Figure 1.--This is Queen Genepil, the second wife of the last Mongolian Khan/Bogd Khan. She was queen for only a few months when the ailing Bogd died. The Soviets abolished the monarchy and Genepil returned home. But then a decade later Stalin launched the Great Terror, The Mongolian NKVD began arresting people and came looking for Genepil. They arrested and executed not only Genepil, but her family as well. Modern Americans might notice a resemblance to Star Wars royalty.

The Mongols were a tribal people without any oveall leadership. There was no unified Mongolian state until Genghis Kahn untied the warring tribes (13th century). He proceeded to create the greatest land empire in history, conquering China and driving into the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The Mongol Empire was sustained by controlling the Silk Road. We do not yet have detailed information on the Mongolian royal dynasties After Genghis died, Kublai a grandson established the Yuan dynasty in China (1271-1368). Over time the Mongol Empire gradually broke up into various khanates. The Yuan forces in China were defeated by the Ming dynasty (1368). The Mongolians or Genghisid rulers retreated to the Mongolian Steppe and continued to rule until when they surrendered to the Later Jin dynasty (1635). The decline of the Silk Road because of the advent of maritime trade destroyed the primary pillar of the Mongol economy. The Jin evolved into the Qing (Manchu) dynasty) The Mongolian rump state is commonly referred as the Northern Yuan. They largely disappeared from history, isolated on the Mongolian Steppe which with the disappearance of the Silk Road had no economic importance and was controlled by the Chinese. Overtime secular leadership declined but the Mongol Buddhist leadership continued to retain legitimacy. The last Mongolian leader was a leader in name only, a woman named -- Genepil. She was the last Kahn's second wife, but very little is known about her. The last khan was the Bogd Khan of the Bogd Khanate. He declared independence as China became enmeshed in revolution (1911). the imperial Qing dynasty of China. The Chinese Empire ended with the new creation of the Republic of China (1911). But the Republic barely controlled Bejing--let alone Mongolia. This made Mongolian independence briefly possible. Bogd Khan, also known as ‘Jebtsundamba Khutuktu’, was born in Tibet (1869). As a boy he was recognized as the future Bogd Khan, the latest incarnation of the Bogd Gegen, the spiritual leader of Mongolia's Tibetan Buddhists. This was the third most important individual in the Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy. Only the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama has higher status. He was taken to Urga (modern Ulannbatar). The Chinese had greater control over Mongolia (then known as Outer Mongolia) than Tibet. Once in Urga, he was largely under the control of Chinese (Qing) officials. He met his wife, Tsendiin Dondogdulam (1895). They married (1902) and had a son. Tsendii was known as the 'Ekh Dagina' or 'Dakini Mother'. She acquired the status of the manifestation of White Tara, a highly revered female figure in Tibetan Buddhism. As was the Buddhist custom, she adopted and raised orphaned children and the children of poor families. The Qing Dynasty by this time was was struggling to maintain power. This engendered thoughts of independence among Mongol nobles. A meeting of nobles and officials was convened. We are unsure as to he role the Bogd Khan had in all of this. But Revolution in China caused Mongolia to declare independence (December 1911). The Bogd Khan was installed as the theocratic sovereign. And for the first time in centuries, Mongolia was actually independent. This did not last long. Chinese troops invaded and reoccupied Mongolia (1919). Mongolia is set between two major powers--China and Russia. It was China that had dominated Mongolia, but now the Russians began to play a role. The Communists had emerged victorious in the Revolution and began to seize control of central Asia. Inspired by the Russia Revolution and seeing the opportunity to oust the Chinese, a revolution occured in Mongolia (1921). the Bogd who had been under house arrest was freed and reinstated as the Mongolia's ruler, but now without any real power. Dondogdulam died at only 47 years old (1923). The Bogd was deeply affected by Dondogdulam death. The issue of a wife surfaced. The Boyd was was 53-year-old and in poor health. Court officials saw this as important to maintain the public face of the monarchy. Court officials set to finding him a new wife. The Bogd apparently had no say of his own in the process. The court officials decided to look at girls aged between 18 and 20 years old. They finally chose 19-year-old Tseyenpil born (1905). She was the daughter of a northern noble family living near the Baldan Bereeven Monastery This was the biggest and particularly important monastery in Mongolia. Tseyenpil was already married which for whatever reason did not disqualify her. Bought to the palace, Tseyenpil only learned of her future when she arrived. Court officils told her that she would become the Bogd's new wife. But this would be ceremonial. Officials assured that she would soon be able to return home because the Bogd was in poor health. Court officials saw this as important to maintain the public face of the monarchy. Court officials set to finding him a new wife. The Bogd apparently had no say of his own in the process. The court officials decided to look at girls aged between 18 and 20 years old. They finally chose 19-year-old Tseyenpil born (1905). She was the daughter of a northern noble family living near the Baldan Bereeven Monastery This was the biggest and particularly important monastery in Mongolia. Tseyenpil was already married which for whatever reason did not disqualify her. Tseyenpil was brought to the palace, and only then was told of her purpose. And assured that she could return home soon because the Bogd was in such poor health. Nothing is known about what she thought of all of this. Tseyenpil became the Bogd’s new wife and queen. She was given a new name -- Genepil. But she not even queen for a year. The Bogd Khan died (1924) . With his death, the monarchy was abolished. Genepil returned to her family, but if we do not know if she reunited with her with her first husband. Mongolia came under Soviet control. And as for tens of thousands it wold mean disaster. An as in other Soviet puppet state, enormous power was concentrated in a few hands. In this case, one individual in part because Mongolia was not high in Stalin's priorities. Khorloogiin Choibalsan was the Mongolian Communist leader and Marshal of the Mongolian People’s Army. He quickly became known as Mongolia's Stalin. And as a dutiful Stalinist, he ordered purges in Mongolia. Some 30,000 to 35,000 Mongolians were executed. This was a fraction of the Soviet citizens purged, but of course Mongolia had only a small population. The Buddhist clergy was targeted--part of Stalin' atheist campaign. Also targeted was political dissidents, scholars, journalists, ethnic Buryats and Kazakhs, the county's aristocracy, and those identified as 'enemies of the revolution. Genepil became caught up in this because for a few months she was queen consort. She was arrested and charged of conspiring with Japan of staging a counter revolution (1937). Hr family was also arrested. There of course was no evidence to substantiate all this. But under Stalin a charge was basically a judgement. Genepil and her family were executed (1938).

Mongol Empire

The Mongols were a tribal people without any overall leadership. They were one of the many tribes on the Asian Steppe north of China. Tived rge Great Wall was built to defend China. There was no unified Mongolian state until Genghis Kahn untied the warring tribes (13th century). He proceeded to create the greatest land empire in history, conquering China and driving into the Middle East and Eastern Europe. The Mongol Empire was sustained by controlling the Silk Road. We do not yet have detailed information on the Mongolian royal dynasties After Genghis died, Kublai a grandson established the Yuan dynasty in China (1271-1368). Over time the Mongol Empire gradually broke up into various khanates. The decline of the Silk Road because of the advent of maritime trade destroyed the primary pillar of the Mongol economy.

The Northern Yuan

The Yuan forces in China were defeated by the Ming dynasty (1368). The Mongolians or Genghisid rulers retreated to the Mongolian Steppe and continued to rule The Jin evolved into the Qing (Manchu) dynasty) The Mongolian rump state is commonly referred as the Northern Yuan. They largely disappeared from history, isolated on the Mongolian Steppe which with the disappearance of the Silk Road had no economic importance and was controlled by the Chinese. Overtime secular leadership declined but the Mongol Buddhist leadership continued to retain legitimacy.

Chinese Control

The Norther Yuan they surrendered to the Later Jin dynasty (1635). China at the me continued to be a great power and was continuing toexpand into central Asia (18h century). This only began to change with a series of disasters. First the Opium War when European industrial power fist eclipsed tradition Chinese power (1840). And then the Taiping Rebellion which devastated Imperial China (1850-64). A series of humiliating concessions followed to Tsarist Russia. The last Mongolian leader was a leader in name only, a woman named -- Genepil. She was the last Kahn's second wife, but very little is known about her. The last Khan was the Bogd Khan of the Bogd Khanate. He declared independence as China became enmeshed in revolution (1911). the imperial Qing dynasty of China. The Chinese Empire ended with the new creation of the Republic of China (1911). But the Republic barely controlled Bejing--let alone Mongolia. This made Mongolian independence briefly possible. Bogd Khan, also known as ‘Jebtsundamba Khutuktu’, was born in Tibet (1869). As a boy he was recognized as the future Bogd Khan, the latest incarnation of the Bogd Gegen, the spiritual leader of Mongolia's Tibetan Buddhists. This was the third most important individual in the Tibetan Buddhist hierarchy. Only the Dalai Lama and the Panchen Lama has higher status. He was taken to Urga (modern Ulannbaatar). The Chinese had greater control over Mongolia (then known as Outer Mongolia) than Tibet. Once in Urga, he was largely under the control of Chinese (Qing) officials. He met his wife, Tsendiin Dondogdulam (1895). They married (1902) and had a son. Tsendii was known as the 'Ekh Dagina' or 'Dakini Mother'. Se acquired the status of the manifestation of White Tara, a highly revered female figure in Tibetan Buddhism. As was the Buddhist custom, she adopted and raised orphaned children and the children of poor families. The Qing Dynasty by this time was was struggling to maintain power. This engendered thoughts of independence among Mongol nobles. A meeting of nobles and officials was convened. We are unsure as to he role the Bogd Khan had in all of this. But Revolution in China caused Mongolia to declare independence (December 1911). The Bogd Khan was installed as the theocratic sovereign. And for the first time in centuries, Mongolia was actually independent. This did not last long. Chinese troops invaded and reoccupied Mongolia (1919).

Soviet Control

Mongolia is set between two major powers--China and Russia. It was China that had dominated Mongolia, but now the Russians began to play a role. The Communists had emerged victorious in the Revolution began to seize control of central Asia. Inspired by the Russia Revolution and seeing the opportunity to oust the Chinese, a revolution occured in Mongolia (1921). the Bogd who had been under house arrest was freed and reinstated as the Mongolia's ruler, but now without any real power. Dondogdulam died at only 47 years old (1923). The Bogd was deeply affected by Dondogdulam death. The issue of a wife surfaced. The Boyd was was 53-year-old and in poor health. Court officials saw this as important to maintain the public face of the monarchy. Court officials set to finding him a new wife. The Bogd apparently had no say of his own in the process. The court officials decided to look at girls aged between 18 and 20 years old. They finally chose 19-year-old Tseyenpil born (1905). She was the daughter of a northern noble family living near the Baldan Bereeven Monastery This was the biggest and particularly important monastery in Mongolia. Tseyenpil was already married which for whatever reason did not disqualify her. Bought to the palace, Tseyenpil only learned of her future after she arrived. Court officials told her that she would become the Bogd's new wife. But that this would be ceremonial. Officials assured that she would soon be able to return home because the Bogd was in poor health. . Nothing is known about what she thought of all of this. Tseyenpil became the Bogd’s new wife and queen. She was given a new name -- Genepil. But she not even queen for a year. The Bogd Khan died (1924) . With his death, the monarchy was abolished. Genepil returned to her family, but if we do not know if she reunited with her with her first husband. Mongolia came under total Soviet control. And as for tens of thousands it wold mean disaster. An as in other Soviet puppet state, enormous power was concentrated in a few hands. In this case, one individual in part because Mongolia was not high in Stalin's priorities. Khorloogiin Choibalsan was the Mongolian Communist leader and Marshal of the Mongolian People’s Army. He quickly became known as Mongolia's Stalin. And as a dutiful Stalinist, when Stalin lunched the Great Terror in the Soviet Union, Choibalsan ordered purges in Mongolia. Some 30,000 to 35,000 Mongolians were executed. This was a fraction of the Soviet citizens purged, but of course Mongolia had only a small population. The Buddhist clergy was targeted--part of Stalin' atheist campaign. Also targeted was political dissidents, scholars, journalists, ethnic Buryats and Kazakhs, the county's aristocracy, and those identified as 'enemies of the revolution. Genepil became caught up in this because for a few months she was queen consort. She was arrested and charged of conspiring with Japan of staging a counter revolution (1937). Hr family was also arrested. There of course was no evidence to substantiate all this. But under Stalin a charge was basically a judgement. Genepil and her family were executed (1938).

Mongolian Princes

We have found an image we do not understand, described as a Mongolian prince (1939). What remained of the Mongolian monarchy was abolished by the Soviets (1920s). We suspect that the photograph was taken in a Japanese controlled area of Inner Mongolia. This is an area south and east of Mongolia or Outer Mongolia. The Japanese had invadng Manhutria (1931) Then after becoming established in Manchuria. They began moving steadily south expanding their zone of control toward China proper. Ths included areas of Inner Mongolia. All of Inner Mongolia is now part of the People's Republic. The Japanese co-opted the last Chinese emperor, Puyi, to legitimize their control of Manchuria. This may have been, a similr Japanese effort to co-opt some Mongolian noble. Hopefully readers may know more about this.

Created: 10:07 PM 12/18/2025
Last updated: 10:07 PM 12/18/2025