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Khutulun

📍 Qarshi, Uzbekistan Legendary Figure ~1260 AD
Khutulun

Khutulun (c. 1260 – c. 1306), also known as Aigiarne, Aiyurug, Khotol Tsagaan, or Ay Yaruq (meaning "Moonlight"), was a renowned Mongol noblewoman and warrior. She was the most celebrated daughter of Kaidu, who was a cousin of Kublai Khan. Her remarkable life and achievements were documented by both Marco Polo and historian Rashid al-Din Hamadani, who personally encountered her.

Born around 1260, Khutulun lived during the height of her father's power. By 1280, Kaidu had become Central Asia's most influential ruler, controlling territories stretching from western Mongolia to the Oxus River, and from the Central Siberian Plateau to India.

Historical records describe Khutulun as a formidable warrior princess who actively participated in Mongol military campaigns throughout Central Asia. From childhood, she received training in archery, wrestling, and horsemanship. As she matured, she developed into such an exceptional wrestler that she routinely defeated elite male warriors in traditional competitions. Her prowess made her a legendary figure, documented by numerous medieval writers including Marco Polo.

Accounts of Khutulun's marriage vary significantly. Some chronicles claim her husband was a handsome man who had unsuccessfully attempted to assassinate her father before being captured. Others identify him as a companion of Kaidu from the Choros clan. Historian Rashid al-Din wrote that she fell in love with Ghazan, the Mongol ruler of Persia. Alternative accounts suggest she remained unmarried, defeating every man who challenged her for marriage and claiming their horses after victory—supposedly amassing 10,000 horses. More reliable historical sources give her husband's name as either Abtaqul or Itqul, noting that both he and their two sons were later drowned by relatives of Dua, the Chaghadaid ruler.

Among all of Kaidu's children, Khutulun was his favorite and most trusted advisor on political matters. Some sources indicate that before his death in 1301, Kaidu attempted to name her as his successor to the khanate, but this proposal was rejected because she had male relatives. Following Kaidu's death, Khutulun guarded his tomb alongside her brother Orus. She faced opposition from her other brothers, including Chapar, and her relative Duwa, as she resisted their succession claims. Khutulun died in 1306.