When people think of pre-Soviet post-1900 Mongolia, we think of the infamous warlord Ungern-Sternberg, the Baltic nobleman with a love of the occult, wishing to liberate the Mongolians from Chinese oppression and create a new empire under the Bogd Khan. What less know is that there was another pan-Mongol man who also attempted to liberate Mongolia from Chinese and communist oppression and form an empire, but under his own rule instead of the Khan's. This man was Dambiijantsan or Ja Lama, a man with a brutal reputation for dealing with his enemies, possibly worse than that of Sternberg. His plan was also ambitious in taking Mongolia under his rule and forming a new Oirat Empire stretching from Mongolia to the Caspian Sea, all under militant Buddhist rule. After assisting the liberation of Mongolia, He established his warlord territory in part of Xinjianf, hoping to create his Oirat dream eventually. But after the Soviets came to power there, his dreams became less credible until one emissary came and assassinated him. He became a footnote in history.
But what if, or could, the man had been if more success? Perhaps he was better at recruiting troops, or he had chosen to ally rather than violently reject Sternberg, or he had succeeded in overthrowing the Bogd Khan on top of the Chinese? Or even some other way. What would his regime look like, and could it last better than Sternberg's attempt?
But what if, or could, the man had been if more success? Perhaps he was better at recruiting troops, or he had chosen to ally rather than violently reject Sternberg, or he had succeeded in overthrowing the Bogd Khan on top of the Chinese? Or even some other way. What would his regime look like, and could it last better than Sternberg's attempt?
