Khatanbaatar Magsarjav

Khatanbaatar Magsarjav ( _mn. Хатанбаатар Магсаржав, "firm hero Magsarjav", 1877 - September 3, 1927) was a Mongolian general. He was one of the most famous military leaders in Mongolia's struggle for independence. He served as Minister of the Army in the 1920s, and received the additional title Ardyn Khatanbaatar Magsarjav ( _mn. Ардын Хатанбаатар Магсаржав, "People's firm hero Magsarjav") in 1924.

Youth

Magsarjav was born in the Itgemjit banner of Sain Noyon Khan aimag, a place that is now part of Bulgan aimag. His father Sandagdorj was part of the banner's nobility. When Magsarjav became 11, his banner duke started to teach him reading and writing, and at the age of 16 the banner duke arranged for him the marriage with a local girl named Tsevegmid, and gave the young couple some property. Until the age of 25 Magsarjav worked for the banner prince, tending his herds or leading camel caravans. At that age his father died, and Magsarjav inherited his father's title. According to Choibalsan's biography of Magsarjav, he then turned to farming, while also occasionally working for the banner office. By the age of 30, his wife and Magsarjav had had ten children, of whom only five survived.

Bogdo Khanate of Mongolia

In 1911, Magsarjav was sent to Khovd as Mongol military aide to the Manchu amban stationed there. After Mongolia's declaration of independence, Magsarjav submitted to the amban the new government's demand for the ambans' removal. The amban declined, and so Magsarjav went to Niislel Khüree to report the situation. In May 1912, he was, together with Damdinsüren, appointed as commander of the army sent out to capture Khovd. Eventually, the force would swell to more than 2,000 soldiers, with contingents led by Dambijantsan, Togtokh Taij, or the Jalkhanz Khutagt. The town was taken on July 9th, after a relief force sent in from Shar süm/ Xinjiang had been annihilated. For their success at Khovd, Damdinsüren received the title Manlaibaatar (forefront hero), while Magsarjav received the title Khatanbaatar.

In spring 1913, Magsarjav was sent to Inner Mongolia to command the Mongolian troops operating there around Jingpeng and Dolon Nur. Magsarjav returned to Mongolia for the winter, but, according to Choibalsan, returned in 1914 to lead operations towards Hohhot. However, Tsarist Russia, fearing a new conflict with Japan, intervened, and the Mongol troops were called back. In the following years, Magsarjav was mainly occupied with fighting the men of the renegate Bavuujav, who continually raided eastern Mongolia. Later he was apparently sent to Mongolia's western border to fight White Russian incursions. In 1918, Magsarjav was awarded an own banner, which had been carved out his native Itgemjit banner.

Chinese Occupation and the 1921 revolution

After Chinese troops under General Xu Shuzheng had occupied Mongolia in 1919, Magsarjav was imprisioned in mid-1920 for his contacts with the secret resistance groups around Sükhbaatar. He was freed when Baron Ungern took Niislel Khüree in February 1921, but his old comrade Manlaibaatar Damdinsüren had died in prison. Magsarjav joined Baron Ungern and fought remaining Chinese troops in Mongolia as well as forces sent to their relief. Later, Magsarjav was sent to Uliastai to mobilize troops from the western aimags. In mid-1921, he went over to the revolutionaries, killing Ungern's Buryats stationed in Uliastai as well as their leader Vangdanov.

Post-revolution

Until mid-1922, Magsarjav continued to fight remnants of White Russian forces in Western Mongolia. He had been appointed Minister of the Western Frontier, and in December 1922 he was appointed Minister of the Army. In 1924, Magsarjav became a member of the Mongolian People's Party, and his title was extended to "Ardyn" Khatanbaatar Magsarjav. Later that year, he was sent to Moscow on official business. In 1925, he became a candidate member of the People's Party's central committee.

In 1926, Magsarjav became seriously ill, and on September 3rd, 1927, he died.

Reference

*Urgunge Onon, "Mongolian Heroes of the 20th Century", New York 1976, p. 105-142 (translation of Kh. Choibalsan, "A brief history of Ardyn Khatanbaatar Magsarjav", Ulaanbaatar 1942)