World's Most Successful Conqueror:

Genghis Khan

Main Life Accomplishments:

Was a Mongol political and military leader or Khan (Ruler) (posthumously Khagan (Emperor)[2]) who united the Mongol tribes and founded the Mongol Empire (Их Монгол Улс), (1206 – 1368), the largest contiguous empire in world history. Born to the name Temüjin (Тэмүүжин) in the Borjigin clan, he forged a powerful army based on merit to become one of the most significant and successful military leaders in history.

 

Genghis Khan created one of the most powerful empires in history. Starting with the invasion of Western Xia and Jin Dynasty in northern China and consolidating through numerous conquests including the Khwarezmid Empire in Persia, Mongol rule across the Eurasian landmass radically altered the demography and geopolitics of these areas. The Mongol Empire ended up ruling, or at least briefly conquering, large parts of modern day China, Mongolia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Moldova, South Korea, North Korea, and Kuwait.

Basics:

Born: 1165 in Khentii Aimag, Mongolia

Died: 18 August 1227

Nationality:  Mongolian

Religion: Shamanism or Tengriism

Fields: Political, Military

Main Accomplishments: He was the World's most successful conqueror

 

Chronology of Life Events:

c. 1165 

Birth of Genghis Khan 

 

c. 1171

He was allowed to participate in hunting expeditions with his clan/tribe.

 

c. 1174

His tribal leader father was poisoned

 

c. 1178

He murdered his half-brother Bekhter with an arrow for stealing food

 

c. 1181

Temüjin married Börte of the Konkirat tribe

 

1182

He was captured in a raid by his former tribe, the Ta'yichiut

 

1190 

Temüjin and his advisors had united together the Mongol confederation only

 

1206

Temüjin managed to unite the Merkits, Naimans, Mongols, Uyghurs, Keraits, Tatars

 

1209 

The Tangut emperor acknowledged Genghis as overlord.

 

1211

Genghis Khan set about bringing the Nüzhen

 

1218

The Mongol Empire extended as far west as Lake Balkhash

 

1220

The Khwarezmid Empire was eradicated

 

1223

The Mongols defeated the larger Kievan force.

 

1226

Genghis Khan began to attack the Tanguts.

 

1227

Genghis Khan attacked and destroyed the Tangut capital of Ning Hia.

 

Aug 18 1227 

Death of Genghis Khan

Early Life:

Based on legends and later writers, Temüjin's early life was difficult. When he was only nine, as part of the marriage arrangement, his father Yesükhei delivered Temüjin to the family of his future wife Börte, members of the Onggirat tribe. He was to live there in service to Deisechen, the head of the household, until he reached the marriageable age of 12. He grew up in a tough political climate because of tribal warfare, thievery, raids, revenges between the confederations, foreign forces, influences etc. and none of them were under a single political control, except the Chinese dynasties.

 

Because of political reasons, while heading home his father was secretly poisoned by eating poisoned food from the neighbouring Tatars by taking him to their base in retaliation for his campaigns and raids against them. This gave Temüjin a claim to be the clan's chief, although his father's clan refused to be led by a boy and soon abandoned him and his family including his mother Hoelun and left them without protection.

 

For the next few years, Temüjin and his family lived the life of impoverished nomads, surviving primarily on wild fruits, marmots and other small game hunted by Temujin and his brothers. In one incident, Temüjin murdered his half-brother Bekhter with an arrow at the age of 13 for stealing food.[8] The incident also cemented his position as head of the household.

 

In another incident in 1182, he was captured in a raid by his former tribe, the Ta'yichiut, and held captive. The Ta'yichiut enslaved Temüjin (reportedly with a cangue), but he escaped with help from a sympathetic captor, the father of Chilaun, a future general of Genghis Khan. His mother, Hoelun, taught him many lessons about survival in the harsh landscape and even grimmer political climate of Mongolia, especially the need for alliances with others, a lesson which would shape his understanding in his later years. Jelme and Bo'orchu, two of Genghis Khan's future generals, joined him around this time. Along with his brothers, they provided the manpower needed for early expansion and diplomacy.

 

Temüjin married Börte of the Konkirat tribe around the age of 16, being betrothed as children by their parents as a customary way to forge a tribal alliance. She was later kidnapped in a raid by the Merkit tribe, and Temüjin rescued her with the help of his friend and future rival, Jamuqa, and his protector, Ong Khan of the Kerait tribe. She remained his only empress, although he followed tradition by taking several morganatic wives. Börte's first child, Jochi, was born roughly nine months after she was freed from the Merkit, leading to questions about the child's paternity.

 

Temüjin became blood brother (anda) with Jamuqa, and thus the two made a vow to be faithful to each other for eternity.

 

Wife Background:

 

Börte Ujin was the Grand Empress of the Mongol Khan Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire. She was the first wife of Genghis Khan and was the head of the first Court of Genghis Khan.

 

She was from Kongirat tribe. Her father, Dei Seichen,was a chieftain of the Kongirat tribe. Her mother's name was Tchotan.This tribe was friendly to Temujin's tribe. It was decided, perhaps by others, that Börte was to marry Temujin (later Genghis Khan) at the marriageable age of 17. Temujin's father was murdered by the Tartars, an enemy group at the time of Temujin's father's tribe, when he was returning home from Börte's house after leaving Temujin with her. Later, she was abducted by Merkits. Temujin with Wang Khan and Jamuqa's armies rescued her from her captors. She was held captive for eight months, and she gave birth to Jochi right after she was rescued. Börte mothered Jochi, Chagatai, Ögedei, Tului and five daughters: the oldest one, Khojen Beki, was bethroted to Tusakha, son of Senggum, and grandson of Ong Khan, ruler of the Kerait tribe; she eventually married Botu, of the Ikire tribe, and widower of her paternal aunt Temulun. Alaqai Beki, married first to Alaqush Digit Quri, chieftain of the Ongüt tribe; then to his nephew and heir Jingue; and finally to her stepson Boyaohe; Tümelün, married to Chigu, son of Anchen, son of Dei Sechen, Borte's father; Altalün, married first to Olar, chieftain of the Olqunu’ut tribe; then to her stepson Taichu; and Checheyigen, married to Törölchi, son of Quduka beki, of the Oirat tribe. Although several of Ghenghis Khan's children by wives or concubines received some form of recognition in the empire, including land or military commands, including troops, only Borte's children were recognized as potential Great Khans. She, together with his mother Hoelun, was counted as one of his most trusted advisors.

 

She was revered after Temujin became the Great Khan and was crowned the grand empress. As Genghis Khan continued to expand his influence and empire, Borte remained behind and assisted Genghis Khan's brother Temuge in ruling the Mongol homeland.

 

Borte is often portrayed as a beautiful woman dressed in a white silken gown, with gold coins in her hair, holding a white lamb, and riding a white steed.

 

Father Background:

 

Yesugei Baghatur was a Mongol Khan (or ruler). He was the son of Bartan-baghatur, who was the son of Qabul, who was recognized as a Khagan by the Jin Dynasty. Qabul Khagan was, in turn, the grandson of the Mongol chief Qaidu, the first to try to unite all of the Mongols.

 

Yesugei was chief of the Kiyad (possibly the Taichiut or Yakka) khanate between approximately 1153 and 1180. He had four sons and one daughter by his chief wife, Hoelun: Temujin (son, later known as Genghis Khan), Khasar (son), Khaji'un (son), Temuge (son), and Temulin (daughter). He also had two sons by a lesser wife: Bekhter and Belgutei. He was poisoned by Tatars while sharing a meal on the way home from finding his son Temujin (Genghis Khan) a wife.

 

Yesugei's wife was Hoelun (Oelun, Ho’elun, Oyelun), a daughter of the Olkunut forest tribe. Oyelun was abducted by Yesugei and his brothers from her newlywed husband of the Merkit tribe as they were traveling back to the Merkit camp. Yesugei then made Oyelun his chief wife, a rare honor since Khans had several wives, and only one could bear his heirs.

 

Mother Background:

Hoelun was the mother of Mongol Khan Genghis Khan and the grandmother of Ogedei Khan, first emperor of the Yuan Dynasty. She was the wife of Yesükhei, the chief of the Kiyad clan. After Yesükhei's death, his clan abandoned Hoelun and her sons including Genghis Khan (Temujin by birth). Therefore Genghis Khan was raised in the harsh environment of the Mongolian steppes. According to Mongolian legend, Hoelun taught Genghis and his brothers the basics of unity and support for one another, even though Temujin killed his brother in a disagreement over hunting spoils. She and her children managed to survive by her gathering food, hunting and fishing.

Hoelun was born to the Olkunut tribe. She later married a member of the Merkit tribe, but was abducted by Yesugei on her way back to the Merkit camp. Yesugei made Hoelun his chief wife. This was an honor, since only the chief wife could give birth to his heirs. Together with his wife Börte, Hoelun was counted as one of the most trusted advisors of Genghis Khan.

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