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Genghis Khan

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Genghis Khan , more correctly transliterated "Chinggis Khan", (pinyin: cheng1 ji1 si1 kang1) (about 1165 - 1227) wasMongolian khan, i.e., emperor,military leader who unifiedMongolian tribesthen foundedMongol empire by conquering muchChina, AsiaEastern Europe. Healso regarded asfirst emperor ofYuan DynastyChina.

Genghis was originally born bynameTemüjin (鐵木真 TieMuZhenChinese) sometime between 11621167,first sonYesügei,tribal chief ofKiyad (singular: Kiyan). Yesügei's clancalled Borjigin (pl. Borjigid).

Whilst stillboy, his father was murdered byneighboring Tartars1175,Temüjin was inducted asclan's chief. His clan abandoned himhis mother, refusingbe led bymere boy. Fornext few years, hehis family livedwaylifepoor nomads. In one instance he was captured byrival tribe, but later escapedsome assistance fromsympathetic captor.

Aroundage20, Temujin visited his future wife Borte,receivedblack sable coat from her tribe; this wasfoundationhis increased wealth from conquest.

UnitingTribes

Temüjin marrys Börte (after she's kidnappedhe rescues her - allcallings offairy tale).

The Foundationsan Empire

In 1206 Temüjin had successfully unitedformerly fragmented tribeswhatnow Mongolia,atkuriltai (kurultai) (a councilMongol chiefs) he was titled "Genghis Khan" (also Chinggis, JenghizTsingis) or "Universal Ruler".

Asgreat Khan, he developednew military system that was based ondecimal system,armies being split into groups10, 100, 1000finallytumen (10,000). The army took their familieshorsesthem,each rider having about 3-4 horses apiece, soalways had fresh meanstransport.

Attime ofkuriltai, Genghis was involved indisputeWestern Xia,firsthis warsconquest,despite problemstaking well defended Western Xia cities,by 1209 when peaceWestern Xia was made, he hadsubstantially reducedWestern Xia dominion,was acknowledged by their emperor as overlord.

A major goalGenghis wasconquestJin, bothavenge earlier defeats andgainrichesnorthern China. He declared war1211,at firstpatternoperations againstJurchen Jin Dynasty wassame ashad been against Western Xia. The Mongols were victorious infield, butwere frustratedtheir effortstake major cities. In his typically logicaldetermined fashion, Genghishis highly developed staff studiedproblems ofassaultfortifications. WithhelpChinese engineers,gradually developedtechniques that eventually would make themmost accomplishedmost successful besiegers inhistorywarfare.

Asresult ofnumberoverwhelming victories infield andfew successes incapturefortifications deep within China, Genghis had conqueredhad consolidated Jin territory as far south asGreat Wall by 1213. He then advancedthree armies intoheartJin territory, betweenGreat Wall andHuang He. He defeatedJin forces, devastated northern China, captured numerous cities,in 1215 besieged, captured,sackedJin capitalYanjing (later known as Beijing). The Jin emperor, Emperor Xuan ZongJin, did not surrender, however, but removed his capitalKaifeng. There his successors finally were defeated, but not until 1234. Meanwhile, Kuchlug,deposed khan ofNaiman Mongols, had fled westhad usurpedstateKara-Khitan Khanate,western allies that had decidedsideGenghis.

By this time,Mongol army was exhausted by ten yearscontinuous campaigning against Western XiaJin. Therefore, Genghis sent only two tumen underbrilliant young general, Jebe, against Kuchlug. An internal revolt was incited by Mongol agents; then Jebe overrancountry. Kuchlug's forces were defeated westKashgar; he was capturedexecuted,Kara-Khiatn was annexed. By 1218Mongol state extended as far west as Lake Balkashadjoined Khwarizm,Muslim state that reached toCaspian Sea inwesttoPersian Gulf andArabian Sea insouth.

In 1218 Genghis sent some emissariesan eastern ProvinceKhwarizmhold some talks withgovernour. The governour ofprovince had them killed,Genghis retaliated withforce200,000 troops. By 1220 Khwarizm was eradicated.

The Final Campaign

The vassal emperorWestern Xia had refusedtake part inwar againstKhwarizm,Genghis had vowed punishment. While he wasIran, Western XiaJin had formed an alliance againstMongols. After rest andreorganizationhis armies, Genghis preparedwar against his foes.

By this time, advancing years had led Genghisprepare forfuture andassure an orderly succession among his descendants. He selected his third son Ogedei as his successorestablishedmethodselectionsubsequent khans, specifying thatshould come from his direct descendants. Meanwhile, he studied intelligence reports from Western XiaJinreadiedforce180,000 troops fornew campaign.

In AD 1226, Genghis Khan attackedTanguts onpretext thatTanguts receivedMongols' enemies. In February, Genghis Khan took over Heisui city, Gan-zhouSu-zhou. In autumn, took over Xiliang-fu. A Xixia general challengedMongols forbattle near Helanshan Mountain. (Helan means great horsenorthern dialect.) Xixia armies were defeated at Helanshan. In November, he laid siege ofTangut cityLing-zhouthen crossedYellow RiverdefeatedTangut relief army. Five stars, inrow, were noted inskies.

In AD 1227, Genghis Khan attacked Tanguts' capital,in February, took over Lintiao-fu. In March, he took over Xining prefectureXindu-fu. In April, he took over Deshun prefecture. At Deshun, Xixia General Ma Jianlong resistedMongolsdayspersonally led charges against them outside ofcity gate. Ma Jianlong later diedarrow shots. Genghis, after taking over Deshun, wentLiupanshan Mountain (Qingshui County, Gansu Prov)shelter fromsevere summer. Onmountain, he stated that he had said one year ago, when five stars converged onto one line, thatMongols should not kill people at randommade itdecree notkill at random.

On his deathbed1227, Genghis Khan outlinedhis youngest son, Tului,plans that later would be used by his successorscompletedestruction ofJin empire.

His body was returnedMongolia,escort killing anyone that strayed across their path onreturn trip, so as notreveal where he was finally laidrest. The Genghis Khan Mausoleumhis memorial, not his burial site.

The new Xixia emperor, being attacked byMongols, surrenderedthem. The Tanguts officially surrenderedAD 1227, after beingexistence190 years, from AD 1038AD 1227. The Mongols killedTangut emperorhis royal family members.

PointInterest: Genghis Khan has becomesymbol ofMongolia tryingregain its identity after manyyearsCommunism. Genghis Khan's face appears on Mongolian banknotesvodka labels.

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