Genghis Khan, I think everyone has heard his name at least once in their life. Most people know that he was a cruel man, a mass murderer, a general or maybe even know that he founded the Mongol Empire. There is a very rich history and some interesting facts that many people are not aware of. I am here to make you aware of those.
Genghis Khan was a 13th-century warrior in central Asia who, as the title suggests, founded the Mongol Empire, one of the largest empires in history. By the time he died, the empire controlled a large amount of territory in China and central Asia and its armies stretched as far as Kiev in modern-day Ukraine. The successors of Genghis Khan would go on to control kingdoms all over the world. They had territory in the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia and Eastern Europe.
Despite his great achievements, and his well-known name, there is much about Genghis Khan that we don’t know. There is for instance not a single portrait of him that we are sure of to be authentic. All of the images of him that exist were created after his death or by people who never met him in person.
Also, until Genghis Khan gained control over the Uyghur people, the Mongolians did not have a writing system. Meaning that many of the records that survived of him were not written by his own people. An important Mongolian record that survived is called the “Secret History of the Mongols,” but this was written anonymously sometime after Genghis Khan’s death.
Modern-day historians believe that he was born sometime around 1160 A.D. and died in August 1227, of natural causes, but no one can be absolutely sure about this.
Early Life
Genghis Khan was born with the name Temujin. His father’s name was Yesukai, and was the leader of 40,000 tents or families. Even his brothers, including those senior to him, acknowledged him as their leader and head of the Borjigin clan. Temujin’s mother, Hoelun, had been captured by his father’s clan and was forced to become Yesukai’s wife. This was common in that time. They called their son Temujin to celebrate his father’s victory over an enemy called Temujin.
Around the age of 9, Temujin was promised to Borte, the 10-year old daughter of Dai Sechen, the leader of the Jungirat tribe. Scholars believe he lived with his father in-law for a while.
At some point Temujin’s father died (they believe he was poisoned) and Temujin returned home. The family’s power faded as many of his father’s followers deserted them.
Genghis Khan: Founder of the Mongol Empire