Sönöd

Sönöd is the pasture country of the Sönöd Mongols on the steppe south of the Gobi. The group was among the Chahar in the late Ming period and traced its name to the earlier Sönit. Its leaders submitted to Hong Taiji, and in 1641 and 1642 the Qing organised the people into left and right banners. Both became part of the Xilingol League, meeting with neighbouring Mongol banners at the river from which the league took its name.