Roman von Ungern Sternberg was born in Austria to a family of mixed Baltic-German and Hungarian descent and was raised on the idea that they had supposedly descended from Genghis Khan himself. As a young child, these stories infatuated him with the East.
He was known to be overly cruel, torturing and killing animals out of a sadistic urge, and most parents forbade their children from ever interacting with him as he had developed a reputaton as an evil bully. In his youth, he witnessed a peasant revolt which deeply traumatized him and caused him to deeply resent the lower class and to develop a deep sense of narcissism.
He had also from a young age developed a deep obsession for the old monarchies and aristocracy (likely because he himelf was from one such aristocratic families who were rapidly losing power to growing Republicanism) which saw him politically identify with feudal society. As the Russian Empire was one of the few remaining feudal societies in Europe, he began to deeply align with them, and would become a Cadet in the Empire's army.
It was there that Roman discovered the Dharmic religions, as well as the occult. His fascination grew, and he had become particularly interested in sacred geometry. Eventually, he would identify himself as a Vajrayana Buddhist, attracted to the religions identification with esotericism as he viewed esoteric knowledge to be identified with aristocracy. He however did not apostatize from the Lutheran Church, but became a syncretist.
Come the Civil War, Roman unsurprisingly identified with the White Army, and fought against Communist forces in Russia's East around Mongolia, and China. Roman eventually grew distant from the White Army, as his Buddhist asceticism put him at odds with many of the General's luxurious lifestyles, and his growing antisemitism caused him to despise many of the elites in Russia, who were Jewish (or who he accused of Judaism.)
Roman's grip on the East tightened when he traveled to Mongolia at the end of the Civil War to consolidate his forces and plan for an eventual attempt at reconquering Russia from the victorious Communist government. In the meantime, Roman sought to take advantage of a shattered China and unite the Mongols to use them against the Communists.
He was eventually approached by the Bogd Khan, the Lama of Mongolia who gave him his blessing. This support cemented the righteousness of the cause in Roman's mind, and it is here that his legacy begins.
Roman's grip over his territory in Mongolia was tight and brutal, with floggings, executions, and worse being commonplace. His military strategies also consistently failed. Nevertheless, many Mongolians began to see him as the earthly incarnation of the Mahakala, for his foul temper, nearly insane wrath, and fanatical obedience to Buddhist doctrine as well as his devotion to establishing "divine order" against the Communists. This attempt at preserving the old ways attracted many reactionary Buddhists in Mongolia, bolstering his guerilla campaign and allowing him to commit further atrocities in the name of preserving what he saw as the Dharma.
Eventually, Roman launched a final attack on the Mongolian capital, with it quickly dissolving into medieval warfare, as soldiers forwent their carbines for sabers. They were victorious, and the Mongolian people saw him as a liberator for sending out the Chinese occupiers.
He then set about systematically exterminating all Jews in Mongolia.
Bogd Khan, the Lama, was made the monarch of Mongolia, but Roman remained a powerful figure as the military was in his command.
Roman then set his sights on the entire continent of Asia (having apparently forgotten his original intent to "save" Russia,) hoping to establishing monarchies across the East as puppets much as he had in Mongolia. However, his plan was thwarted as the Soviet Union had finally turned its head towards Mongolia.
Communist forces retook the capital, a mix of Soviet volunteers, Chinese and Mongolian communists seized the city and deposed the Bogd Khan (although he was away in safety.) Roman saw some early success in counter-attacks, but was ultimately captured and executed by Communist forces, establishing Mongolia as a Socialist Republic.
Roman von Ungern-Sternberg remains one of the more bizarre figures in Mongolian history, for his many peculiarities. His syncretic beliefs, myths proclaiming him the Mahakala, as well as his persecution of the Jews and supposed madness earned him the nickname the "Mad Baron" and the "Bloody Baron". His atrocities were unforgivable, but he remained a figure of resistance against Socialism for many years. Today, many western converts to Vajrayana idolize him, as well as modern Fascists and anti-semites.
