Bayan Khutugh (1324–1365), also Bayan Qudu (; Pai-yen Hu-tu), was an empress consort of the

Yuan dynasty The Yuan dynasty (), officially the Great Yuan (; xng, , , literally "Great Yuan State"), was a Mongol-led imperial dynasty of China and a successor state to the Mongol Empire after its division. It was established by Kublai, the fift ...

as the second wife of

Toghon Temür Toghon Temür ( mn, Тогоонтөмөр; Mongolian script: ; ; 25 May 1320 – 23 May 1370), also known by his temple name as the Emperor Huizong of Yuan () bestowed by the Northern Yuan dynasty and by his posthumous ...

(Emperor Huizong). Her father was Bolod Temür. According to the ''

History of Yuan The ''History of Yuan'' (''Yuán Shǐ''), also known as the ''Yuanshi'', is one of the official Chinese historical works known as the ''Twenty-Four Histories'' of China. Commissioned by the court of the Ming dynasty, in accordance to political ...

'', Bayan Qudu was known for being "frugal, unjealous, and thoroughly observant of ritual and regulation," which was a sharp contrast to the character and nature of the emperor's favourite concubine, Lady Ki (later known as Öljei Quduq).

Marriage

In July 1335, Toghon Temür's first empress, Danashiri, daughter of the prime minister

El Temür El Temür (; Mongolian:; died 1333) was an ethnic Kipchak official of the Yuan dynasty. He was behind the coup d'état that installed Tugh Temür (Emperor Wenzong) as Yuan emperor in the capital Khanbaliq in 1328. The restorationists at Khanbaliq ...

, was deposed and later sentenced to death by hanging in Dadu for her involvement in the failed rebellion led by her brother, Tangqishi (T’ang Chi’i-shih). It was not until 1337 that Toghon Temür remarried, this time to a girl of the influential Khongirad tribe, Bayan Qudu. Her enthronement as empress took place on 18 April 1337, when she was just thirteen years of age.

Empress

According to traditional sources, Bayan Qudu was known for being plain and of simple habits, preferring to lead a retiring life, presumably due to the fact that Toghon Temür showed her very little attention. However, on a journey to

Shangdu Shangdu (, ), also known as Xanadu (; Mongolian: ''Šandu''), was the summer capital of the Yuan dynasty of China before Kublai decided to move his throne to the former Jin dynasty capital of Zhōngdū () which was renamed Khanbaliq ( pre ...

, just north of Dadu (Beijing), Toghon Temür desired to pay his empress a visit. He sent a eunuch as an emissary to express this wish. The austere empress replied, “The evening is not a time for Your Excellency to be going back and forth.” The eunuch returned to his master and reported the empress's words. Toghon Temür sent him back two more times, only to be turned away again each time. This led the emperor to think more highly of Bayan Qudu's virtue.

Death

On 8 September 1365, Bayan Qudu died, aged only forty-two. Lady Ki is reported to have looked over the late empress's tattered, plain clothing. Laughing, she remarked, “How can an empress and principal wife wear such attire?”

In popular culture

*Portrayed by

Lim Ju-eun Lim Ju-eun (born January 7, 1988) is a South Korean actress. Career Lim Ju-eun is best known her roles in the horror thriller ''Soul'' (also known as ''Hon''), the campus musical drama '' What's Up'', and the quirky rom-com '' Wild Romance''. I ...

in the 2013 MBC TV series '' Empress Ki''. In the series, she is portrayed as ruthless and manipulative. She is also portrayed as having been the niece of

Bayan of the Merkid Bayan of the Merkid (died 1340), or Bayan (), was a Mongol general of the Merkid clan and an official in the Yuan dynasty. Life Bayan was born into a family with military background. Many of his family members had served as soldiers during the ...

, and as sister to Bayan's nephew, Toghto.

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Khutugh, Bayan 1324 births 1365 deaths 14th-century Mongolian women Yuan dynasty empresses 14th-century Chinese women 14th-century Chinese people