The Saber and Scroll Journal Volume 7, Issue 1, Winter 2018 | Page 46

Chinggis Qan: The Early Life
To understand why Khan was successful as a leader, and why he chose his
particular methods and goals, it is critical to understand his motivations and
background. Genghis Khan took on many names throughout his life. His true name
was Temuchin or Temujin, and he originally arose from Northeast Asia as a
Mongol warlord. 5 Allegedly, his most famous pseudonym, “Genghis Khan,” was a
European mispronunciation of the more culturally accurate Chinggis Qan and
Jenghiz Khan. A large portion of his success is the result of his prolonged hardship
prior to his reign.
Temujin was born to the noble family of Yesugei and Ho’elun, head of the
Khamag Mongol confederation. 6 While still a young man, Temujin’s family
betrothed him to a woman from another tribe named Borte. His father, Yesugei, fell
ill and passed away after the Tartars, an enemy tribe, poisoned him. 7 The Tartars
were of similar ethnic origin and a neighboring tribe. Temujin also suffered
through the kidnapping of his beloved Borte, which meant that his first-born was
likely illegitimate. After receiving word of his father’s death, Temujin returned
home and, after enduring further hardships as a slave until his daring escape, took a
leadership position among the Mongols. He replaced his father as head of the
Khamag at age thirteen. The aforementioned hardships provided him with one goal,
to unify his people under one banner and eliminate the constant conflict between
the many Mongol confederations. These facts are critically important when
uncovering the reality of Chinggis Qan and the Mongols.
Figure 1. Battle between Mongols and Chinese (1211), c. 1431.
Artist unknown.
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