Ulaanbaatar: History, Former Names & Timeline

Grown from the mobile monastery of the Bogd Gegeen into the settled town of Urga, now capital of Mongolia.

Map showing Ulaanbaatar in 1900 — Border map for 1900. See the world in 1900.

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<p style="font-size:13px;margin:4px 0 0">Interactive map: <a href="https://chronicamaps.com/en/city/ulaanbaatar">Ulaanbaatar: History, Former Names &amp; Timeline</a> · Chronica Maps</p>

Former names of Ulaanbaatar

From	Name	Note
1639	Örgöö / Urga
1924	Ulaanbaatar

Timeline of Ulaanbaatar

Year	Event
1639	The monastery camp of the Jebtsundamba Khutuktu is founded
1778	The monastery town moves to its present site
1911	Outer Mongolia declares independence
1921	Sükhbaatar’s forces enter Urga
1924	Renamed Ulaanbaatar as the Mongolian People's Republic is proclaimed

Who ruled Ulaanbaatar

Derived from the border maps; each row runs until the next recorded border change.

Period	State
500 BC–401 BC	Proto-Altaic pastoralists
400 BC–324 BC	Xiongnu
323 BC–201 BC	Unclaimed / no data
200 BC–99	Xiongnu
100–399	Unclaimed / no data
400–599	Ruanruan
600–799	Göktürks
800–999	Uyghurs
1000–1099	Unclaimed / no data
1100–1199	Mongols
1200–1299	Mongol Empire
1300–1399	Great Khanate
1400–1491	Northern Yuan
1492–1599	Chagatai Khanate
1600–1782	central Asian khanates
1783–1814	Qing Empire
1815–1913	Manchu Empire
1914–today	Mongolia

Nearby cities

Karakorum · about 317 km

Questions about Ulaanbaatar

What was Ulaanbaatar called in the past?

Ulaanbaatar has been known as Örgöö / Urga (from 1639). Its present name dates from 1924.

Which states have ruled Ulaanbaatar?

On the historical border maps from 500 BC to today, Ulaanbaatar lies within 14 different states: Proto-Altaic pastoralists, Xiongnu, Ruanruan, Göktürks, Uyghurs, Mongols, Mongol Empire, Great Khanate, Northern Yuan, Chagatai Khanate and others.

What are the key dates in the history of Ulaanbaatar?

1639: The monastery camp of the Jebtsundamba Khutuktu is founded. 1778: The monastery town moves to its present site. 1911: Outer Mongolia declares independence. 1921: Sükhbaatar’s forces enter Urga. 1924: Renamed Ulaanbaatar as the Mongolian People's Republic is proclaimed.