Wonder Woman of the Week: Khutulun

Mongolia has never been a very hospitable land. From the harsh winters to the harsher history, every Mongolian is essentially an honorary badass from birth. There is one woman, however, whose level of awesome stands far beyond the rest. Princess Khutulun (cousin of Kublai Khan) was no Disney princess. When her cousin invaded China, Khutulun was right there with him swooping in- sometimes literally- to fight beside his soldiers. Khutulun gained battle fame for riding alone into the enemy ranks, throwing her lasso around a chosen opponant, then dragging him back to the Mongolian lines as a personal trophy. If you don't think that is a real life Wonder Woman, then GTFO. When her father and cousin started a blood-feud, Khutulun turned on Kublai Khan and became his most powerful enemy. Even Marco Polo learned of her in his visit to China and likened her to a hawk snatching chickens from the sky.

Khutulun was not only known for her ability as a soldier, she was also an undefeated wrestler. She would challenge potential suitors to a wrestling contest. If they could defeat her, she would marry him; but if she defeated him, he would have to give her one hundred horses and walk away single. Ten thousand horses- and countless broken bones- later, Khutulun remained unmarried. Khutulun was such an incredible woman, her father actually wanted her to rule in his place after death, but due to political reasons (even Medieval Mongolians were sexist) she was unable to take the throne. Eventually Khutulun married- without a wrestling match- and quietly walked away from her warrior lifestyle, dying in 1306. Khutulun today stands as a symbol that women everywhere can be just as badass as men as both soldiers and martial artists. There are even multiple Italian and French operas inspired by her amazing deeds all based on the accounts of Marco Polo.