Key Points
- The last Torgut Mongol princess Subusai lives in Melbourne
- She is a descendant of Mongolian nomad king Chinggis Khan
- Subusai is an ex-Chinese military officer and author of three books
Long after the reign of modern-day Mongolia’s nomad king Chinggis Khan ended, nomadism remains a way of life for one of his descendants living in Australia.
Originating from Mongolia, the Torgut Mongols – arguably the world’s last royal nomadic nation – was founded by Chinggis Khan as part of his mandate to lead his war and protect kings and their families around 1206.
After travelling to 30 countries, Princess Subusai, the last princess of the Torgut Mongols before the Chinese Communist Revolution and the proclamation of the People's Republic of China in 1949, now lives a quiet life in Australia.
Princess Subusai dressed in traditional Mongolian royal attire. Credit: Supplied by Subusai
Subusai, which means ‘pearl’ in her native language Torgut Mongol, has been living in Melbourne for 12 years now. She was born in Xinjiang, China, in 1938, hence she also has a Chinese name, Man Lin.
Her early life was spent as a spoilt princess in China, who went on to become a military officer and then an academic there. Now, she is a grandmother of the erstwhile royal family’s descendants who do not have royal titles.
When SBS Mongolian visited her home in Melbourne’s west, she welcomed the team and offered tea in the Torgut Mongol language. Although the language is a dialect of Mongolian, it feels different.
An oil painting of Princess Subusai by a Kalmyk artist. Credit: Supplied by Subusai
She was educated as a princess by Ulzii, her nanny, who narrated mythical stories to her, such as the Epic of Jangar from memory, a traditional oral epic with over 25 chapters which helped her learn her language and about her community’s unique culture.
A commoner Down Under
Living in Australia has painted a stark contrast in her life in terms of where she comes from.
After her husband, Amgalan, a doctor at the Xinjiang Military Hospital, passed away, Subusai came to Australia to live with her elder daughter Aliman and her family.
Being born a princess and becoming a senior military officer, Subusai lived a life of privilege in China.
But the former royal lives a life most ordinary here in Australia.
Subusai with her three grandchildren. Credit: Supplied by Subusai
Besides working in the kitchen to cook for her family, Subusai has some projects like the renovation of her family’s museum in He Jing, China, that keep her busy.
Khan’s Palace is the house where Princess Subusai lived as a child. The house has now been converted into a museum by the Chinese government. Credit: Supplied by Subusai
The Yellow Temple, taken over by the Chinese government in 1949, was the spiritual home of Subusai's family. Credit: Supplied by Subusai
Researching her fourth, another one on Torgut Mongolian history, keeps her busy these days. She found out about an exciting research about her DNA – it had links with the people of Finland.
A focus area for her is the period when the Torgut people moved from Russia to China around 1771, known as the ‘March to the East’ or ‘Return to the East’.
Subusai uses the computer for her book research and online communication with her friends. Credit: Supplied by Subusai
At that time, this migration shocked the world. But now most humans don’t know about it.
Subusai has visited all those places in this migration trail.
While such travel is important for her research, it also helps keep her physically and mentally fit. Now after a long pause brought on by the pandemic, she is planning to restart her travels.
The president of Kalmykia presents a gift to Princess Subusai in Russia in 2009. Credit: Supplied by Subusai
Subusai didn’t like being called a princess even when she was a child. Having been brought up in a complicated political environment, she did not want to be a princess.
The daughter of Manchukejiapu (1915-1967), the 12th Khan of the Torgut Mongol, Subusai was destined to become the last princess of her dynasty.
Her father was the lieutenant general and commander of the Mongolian Cavalry Division. When he was planning to go for higher studies at the Soviet Red Army University, he was arrested by a local warlord who suspected he had acquired power and influence amongst Mongolians. Subusai was only three-months-old at that time.
Subusai (below right) with her father, mother and brother. Credit: Supplied by Subusai
After he was arrested, his wife Wujingbing (1914-1976) became the leader of the Torgut Mongols. She was the daughter of a very influential Khan from northeast Mongolia.
When the king died, his only son – Subusai’s brother- was to ascend the throne. But he was more committed to music than his royal duties and kept a low profile all his life before dying at 60.
Since that day, the Torgut Mongols have had no king, and their princess lives like a layperson in Australia.
Rising in Chinese military ranks
As a girl who grew up with a military general for a father, Subusai loved to watch war movies. She had a secret dream to participate in military affairs.
After her wedding, her dream came true as Subusai wore the army uniform just after taking off her wedding dress.
Chinese military officer Man Lin. Credit: Supplied by Subusai
Subusai also worked as a university lecturer in geophysics at Xinjiang Science and Technology University (now the University of Xinjiang).
Her major research project won a national award in 1970.
She joined the Air Force Academy at Beijing at the age of 40. As she was the first female teacher there, the academy had no provisions for female staff, not even a separate toilet. The academy built one for her.
Subusai riding a double-humped camel in Bulgan, Khovd Mongolia in 2015. Credit: Supplied by Subusai
Professor Lhagvasuren, the head of the History and Heritage Association of Torgut and the Director of the Mongolian Association of Archaeologists told SBS Mongolian over the telephone that Subusai was “his king as well as queen,” as he too is Torgut Mongolian.
He extended an invitation to the last Torgut Mongol princess to visit Mongolia.
Subusai loves to travel. Seen here at Ulluru. Credit: Supplied by Subusai
Subusai with her three children. Credit: Supplied by Subusai
“Learn other languages, science and technology but go back to your homeland and help develop your country. Look forward to new technology but retain your mother tongue. And most importantly, plant trees to save the earth,” she signs off.
Subusai with Torgut Mongols in Mongolian ger/yurt. Credit: Supplied by Subusai
