Tiktkar has disclosed her lineage ties to one of the most notorious warlords of the 20th century.
Leonie von Ungern-Sternberg, a 29-year-old MBA student from Spain, frequently shares enjoyable snippets of her millennial lifestyle, which often includes sipping matcha, on TikTok.
However, her familial background is steeped in a history that raises some eyebrows, particularly regarding communist ties.
Rome von Ungern Sternberg, known for his extreme Russian nationalism, gained notoriety during the tumultuous battles of the 1910s and ’20s, earning him titles like “God of War” and “The Crazy Baron.”
After being defeated in Russia’s Communist Revolution of 1917, Ungern invaded Mongolia, where he established a kingdom with support from emperor-loyal soldiers.
His ambitions included marching through Moscow in an effort to create a new Mongol empire aimed at toppling the Soviet regime.
For Leonie, the legacy of Ungern, who was executed by the Bolsheviks over a century ago, feels like a heavy curse.
While she grapples with the “burden” of her “unusual last name,” she acknowledges that “The Crazy Baron” is not her only notable ancestor.
“If your family has roots that stretch back almost 1,000 years, it’s likely that at least one of them will have a dubious past,” she remarked.
“Our upbringing has always been modest. I’ve been working since I was 18,” she shared.
“I’m not living some fairy-tale existence; I’m a baroness, but that title means very little to me,” she added.
Leonie confesses she doesn’t know much about Ungern’s history. However, the link to one of the bloodiest conquests of the early 20th century became known to her through connections on TikTok and Vlogs.
The controversial baron has been both criticized and praised by historians, some of whom argue he liberated Mongols from Chinese rule, although his insanity and brutal reputation are well-documented.
He was said to have become fascinated with Eastern religions, turning his army into something more akin to a heavily armed cult rather than a traditional military force.
His hatred for Communists was compounded by anti-Semitic tendencies, as he devised horrific tortures for his foes, even punishing his own followers for disobedience.
Rumored methods include burning victims alive, leaving them exposed to the harsh elements, and utilizing torture devices in sadistic ways.
“People tell me I should reclaim my throne in Mongolia, but honestly, I’m just a girl who enjoys matcha,” Leonie said. In a TikTok video posted on June 30, she garnered over 2 million views.
“I posted it and went to sleep, and when I woke up, it had a million views. It was surreal,” she recounted.
While most attention was light-hearted, she also faced serious backlash.
This included comments from far-right fans and those subscribing to Roman ultra-nationalist views, who held her accountable for her ancestor’s actions.
“I feel like I’m a case study for how viral content can attract ideologies that I do not identify with,” she reflected.
“I’ve had to deal with a lot of sexist and racist comments,” she added.
Despite the unsettling experience, Leonie carries her name with a sense of “pride and honor,” thanks to her “surprising family background.”
She noted that her great-grandparents had been murdered by the Nazis while helping Jews escape, adding that her surname has attracted unwanted attention from extremists.
The video also received varied feedback from users in Mongolia, reflecting mixed opinions about Ungern.
“Many see him as a hero, while others disagree, saying he was a cruel outsider who lacked the legitimacy to wield such power,” she said.
Leonie hopes to use the new interest in her family lineage to explore archives and uncover more about her ancestry.
“He’s such a complex historical figure that it’s hard to label him simply,” she concluded. “There’s more to him than that.”
