Khotogoid

Khotogoid

Location of the Khotogoid
Regions with significant populations
Mongolia	15,460
Languages
Khotogoid dialect of Mongolian
Religion
Tibetan Buddhism, Mongolian shamanism
Related ethnic groups
Mongols

Khotogoid or Khotgoid (Хотгойд [χɞtʰɢ̥ɞ́͜ɛt]) is a subgroup of the Mongols living in northwestern Mongolia. The Khotogoid people live roughly between Uvs Lake to the west and the Delgermörön river to the east. The Khotogoids belong to northwestern Khalkha and were one of the major groups that make up Khalkha.

Khotogoids are the Khalkha Mongols who founded Altan Khanate which ruled over the northwestern Mongolia, Tuvans, Altai peoples, and Khakas from 1604 to 1691. They belonged to the Right Wing of the Khalkha Mongols. Although they claimed to be khans, Mongolian chronicles call them Khong Tayiji, which was a noble rank equivalent to prince.

The best-known ruler of Khotogoids probably was Ubasi Khong Tayiji, also known as Altan Khan of the Khotogoid (not to be confused with Altan Khan of Tumed) who was successful in subjecting Yenisei Kirghiz and pushing Oirats out of their domains in western Mongolia. Ubasi Khong Tayiji was the great-grandson of Gersenji Khuntaij, youngest son of Dayan Khan. His cousin of Laikhor Khan founded Zasagt Khanate of the Khalkha Mongols. The northern border of the Khotogoid Altan Khanate reached modern Russian Krasnoyarsk city and the southern border reached the eastern Altay Mountains of Mongolia in the 17th century. The Khotogoid Altan Khanate was not an independent state and its ruler was subject to Zasagt Khanate of Khalkha Mongols.

Khotogoid Altan Khanate of the Khalkha Mongols beside the other Mongol Khanates on the map which shows year of 1636.

In mid 17th century, because of the conflicts with neighboring Zasagt Khanate, the Khotogoids disintegrated and ceased to exist as a separate political unit. As a result, Khotogoids were frequently invaded by both other Khalkha Mongols and Oirat Mongols.

In 1694, they were organized into the Zasaghtu Khan aimag's Erdeni Degüregchi Wang khoshuu. After Chingünjav's rebellion in 1756-57, this khoshuu was split up into five smaller entities: Erdeni Degüregchi Van khoshuu, Akhai Beise khoshuu, Mergen Gong khoshuu, Dalai Güng khoshuu, and Tsogtoo Van khoshuu.

Chingünjav (mentioned above) is another well-known Khotogoid besides Ubasi Khong Tayiji.

Monument of Khotogoid Prince Chingünjav in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia

References

Sources

• M. Nyamaa, Khövsgöl aimginn lavlakh toli, Ulaanbaatar 2001, pp. 165f.