Historical Figures

Khutulun, the wrestling princess

Khutulun, also known as Aigiarne , Aiyurug, Khotol Tsagaan or Ay Yaruq (Moonlight) is a descendant of Genghis Khan and daughter of the Mongal lord Qaïdu. A renowned wrestler, she accompanies her father in his military campaigns.

Descendant of Genghis Khan

Daughter of the Mongol lord Qaïdu, Khutulun was born around 1260. Descendant of Ögedeï (husband of Töregene Khatun), Qaïdu is a great-grandson of Genghis Khan. At the time of Khutulun's birth, Möngke, great khan of the Mongols, son of Tolui and grandson of Genghis Khan, died. A war of succession begins between two brothers of Möngke and uncles of Qaïdu, Ariq Boqa and Kublai Khan. Qaïdu rallies behind Ariq Boqa but Kublai wins.

After series of conquests led by Genghis Khan and his descendants, the Mongol Empire conquered almost all of China. Kublai moves his capital to Khanbalik (which will become Beijing), founds the Yuan dynasty and adopts the Chinese name "Emperor Shizu". Believing that Kublai only cares about China and not Mongolian territory, Qaïdu opposes him and becomes his great adversary.

The clans descended from the sons of Genghis Khan are torn apart, the lords of the house of Ögödei seeking to depose the clan of Tolui. Qaïdu defeats and drives out the Djaghataides, and takes the title of emperor. In 1280, young Khutulun was the daughter of the most powerful ruler of Central Asia, whose kingdom stretched from western Mongolia to the Aral Sea, from central Siberia to India.

A great warrior

Qaïdu's favorite daughter, Khutulun grew up surrounded by her brothers and sisters and became an outstanding horsewoman, archer and fighter. She accompanies her father during his military campaigns, especially during battles against the Yuan dynasty, and participates in the fighting. Marco Polo describes her as an extraordinary warrior, able to charge into the enemy ranks, capture an enemy and bring him back to his father like a hawk takes prey.

Princess Khutulun's suitors are many, but she has no desire to marry. She thus demands of men who wish to marry her that they first beat her in wrestling. If he loses, however, he must give him a hundred horses. Her tireless victories build her legend as an outstanding wrestler; his unfortunate suitors would thus have allowed him to win 10,000 horses.

Khutulun puts an end to this practice when enemies of her family spread the rumor that she and her father have an incestuous relationship. To protect their reputation, she marries one of Qaïdu's loyal warriors without putting him through any trials; sources do not agree on his identity.

According to some sources, Qaïdu would have liked to make Khutulun the heiress of the khanate. His wish that would not have been respected, male parents claiming the throne. Qaïdu dies in 1301:Khutulun five years later, in 1306.