HOME | DD

Description
Qutulun taking part in a raid with her father, Qaidu Khan, c.1280s

Both Marco Polo and Rashid al-Din assert that Qutulun (the famed Mongol wrestler princess) also took part in military affairs alongside her father, Qaidu Khan. Her courage and valour is noted by Polo, Rashid and al-Qashani, with Rashid also emphasizing how Qaidu listened to her advice, handled administration with him and dressed like a boy (armoured??) and fought with her father on campaign, while after Qaidu's death she tried to take control of military affairs of the state.

A number of other royal Mongol women are also noted as taking part in combat; it seems there was a greater allowance for this for Chinggisid princesses, than their was for regular women. According to Mustawfi, in the Ilkhanate, the princess Könchek was killed in a battle against Abu Sa'id Khan in 1319, and was posthumously awarded a man's name for her courage.

Unfortunately, while the sources love to speak of Qutulun's courage and all that, they don't actually bother to name specific examples or battles or campaigns she partook in. We're left with sweeping statements of her ferocity, but can't point to battles she led or anything like that. Presumably she was joining her father and brothers on raids against the Yuan Dynasty, Ilkhanate, Ulus of Orda, but those remain presumptions until someone finds a source that states otherwise.

You can learn more about Qutulun in my video biography on her life: youtu.be/7DZ3kdOO4iU?si=sb_Tsc…

Description
Qutulun taking part in a raid with her father, Qaidu Khan, c.1280s

Both Marco Polo and Rashid al-Din assert that Qutulun (the famed Mongol wrestler princess) also took part in military affairs alongside her father, Qaidu Khan. Her courage and valour is noted by Polo, Rashid and al-Qashani, with Rashid also emphasizing how Qaidu listened to her advice, handled administration with him and dressed like a boy (armoured??) and fought with her father on campaign, while after Qaidu's death she tried to take control of military affairs of the state.

A number of other royal Mongol women are also noted as taking part in combat; it seems there was a greater allowance for this for Chinggisid princesses, than their was for regular women. According to Mustawfi, in the Ilkhanate, the princess Könchek was killed in a battle against Abu Sa'id Khan in 1319, and was posthumously awarded a man's name for her courage.

Unfortunately, while the sources love to speak of Qutulun's courage and all that, they don't actually bother to name specific examples or battles or campaigns she partook in. We're left with sweeping statements of her ferocity, but can't point to battles she led or anything like that. Presumably she was joining her father and brothers on raids against the Yuan Dynasty, Ilkhanate, Ulus of Orda, but those remain presumptions until someone finds a source that states otherwise.

You can learn more about Qutulun in my video biography on her life: youtu.be/7DZ3kdOO4iU?si=sb_Tsc…