![]() Unlike other armies, the Mongols traveled with no supply train other than a large reserve of horses. After a series of raids, the Mongols launched a major initiative in 1209 that brought them to the doorstep of Yinchuan, the Xi Xia capital. Genghis Khan’s first campaign outside of Mongolia took place against the Xi Xia kingdom of northwestern China. Moreover, Genghis Khan ordered the adoption of a writing system, conducted a regular census, granted diplomatic immunity to foreign ambassadors and allowed freedom of religion well before that idea caught on elsewhere. He also forbade the selling and kidnapping of women, banned the enslavement of any Mongol and made livestock theft punishable by death. In order to suppress the traditional causes of tribal warfare, he abolished inherited aristocratic titles. Having united the steppe tribes, Genghis Khan ruled over some 1 million people. He was also proclaimed Chinggis Khan, which roughly translates to “Universal Ruler,” a name that became known in the West as Genghis Khan. The following year, he called a meeting of representatives from every part of the territory and established a nation similar in size to modern Mongolia. By 1205 he had vanquished all rivals, including his former best friend Jamuka. Though Temujin was an animist, his followers included Christians, Muslims and Buddhists. ![]() He ordered that all looting wait until after a complete victory had been won, and he organized his warriors into units of 10 without regard to kin. Going against custom, Temujin put competent allies rather than relatives in key positions and executed the leaders of enemy tribes while incorporating the remaining members into his clan. Most of what we know about Genghis Khan’s childhood comes from “The Secret History of the Mongols,” the oldest known work of Mongolian history and literature, which was written soon after his death. He launched a daring rescue of Borte after she too was kidnapped, and he soon began making alliances, building a reputation as a warrior and attracting a growing number of followers. In 1178 Temujin married Borte, with whom he would have four sons and an unknown number of daughters. At one point, he was captured and enslaved by the clan that had abandoned him, but he was eventually able to escape. Shortly thereafter, Temujin killed his older half-brother and took over as head of the poverty-stricken household. The first images of him appeared after his death. Temujin’s own clan then deserted him, his mother and his six siblings in order to avoid having to feed them.ĭid you know? Mongol leader Genghis Khan never allowed anyone to paint his portrait, sculpt his image or engrave his likeness on a coin. Before he turned 10, his father was poisoned to death by an enemy clan. At that time, dozens of nomadic tribes on the central Asian steppe were constantly fighting and stealing from each other, and life for Temujin was violent and unpredictable. His mother had been kidnapped by his father and forced into marriage. Legend holds that he came into the world clutching a blood clot in his right hand. Temujin, later Genghis Khan, was born around 1162 near the border between modern Mongolia and Siberia. ![]()
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