The Strongest Woman That Ever Lived

   I dedicate this article to all women of strength whether it be physical or otherwise and to the three most important people in bringing the story of this warrior princess to the attention of the world: Venetian explorer Marco Polo, California strength historian David P. Willoughby and editor/historian Mike Lambert who allowed me to publish this story in his magazine Powerlifting USA back in the 80's .

THE STRONGEST WOMAN THAT EVER LIVED

by Peter Vuono

     The Venetian explorer Marco Polo(1254-1324) tells an amazing tale in his memoirs , Description of the World, of a Tatar(Mongolian) princess who may very well have been the strongest woman that ever lived. In the year 1260A.D. there existed a city known as Samarkand. It was located in an area known as Great Turkey and would later be called Russian Turkestan. Presently, it is now Uzbekestan, a CIS State located just above Afghanistan.
     Samarkand's monarch was King Kaidu(1238-1301), who was the great grandson of Genghis Kahn and the nephew of the reigning Mongol Kublai Kahn who founded the Mongol Dynasty in China. King Kaidu often clashed with his uncle as to how one's kingdom should be governed. Their differences were so severe, that they often fought each other on the battlefield.
     When Kaidu rode into battle, he never had by his side one of his many sons. Rather, he always rode next to his only daughter, Princess Aiyaruk. The Princess, whose name means,"Shining Moon", was born in 1260A.D.. After years of Tatar training, she was regarded as the strongest and mightiest person  in King Kaidu's kingdom. Polo, in his memoirs called the Princess,"Almost a giantess", and she must have certainly resembled one. Strength historian David P. Willoughby, in his book, The Super Athletes extrapolates Aiyaruk's height at 6'2" and a solid 280lbs.! Aiyaruk was described as being stunningly beautiful, receiving her comeliness from her mother, the Queen, who possessed both Tatar and Caucasian lineages. Willoughby estimates that her vital statistics may have been 49-35-53.
     As Aiyaruk grew older, it was obvious that her strength was superior to that of any of her brothers. The King was so pleased with her attributes , that he made certain that Aiyaruk  be given every luxury and that she receive the best tutoring in archery, horsemanship and wrestling. Wrestling became the favorite of Aiyaruk and this sport would later serve as the medium in declaring her amazing physical prowess.
     Upon turning  16, it was exceedingly difficult to find adequate opponents for her to spar with. By the age of 18, Aiyaruk was considered both invincible at wrestling and without question the strongest person in Samarkand, This so pleased the king, that he ordered a personal gym constructed for his daughter equipped with the finest trainers to further hone her skills.
     At about the same timne, the King and Queen were anxious that their daughter become betrothed. They were desirous that Aiyaruk marry a man of nobility and means. However, Aiyaruk's loyalty and devotion to the King had bonded so strongly that she was by no means willing to leave Kaidu's side easily.She therefore promulgated the terms by which she would agree to matrimony.
     Aiyaruk made it known that the man that she would marry would have to be a superior warrior and athlete. The proviso for each suitor would be that he would have to face, wrestle and pin the shoulders of the Princess to the mat. It was also required that if the suitor lost, he'd have to forfeit 100 horses which were used monetarily in Samarkand. Each suitor wrestled the Princess in front of the Royal Family and a large audience.
     In  a two year period, Aiyaruk's strength and loyalty prevailed. With little difficulty, the Princess defeated one hundred men garnering for her 10,000 horses! In the year 1280A.D. when Aiyaruk was only 20, a Prince from a nearby kingdom known as Pamir let it be known that he desired Aiyaruk's hand in marriage and challenged her to wrestle him. The Prince of Pamir was heralded as a wrestling champion. So confident was he of his skills, that he offered 1,000 horses if he should lose.
     The match was highly publicized and in front of a large audience, history's strongest woman came to grips with the Prince. The struggle was an enduring one but in spite of whatever hold the Prince tried to execute , Aiyaruk's strength and devotion once again prevailed. The Prince's stamina and strength eventually gave out and his shoulders were soundly pinned just like all the previous opponents.
     The last known mentioning of Princess Aiyaruk was in 1301A.D. King Kaidu passed away from natural causes leaving his daughter attempting to take the throne of Samarkand. At this point in history, however, the Kaidu Dynasty was coming to an end.
     It is not known for certain how Aiyaruk died. What is certain is that even today's world of women performing 300lb. bench presses, there has been not one individual woman who could legitimately wrestle and defeat 100 wrestlers of the type and caliber that existed in a violent 13th century world.
     Princess Aiyaruk was and is an icon of strength, devotion, loyalty and pride. She was unafraid to display her power in a world governed by men. In more ways than one, she truly was the strongest woman that ever lived!

REFERENCES: Willoughby, David P. The Super Athletes. A.S. Barnes and Co. Cranbury NJ 1970 P. 580

Willoughby, David P. "Three Strong Women of the Past", IRON MAN MAGAZINE 40:30 March 1981