[LH] Mandukhai Khatun 2016-10-05

Mandukhai was the daughter of Chorosbai-Temur chingsang (grand councillor) of the Ongud Mongols in Ordos. But her family might be from Choros clan of the Oirats. Married to Manduul Khan (reigned 1473-1479), she bore two daughters and was preferred over Yekhe Khabartu Yungin, his childless other wife.

After the death of Mandukhai's husband Manduul in 1467, the throne was left without an heir. Mandukhai brought back and adopted the 5 or 8 year old orphan Batmonkh, son of Bayanmonhe Jinong who had recently died in flight. He was the last living descendant of Kublai Khan and she had him proclaimed Dayan Khan, rejecting marriage to Önöbolad of the Khorchin. But Önöbolad, a descendant of Hasar, remained loyal to Mandukhai and her child khan.

Thus Mandukhai took command over the Mongols and warred with the Oirats, and managed to defeat them. After defeating the Western Mongols, Mandukhai and Dayan Khan demanded 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 (Yurt) an Ordon (Palace)
* 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 raided the Eastern Mongols. Mandukhai mobilized an army against them. She fought even while pregnant and was once injured while carrying twins of Dayan Khan. She and the twins survived, and her army won the battle.

From 1480 Dayan Khan and Mandukhai increased the pressure on the Ming 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. She reenthroned Dayan Khan at the Eight White Yurts in Ordos but they had to flee a Chinese attack. Mandukhai with Dayan Khan went to Kherlen River in 1501 though her husband continued Mongol raids on Ming China.

Mandukhai died by 1510. She left seven sons and three daughters. The later khans and nobles of Mongolia are her descendants.