KHUTULUN was born in 1260, the youngest and only daughter of the most powerful ruler of Central Asia, Kaidu Khan. She was the great-great-granddaughter of Genghis Khan and a cousin of Kubla Khan.
Unlike her fourteen brothers, Khutulun’s father relied on her advice in military strategy and encouraged her to ride with him into battle. She gained a reputation as a fearless warrior known to break rank and charge screaming into the middle of the enemy, where she captured men and drug them across the battlefield to her people. While this is unnerving and memorable—even Marco Polo writes about this—she is known for her wrestling.
In spite of her kick-ass warrior skills, and being her father’s favorite, she was still expected to marry and produce heirs. She announced she would marry the man who could best her at wrestling AND they had to wager one hundred horses for the privilege. She ended up with 10,000 horses. Eventually, she did marry, but the man who holds this honor is lost to history. What is known is that her father tried to name her his successor, but …she’s female, so no. Khutulun died five years after her father. How? Good question.
Khutulun’s legendary wrestling prowess is still acknowledged today by Mongolian wrestlers. The men wear vests with no sleeves and an open front to prove they aren’t female. This is in deference to the “wrestling princess whom no man ever defeated.”
For more info, visit: