Buyan Badyrgy

Mongush Buyan-Badyrgy (, ; 25April 189222March 1932) was a Tuvan politician and statesman. He was adopted by a noyon (chieftain) as an infant, and between 1907 and 1909 he succeeded his adoptive father in that role. He was the noyon for his kozhuun (administrative division) as the region of Tannu Uriankhai (modern-day Tuva) went from Chinese control to a protectorate of Russia in 1914, known as Uryankhay Krai. He was a leading figure in the protectorate and later chaired the All-Tuva Constituent Council in 1921, which established the region as an independent country, the Tannu Tuva People's Republic (later Tuvan People's Republic).

A top official in the ruling Tuvan People's Revolutionary Party (TPRP), Buyan-Badyrgy became the new country's head of state in 1921. Remaining in that post through 1922, he later served as head of government, general secretary of the TPRP, and held a number of other important roles in the country. Considered a skilled diplomat, he led negotiations with surrounding countries regarding various issues and helped Tuva receive official recognition from the Soviet Union and Mongolia.

In the late 1920s, the increasing promotion of Buddhist theocratic policies by several leading Tuvans including Buyan-Badyrgy drew the irritation of the government of the Soviet Union. In response, the Soviets helped several young Tuvans overthrow the government in 1929. This led to his arrest, and he was executed without trial in 1932. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, Buyan-Badyrgy has become a revered figure among Tuvans. Several monuments have been built of him and the second-highest honor of the Republic of Tuva is named after him.

Early life Buyan-Badyrgy was born on 25April 1892, in , near the Ovaalyg-Khemchigesh river, in Barun-Khemchik kozhuun (administrative division), Tannu Uriankhai, then part of China's Qing dynasty. His father was Mongush Nomchug, a poor Arat herdsman with a large family. As an infant, with the consent of his parents, he was adopted by the noyon (chieftain) of Khemchik kozhuun, Khaidyp Uger-Daa, who ruled a third of Tuva's territory. According to the most common account, presented by Mongush Kenin-Lopsan, Buyan-Badyrgy's adoptive father invited many of the top experts in various languages to teach him and had him study numerous fields including history, astrology, medicine, mathematics, psychology and philosophy.

Noyon and pre-independence Tuva Rise to noyon and early years

Buyan-Badyrgy's adoptive father was praised by Europeans who met him for his "noble character, deep knowledge, and [his] ability to govern." As noyon, he held authority over the Khemchik kozhuun region. However, amid the Russian Civil War, several conflicts took place that delayed the independence of Uryankhay Krai. Chinese troops marched into the protectorate in fall 1918, occupying much of the region's southern and western portions. Mongolian troops followed suit soon after, occupying further land in the south. Anti-Russian riots, led by Tuvan officials, broke out in early 1919 which drove out the Provisional Siberian Government. This allowed China and Mongolia to take more control over the region. By 1921, the Soviets had defeated Alexander Kolchak, leader of the opposing White movement in the Civil War, and took control of the region by driving out the Chinese and Mongolians.

Role in the Tuvan People's Republic

All-Tuvan Constituent Khural In June 1921, a meeting was held between Buyan-Badyrgy, representing two kozhuuns, and a Russian delegation led by , a representative of the Siberian Revolutionary Committee. This occurred with the convening of the All-Tuvan Constituent Khural from 13 to 16 August 1921, described by Khovalyg as "undoubtedly the most significant event in the history of the Tuvan people." The congress featured 63 representatives from seven of the nine kozhuuns, 17 Russian representatives including Safyanov, three Mongolians, and one representative from the Far Eastern Secretariat of the Comintern. Considered the most literate Tuvan leader, Buyan-Badyrgy was elected chairman of the congress.

At the congress, Buyan-Badyrgy "showed himself to be a cautious, attentive, moderately democratic politician," according to Khovalyg, being an "unconditional supporter of an independent and self-sufficient Tuva." For his role in overseeing the congress, he has been considered one of the founders of the Tuvan state. He also played an important role in having the constitution give equality to all citizens; Tuva.Asia described this in 2011 as "a huge achievement – right from a feudal system to a society of democratic norms." These youths returned in 1929 and, with the assistance of the Soviets and the Comintern, received positions of political authority. Influenced by the Soviets, they then led a coup d'état, with Salchak Toka, one of them, becoming the new leader and bringing about a Sovietization of Tuva. In 2012, the government of Tuva established the Order of Buyan-Badyrgy, the second-highest honor in the region (behind the Order of the Republic), and the first recipient was Kenin-Lopsan. In September 2014, a monument was built to him in the capital city of Tuva, Kyzyl, and another monument of Buyan-Badyrgy was erected in 2015. He is included in the State Book "Honored People of Tuva of the 20th Century", an honor equivalent to receiving the Order of the Republic, Tuva's highest award.