opulation of 25,000, of
whom some 10,000 were Buddhist monks or monastery workers. In 1911, with the
Qing Dynasty in China headed for total collapse, Mongolian leaders in Ikh
Khüree for Naadam met in secret and resolved to end more than 200 years of
Manchu control of their country. On December 29, 1911 the 8th Jeptsundamba
Khutughtu was declared ruler of an independent Mongolia and assumed the title
Bogd Khan. Khüree as the seat of the Jebtsundamba Khutugtu was the logical
choice for the capital of the new state. However, in the tripartite Kyakhta
agreement of 1915 (between Russia, China, Mongolia), Mongolia's status was
changed to mere autonomy. In 1919, Mongolian nobles, over the opposition of the
Bogd Khan, agreed with the Chinese resident Chen Yi on a settlement of the
"Mongolian question" along Qing-era lines, but before this settlement
could be put into effect, Khüree was occupied by the troops of Chinese warlord
Xu Shuzheng, who forced the Mongolian nobles and clergy to renounce autonomy
completely.
In 1921 the city changed hands twice. First, in February 4, 1921, a
mixed Russian/Mongolian force led by White Russian warlord Roman von
Ungern-Sternberg captured the city, freeing the Bogd Khan from Chinese
imprisonment and killing a part of the Chinese garrison. Baron Ungern's capture
of Urga was followed by clearing of Mongolia from small gangs of demoralized
Chinese soldiers and, at the same time, looting and murder of foreigners On
February 22, 1921 the Bogd Khan was once again elevated the Great Khan of
Mongolia in Urga. However, at the same time Baron Ungern was taking control of
Urga, a Soviet-supported Communist Mongolian
