If we speak of great empires throughout the history of humanity, without a doubt one of the most prominent was the Mongol, a civilization that knew how to expand through much of the current Asian and European continents. It owes part of its fame to brave warriors and politicians. And among them, the most recognized is probably Genghis Khan .
We speak of a sovereign so popular for his ability on the front lines, as well as for how ruthless he was, even in times when disputes over land or money resulted in bloody confrontations.
A bit of biography
In any case, experts agree that Genghis Khan was born in 1162, the son of Iasugai, head of the Kiyata-Borjigin tribe , and whose first name was, in fact, Temujin.
Orphan since his adolescence, Genghis Khan was abandoned by those who responded fearfully to his father, developing many of his abilities from that fateful event.
In 1179 he married Borte, his wife to whom he had been engaged at the age of just nine, following local traditions. Legend has it that a decade later, Genghis Khan defended his wife and his tribe from an attack by the Merkites, being appointed as the new chief.
It was at that precise moment that he changed his name from Temujin to Genghis, “perfect warrior” in the Mongolian language, and began to dedicate himself to expanding the borders of his then small empire.
By 1192 he had defeated the Tatars , and had gained the confidence of the dynasty that reigned in the Chinese north and Mongol south, the Chin. His name was rapidly running through the neighboring towns as they fell defeated before Genghis and his army, and in 1206, accumulating a power rarely seen before, he was proclaimed lord, Khan, hence his definitive name.
However, his attacks on China ended up confirming him as one of the great leaders of all time. Initiated in 1211, the Mongols quickly overran the defense of the Chinese, murdering and looting in their wake, and taking much of the imperial treasures.
Then Genghis Khan had conquered almost all of China, Tajikistan and Persia, a unique, unrepeatable milestone that led him to dominate from China to the Persian Gulf.
At the height of his life, Genghis Khan passed away on August 18, 1227 from causes that have not yet been precisely established .
The work of Genghis Khan
Beyond his war work, Genghis Khan was key to the formation of the current Mongolian State, bringing together the laws of the different tribes in the jasak, a kind of constitution of the time.
He held the titles of Supreme Sovereign of the Mongols, Great Assassin, Perfect Warrior, Lord of Thrones and Crowns, Emperor of All Men. Besides Genghis Khan, of course.
His grandson, Kublai Khan, was the first non-Chinese emperor to hold this office in China.
Phrases from Genghis Khan
- “If you are afraid, don’t do it, if you are, don’t be afraid!”
- “I am a punishment from God. And if you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me “
- “Without the vision of a goal, a man cannot manage his own life, much less the lives of others”
