Genghis Khan

Introduction

Genghis Khan merged several warring tribal confederations in the steppes (level and treeless land in southeastern Europe and Asia) of Mongolia and united Mongolia into a single nationality, establishing the largest contiguous empire in history. He received the title of “Genghis Khan” first as the khan (leader) of his own tribe, the Mongols, and then as the emperor of all the tribes of Mongolia after almost twenty years of conflict.(Allsen, 321) In the process, Genghis Khan avoided the traditional method of building a tribal confederation built solely on kinship ties as well as promises of plunder and wealth and instead forged a new identity for the nomadic tribes. Rather than remaining individual tribes, they were reorganized into one huge tribe known as the “Yeke Mongol Ulus” (great Mongol nation). With this unity, Genghis Khan led his tribesmen into northern China and then into central Asia and Persia (Iran), accumulating more conquered territory than any other leader. His successors continued the conquests until the Mongol empire stretched from the Pacific Ocean to the Carpathian Mountains and Mediterranean Sea. Yet, Genghis Khan's achievements off the battlefield are perhaps an even greater legacy.(Juvaini, 23)

Early Life

Genghis Khan—or Temüjin, as he was known in his youth—assumed leadership early in his life. After the murder of his father, Yesügei, who was also a tribal leader, in 1175, the Mongol tribes abandoned Yesügei's family. Scholars are unsure whether the ten-year-old Temüjin was the logical successor because he had two half-brothers from Yesügei's second wife, Ko'agchin, who may have been older. Nevertheless, none of Yesügei's children held enough seniority to lead the Borjigin clan of the Mongols.(Buell, 12) Still, a power struggle did ensue between the sons of Ho'elün, the mother of Temüjin, and those of Ko'agchin. The result of the struggle in 1180 was that Temüjin and his brother Jochi Qasar murdered Bekhtar, the eldest of Ko'agchin's sons, but spared Belgütei, the younger son. Scholars think it likely that the murder was the result of the power struggle for leadership in the family of Yesügei. In 1180 Temüjin reached the age of fifteen, essentially attaining his majority (typically males aged fifteen to sixty fought in warfare, thus a fifteen-year-old would be considered a man and not a boy).(Cleaves, 219)

Temüjin gradually won the loyalty of others and increased his following. In addition, he became the vassal (a person under the protection of a feudal lord) of Toghril Ong-Khan, the khan of the Kereit tribal confederation. Through his relationship with Toghril, Temüjin gained a reputation for respecting merit over heredity and status as well as rewarding loyalty.

Unification Of Mongolia

Because tribal society tended to be fairly fluid, Temüjin gained supporters from other tribes. One method by which he gained supporters was dividing plunder from warfare among all of those who participated. He ordered that anyone who stopped to gather booty during a raid would be punished. Temüjin insisted that all fighters should continue fighting until victory was secured.(Buell, 12) Traditionally, plunder tended to be divided among the leaders, ...