Khutulun (c. 1260 – c. 1306), also known as Aigiarne, Aiyurug, Khotol Tsagaan or Ay Yaruq (lit. Moonlight), the only daughter of Kaidu, and the great-great-granddaughter of Genghis Khan, was a Mongolian princess and wrestler.
Khutulun refused to marry unless there was a man who could defeat her in wrestling first. If he lost, he must forfeit 100 horses. She was undefeated and, according to legend, ended up with 10,000 horses.
‘Qutulun, daughter of Qaidu.’ This is a representation dating from 1410-1412 of Khutulun wrestling a potential suitor.
“This damsel was very beautiful, but also so strong and brave that in all her father’s realm there was no man who could outdo her in feats of strength.”
“So strong, that there was no young man in the whole kingdom who could overcome her, but she vanquished them all.”
Marco Polo on Khutulun
Poster for Giacomo Puccini’s opera Turandot. Khutulun is thought to be the basis for the character of Turandot.
Warrior Khutulun in the series Marco Polo
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