Marco Polo's Voyage to Indian Seas: 45: Daughter of Kaidu

Aigiarm was her name.  As it meant she was a brilliant moon. She possessed such streangth, that none of the youths or nobles in the kingdom could vanquish her, but were all beaten.  Her father wished to marry her to a baron. But she refused to unite ever to anyone who could not vanquish her in a fair combat; and the king granted her the privilege.  She rejoiced greatly, and published through various parts of the world, that if any gentle youth would come, try her in pitched battle, and gain victory, she would accept him as her lord.  This news attained a wide reach through the neighbouring countries, and many gentlemen came came and attempted. These attempts were conducted in the following manner.

The king, with many young nobles and ladies, assembled in the great hall of the palace, when the princess entered in a rob of cotton richly adorned, attended by youths similarly attired. It was agreed that if her competitor threw her to the ground he should have her as his wife. If the princess were declared winner, her competitor was to give her one hundred horses.  She had gained above ten thousand steeds in the competition.  There was no youth or damsel who could overcome her.  She was tall and large, a giant of well-formed limbs.  Around the year 1280, there came, the son of a rich king, a handsome young man, accompanied by a brilliant retinue and a thousand very fine horses.  He addressed himself to Kaidu, who was very desirous of marrying him to his daughter.  He therefore caused her to be privately dealt with, to be allow herself to be conquered.  She declared she would not do so for anything in the world.

Another day.  The King, Queen and many nobles were assembled in the hall. The princess and prince entered together into the hall.  Their handsome appearance struck all with wonder.  He was really so strong and powerful that no one else could contend with him.  When they were in the middle of the hall before this great assembly, the agreement was formally made, that the suitor, if vanquished, should loss his thousand horses.  But all those assembled, including the king and the queen expressed the wish that he should be successful.

The contenders rushed together, and wrestled violently dragging each other in opposite directions.  At last the princess prevailed, and threw him on the ground, to the great grief of all
the spectators; he thus forfeited thousand horses.

Kaidu led his daughter to many battles, and in no encounter could any warrior withstand her.  On many occasions, she rushed among the enemy, seized one of the chiefs, and dragged him over to her own army. I will now go on to a great battle fought between Kaidu and Argon, the son of Abaga, lord of the East.

Notes:-

1.  Kaidu was a grandson of the Mongol Khagan (emperor) Ögedei Khan 
2.Aigiarm: Daughter of Kaidu Khan.
Also known as Khutulun.  She is a legend, and any literature on her is a blending of history and myth. I think Marco Polo based his narrative on this legend 

End of the Section 


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