Demchugdongrub

Prince Demchugdongrub, commonly known as Prince De or De Wang, (8 February 1902 – 23 May 1966) was the leader of an independence movement in Inner Mongolia. He was the chairman of Mengjiang, a Japanese puppet state in World War II.

Some see Demchugdongrub as a Mongol nationalist promoting Pan-Mongolism. Others view him as a traitor and as the pawn of the Japanese during World War II.

Early life

A Chahar born into the Plain White Banner in Chahar Province of the Qing dynasty, Demchugdongrub was the sole son of Namjil Wangchuk, the Duoluo Duling Junwang (多罗杜棱郡王 Duōluō Dùléng Jùnwáng) of Sönid Right Banner and Chief of the Xilingol League. His name consists of the Tibetan words "Chakrasamvara" (Wylie: bde mchog ) and "Siddhartha" (Wylie: don grub ) respectively.

After Namjil Wangchuk died in 1908, the six-year-old Demchugdongrub, with the approval of the Qing, inherited one of his father's titles – the Duoluo Duling Junwang. In his youth Demchugdongrub studied the Mongolian, Chinese, and Manchu languages. After the fall of the Qing, Yuan Shikai promoted Demchugdongrub to the title of Jasagh Heshuo Duling Jinong (扎萨克和硕杜棱亲王 Zhāsàkè Héshuò Dùléng Qīnwáng) in 1912.