbolad Wang who was a descendant Hasar, a brother of Chingis Khan, to continue her struggle for unity of Mongolia as Dayan Khaan's regent. Thus Mandukhai took command over the Mongols and warred with the Oirats, whom she managed to defeat.
After defeating Oirats, Mandukhai and Dayan khan demanded them to follow four codes. The codes are:
- Crest of helmet must not exceed two fingers long
- Eat meat without a knife
- Do not call Ger (Yurt) as Ordon (Palace)
- Do not call airag as tsegee
Oirats accepted everything except the 2nd one.
When Batmonkh turned nineteen, she married him and retained her control over the Mongols. The later khaans and nobles of Mongolia are her descendants.
Her managing to keep Dayan Khaan in power as a Chingis Khan's descendant and the defeat of the Oirats have contributed to the forming of legends about her life.
[edit] References
- Davis-Kimball, Jeannine.(2002) Warrior Women, An archealogist's Search for History's Hidden Heroines. Warner Books, Inc. Page 226-228. ISBN 0-446-52546-4
