It is claimed that Batumongke was the son of Bayanmongke (Bayanmunh) (fl. 1470-79) the Bolkhu jinong (or crown prince/viceroy) of the Borjigin clan and Shiker Taiko (Shihir Taihu) of the Uriyangkhai in Mongolia. His paternal grandmother, Sechen, was a daughter of Esen Tayshi of the Oirats. Although Bolkhu and his family suffered through life's darkest hours during the reign of Esen and the internal conflict of the Northern Yuan Dynasty, they were welcomed by his uncle (brother) Manduul Khan (r. 1465-67) soon after his coronation.