Genepil

Genepil^[a] (1905 – May 1938) was the last queen consort of Mongolia, married to Bogd Khan.^[1][2] She was queen consort for less than a year in 1924.^[3] Genepil was executed in May 1938 as part of the Stalinist repressions in Mongolia.^[4][5][6]

Genepil Женепил Хатан ᠭᠡᠨᠡᠩᠫᠢᠯ ᠬᠠᠲᠤᠨ
Khatun of Mongolia
Tenure	December 1923 – 20 May 1924
Predecessor	Dondogdulam Khatun
Successor	Monarchy abolished
Born	Tseyenpil 1905 (1905) Khentii Province, Outer Mongolia, Qing Empire
Died	May 1938 (aged 32–33) Ulaanbaatar, Mongolian People's Republic
Spouse	Luvsandamba (m. ?; div. 1923) Bogd Khan ​ ​ (m. 1923; died 1924)​ Unknown third husband (m. 1924 or after; their executions in 1938)
Issue	More than 1, including Tserenkhand
House	Imperial House of Bogd
Religion	Tibetan Buddhism

Queen consort

Genepil was born Tseyenpil in 1905 to a family in Northern Mongolia, around the Baldan Bereeven Monastery.

After the death of Dondogdulam Khatun in 1923, Genepil was chosen as her successor among a group of women between the ages of 18 and 20 years old who were selected by the king's counsellors. Genepil was already married to a man named Luvsandamba.^[2][7][8]

She lived with Bogd Khan until his death on 20 May 1924, when the monarchy was abolished. Genepil returned to her family after leaving the Mongolian court.^[4]

In 1937, the government of the Mongolian People's Republic accused Genepil of gathering materiel in order to stage an uprising with the help of Japan. She was subsequently arrested and executed in 1938. She was pregnant at the time of her execution.^{[2][9][10][11]}

In popular culture

This 1921 photo is said to be of Genepil, but it is disputed.

The costume design for the Star Wars character Padmé Amidala took inspiration from a 1921 image of a Mongolian lady that is commonly, though incorrectly, identified as Genepil.^[12][13][14]

Notes

1. • Mongolian: Гэнэнпил Хатан, romanized: Genenpil Khatan
   • Traditional Mongolian: ᠭᠡᠨᠡᠩᠫᠢᠯ ᠬᠠᠲᠤᠨ