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Genghis Khan (Mong. Chinggis Khaan), given name- Temujin, Temujin, Temujin (Mongol. Temujin) (c. 1155 or 1162 - August 25, 1227). The founder and first great khan of the Mongol Empire, who united the disparate Mongol tribes, the commander who organized the Mongol campaigns of conquest in China, Central Asia, the Caucasus and Eastern Europe. Founder of the largest continental empire in human history. After his death in 1227, the heirs to the empire were his direct male-line descendants from his first wife Borte, the so-called Chingizids.

According to the “Secret Legend”, the ancestor of Genghis Khan was Borte-Chino, who became related to Goa-Maral and settled in Khentei (central-eastern Mongolia) near Mount Burkhan-Khaldun. According to Rashid ad-Din, this event took place in the middle of the 8th century. From Borte-Chino, in 2-9 generations, Bata-Tsagaan, Tamachi, Khorichar, Uudzhim Buural, Sali-Khadzhau, Eke Nyuden, Sim-Sochi, Kharchu were born.

In the 10th generation Borzhigidai-Mergen was born, who married Mongolzhin-goa. From them, in the 11th generation, the family tree was continued by Torokoljin-bagatur, who married Borochin-goa, and Dobun-Mergen and Duva-Sokhor were born from them. Dobun-Mergen's wife was Alan-goa, the daughter of Khorilardai-Mergen from one of his three wives, Barguzhin-Goa. Thus, the foremother of Genghis Khan came from the Khori-Tumats, one of the Buryat branches.

The three youngest sons of Alan-goa, born after the death of her husband, were considered the ancestors of the Nirun Mongols (“the Mongols themselves”). The Borjigins descended from the fifth, youngest, son of Alan-goa, Bodonchar.

Temujin was born in the Delyun-Boldok tract on the banks of the Onon River in the family of Yesugey-Bagatura from the Borjigin clan. and his wife Hoelun from the Olkhonut clan, whom Yesugei recaptured from the Merkit Eke-Chiledu. The boy was named in honor of the Tatar leader Temujin-Uge, captured by Yesugei, whom Yesugei defeated on the eve of the birth of his son.

The year of Temujin's birth remains unclear, since the main sources indicate different dates. According to the only source during Genghis Khan’s lifetime, Men-da bei-lu (1221) and according to the calculations of Rashid ad-Din, made by him on the basis original documents from the archives of the Mongol khans, Temujin was born in 1155.

“History of the Yuan Dynasty” does not give an exact date of birth, but only names Genghis Khan’s lifespan as “66 years” (taking into account the conventional year of intrauterine life, taken into account in the Chinese and Mongolian tradition of counting life expectancy, and taking into account the fact that the “accrual” the next year of life occurred simultaneously for all Mongols with the celebration of the Eastern New Year, that is, in reality it was more likely about 69 years), which, when counted from the known date of his death, gives 1162 as the date of birth.

However, this date is not supported by earlier authentic documents from the Mongol-Chinese chancellery of the 13th century. A number of scientists (for example, P. Pellio or G.V. Vernadsky) point to 1167, but this date remains the most vulnerable hypothesis to criticism. The newborn was said to be clutching a blood clot in his palm, which foreshadowed his glorious future as the ruler of the world.

When his son was 9 years old, Yesugey-bagatur betrothed him to Borta, an 11-year-old girl from the Ungirat clan. Leaving his son with the bride's family until he came of age, so that they could get to know each other better, he went home. According to the "Secret Legend", on way back Yesugei lingered at the Tatar camp, where he was poisoned. Upon returning to his native ulus, he fell ill and died three days later.

After the death of Temujin’s father, his followers abandoned the widows (Yesugei had 2 wives) and the children of Yesugei (Temujin and his brothers Khasar, Khachiun, Temuge and from his second wife - Bekter and Belgutai): the head of the Taichiut clan drove the family out of their homes, stealing the entire her cattle. For several years, widows and children lived in complete poverty, wandering in the steppes, eating roots, game and fish. Even in the summer, the family lived from hand to mouth, making provisions for the winter.

The Taichiut leader, Targutai-Kiriltukh (a distant relative of Temujin), who declared himself the ruler of the lands once occupied by Yesugei, fearing the revenge of his growing rival, began to pursue Temujin. One day, an armed detachment attacked the camp of the Yesugei family. Temujin managed to escape, but he was overtaken and captured. They put a block on it - two wooden boards with a hole for the neck, which were pulled together. The block was a painful punishment: a person did not have the opportunity to eat, drink, or even drive away a fly that had landed on his face.

One night he found a way to slip away and hide in a small lake, plunging into the water with the block and sticking only his nostrils out of the water. The Taichiuts searched for him in this place, but could not find him. He was noticed by a farm laborer from the Suldus tribe of Sorgan-Shira, who was among them, but who did not betray Temujin. He passed by the escaped prisoner several times, calming him down and pretending to others that he was looking for him. When the night search ended, Temujin climbed out of the water and went to Sorgan-Shir’s home, hoping that he, having saved him once, would help again.

However, Sorgan-Shira did not want to shelter him and was about to drive Temujin away, when suddenly the sons of Sorgan stood up for the fugitive, who was then hidden in a cart with wool. When the opportunity arose to send Temujin home, Sorgan-Shira put him on a mare, provided him with weapons and escorted him on his way (later Chilaun, the son of Sorgan-Shira, became one of the four nukers of Genghis Khan).

After some time, Temujin found his family. The Borjigins immediately migrated to another place, and the Taichiuts could not detect them. At the age of 11, Temujin became friends with his peer of noble origin from the Jadaran (Jajirat) tribe - Jamukha, who later became the leader of this tribe. With him in his childhood, Temujin twice became a sworn brother (anda).

A few years later, Temujin married his betrothed Borte(By this time, Boorchu, also one of the four close nukers, appeared in Temujin’s service). Borte's dowry was a luxurious sable fur coat. Temujin soon went to the most powerful of the steppe leaders of that time - Tooril, khan of the Kereit tribe.

Tooril was a sworn brother (anda) of Temujin’s father, and he managed to enlist the support of the Kereit leader by recalling this friendship and presenting a sable fur coat to Borte. Upon Temujin’s return from Togoril Khan, one old Mongol gave him his son Jelme, who became one of his commanders, into his service.

With the support of Tooril Khan, Temujin's forces began to gradually grow. Nukers began to flock to him. He raided his neighbors, increasing his possessions and herds. He differed from the other conquerors in that during the battles he tried to keep as many alive as possible. more people from the enemy ulus in order to later attract them to your service.

Temujin's first serious opponents were the Merkits, who acted in alliance with the Taichiuts. In the absence of Temujin, they attacked the Borjigin camp and Borte was taken prisoner(according to assumptions, she was already pregnant and expecting Jochi’s first son) and Yesugei’s second wife, Sochikhel, Belgutai’s mother.

In 1184 (according to rough estimates, based on the date of birth of Ogedei), Temujin, with the help of Tooril Khan and his Kereyites, as well as Jamukha from the Jajirat clan (invited by Temujin at the insistence of Tooril Khan), defeated the Merkits in the first battle of his life in the interfluve the confluence of the Chikoy and Khilok rivers with the Selenga in the territory of present-day Buryatia and returned to Borte. Belgutai's mother, Sochikhel, refused to go back.

After the victory, Tooril Khan went to his horde, and Temujin and Jamukha remained to live together in the same horde, where they again entered into a twinning alliance, exchanging golden belts and horses. After some time (from six months to a year and a half) they dispersed, while many of Jamukha’s noyons and nukers joined Temujin (which was one of the reasons for Jamukha’s hostility towards Temujin).

Having separated, Temujin began organizing his ulus, creating a horde control apparatus. The first two nukers, Boorchu and Jelme, were appointed senior at the khan's headquarters; the command post was given to Subedey-bagatur, the future famous commander of Genghis Khan. During the same period, Temujin had a second son, Chagatai (the exact date of his birth is unknown) and a third son, Ogedei (October 1186). Temujin created his first small ulus in 1186(1189/90 is also probable) and had 3 tumens (30,000 people) troops.

Jamukha sought an open quarrel with his anda. The reason was the death of Jamukha's younger brother Taichar during his attempt to steal a herd of horses from Temujin's possessions. Under the pretext of revenge, Jamukha and his army moved towards Temujin in 3 darkness. The battle took place near the Gulegu Mountains, between the sources of the Sengur River and the upper reaches of Onon. In this first big battle (according to the main source “The Secret History of the Mongols”) Temujin was defeated.

Temujin's first major military enterprise after the defeat of Jamukha was the war against the Tatars together with Tooril Khan. The Tatars at that time had difficulty repelling the attacks of the Jin troops that entered their possessions. The combined troops of Tooril Khan and Temujin, joining the Jin troops, moved towards the Tatars. The battle took place in 1196. They inflicted a number of strong blows on the Tatars and captured rich booty.

The Jurchen government of Jin, as a reward for the defeat of the Tatars, awarded high titles to the steppe leaders. Temujin received the title "Jauthuri"(military commissar), and Tooril - "Van" (prince), from that time he became known as Van Khan. Temujin became a vassal of Wang Khan, whom Jin saw as the most powerful of the rulers of Eastern Mongolia.

In 1197-1198 Van Khan, without Temujin, made a campaign against the Merkits, plundered and gave nothing to his named “son” and vassal Temujin. This marked the beginning of a new cooling.

After 1198, when the Jin ravaged the Kungirats and other tribes, Jin influence on Eastern Mongolia began to weaken, which allowed Temujin to take possession of the eastern regions of Mongolia.

At this time, Inanch Khan dies and the Naiman state breaks up into two uluses, headed by Buiruk Khan in Altai and Tayan Khan on the Black Irtysh.

In 1199, Temujin, together with Van Khan and Jamukha, attacked Buiruk Khan with their joint forces and he was defeated. Upon returning home, the path was blocked by a Naiman detachment. It was decided to fight in the morning, but at night Van Khan and Jamukha disappeared, leaving Temujin alone in the hope that the Naimans would finish him off. But by morning Temujin found out about this and retreated without engaging in battle. The Naimans began to pursue not Temujin, but Van Khan. The Kereits entered into a difficult battle with the Naimans, and, with death evident, Van Khan sent messengers to Temujin asking for help. Temujin sent his nukers, among whom Boorchu, Mukhali, Borohul and Chilaun distinguished themselves in battle.

For his salvation, Van Khan bequeathed his ulus to Temujin after his death.

In 1200, Wang Khan and Timuchin entered into a joint campaign against the Taijiuts. The Merkits came to the aid of the Taichiuts. In this battle, Temujin was wounded by an arrow, after which Jelme nursed him throughout the next night. By morning the Taichiuts disappeared, leaving many people behind. Among them was Sorgan-Shira, who once saved Timuchin, and the marksman Dzhirgoadai, who confessed that it was he who shot Timuchin. He was accepted into the Timuchin army and received the nickname Jebe (arrowhead). A pursuit was organized for the Taichiuts. Many were killed, some surrendered into service. This was the first major victory won by Temujin.

In 1201, some Mongol forces (including the Tatars, Taichiuts, Merkits, Oirats and other tribes) decided to unite in the fight against Timuchin. They took the oath of allegiance to Jamukha and enthroned him with the title of gurkhan. Having learned about this, Timuchin contacted Van Khan, who immediately raised an army and came to him.

In 1202, Temujin independently opposed the Tatars. Before this campaign, he gave an order according to which, under threat of death, it was strictly forbidden to seize booty during a battle and pursue the enemy without an order: the commanders had to divide the captured property between the soldiers only at the end of the battle. The fierce battle was won, and at the council held by Temujin after the battle, it was decided to destroy all the Tatars, except for the children below the cart wheel, as revenge for the ancestors of the Mongols they had killed (in particular Temujin's father).

In the spring of 1203, at Halahaljin-Elet, a battle took place between Temujin’s troops and the combined forces of Jamukha and Van Khan (although Van Khan did not want a war with Temujin, but he was persuaded by his son Nilha-Sangum, who hated Temujin for what Van Khan gave to him preference over his son and thought to transfer the Kereite throne to him, and Jamukha, who claimed that Temujin was uniting with the Naiman Taiyan Khan).

In this battle, Temujin's ulus suffered heavy losses. But Van Khan's son was wounded, which is why the Kereits left the battlefield. To gain time, Temujin began sending diplomatic messages, the purpose of which was to separate both Jamukha and Wang Khan, and Wang Khan from his son. At the same time, a number of tribes that did not join either side created a coalition against both Wang Khan and Temujin. Having learned about this, Wang Khan attacked first and defeated them, after which he began to feast. When Temujin was informed about this, a decision was made to attack with lightning speed and take the enemy by surprise. Without even making overnight stops, Temujin's army overtook the Kereyites and completely defeated them in the fall of 1203. The Kereit ulus ceased to exist. Van Khan and his son managed to escape, but ran into a Naiman guard, and Wang Khan died. Nilha-Sangum was able to escape, but was later killed by the Uyghurs.

With the fall of the Kereyites in 1204, Jamukha and the remaining army joined the Naiman in the hope of Temujin’s death at the hands of Tayan Khan or vice versa. Tayan Khan saw Temujin as his only rival in the struggle for power in the Mongolian steppes. Having learned that the Naimans were thinking about the attack, Temujin decided to launch a campaign against Tayan Khan. But before the campaign, he began to reorganize the command and control of the army and the ulus. In the early summer of 1204, Temujin's army - about 45,000 horsemen - set out on a campaign against the Naiman. Tayan Khan's army initially retreated in order to lure Temujin's army into a trap, but then, at the insistence of Tayan Khan's son, Kuchluk, they entered the battle. The Naimans were defeated, only Kuchluk with a small detachment managed to go to Altai to join his uncle Buyuruk. Tayan Khan died, and Jamukha disappeared even before the fierce battle began, realizing that the Naimans could not win. In the battles with the Naiman, Kublai, Jebe, Jelme and Subedei especially distinguished themselves.

Temujin, building on his success, opposed the Merkit, and the Merkit people fell. Tokhtoa-beki, the ruler of the Merkits, fled to Altai, where he united with Kuchluk. In the spring of 1205, Temujin's army attacked Tokhtoa-beki and Kuchluk in the area of ​​the Bukhtarma River. Tokhtoa-beki died, and his army and most of Kuchluk’s Naimans, pursued by the Mongols, drowned while crossing the Irtysh. Kuchluk and his people fled to the Kara-Kitays (southwest of Lake Balkhash). There Kuchluk managed to gather scattered detachments of Naimans and Keraits, gain favor with the Gurkhan and become quite a significant political figure. The sons of Tokhtoa-beki fled to the Kipchaks, taking with them the severed head of their father. Subedai was sent to pursue them.

After the defeat of the Naiman, most of the Mongols in Jamukha went over to Temujin's side. At the end of 1205, Jamukha himself was handed over to Temujin alive by his own nukers, hoping to save their lives and curry favor, for which they were executed by Temujin as traitors.

Temujin offered his friend complete forgiveness and renewal of old friendship, but Jamukha refused, saying: “just as there is room in the sky for only one sun, so there should be only one ruler in Mongolia.”

He only asked worthy death(no bloodshed). His wish was granted - Temujin's warriors broke Jamukha's back. Rashid ad-din attributed the execution of Jamukha to Elchidai-noyon, who cut Jamukha into pieces.

In the spring of 1206, at the source of the Onon River at the kurultai, Temujin was proclaimed great khan over all tribes and received the title “khagan”, taking the name Genghis (Genghis - literally “lord of the water” or, more precisely, “lord of the boundless like the sea”). Mongolia has been transformed: the scattered and warring Mongolian nomadic tribes have united into a single state.

Mongol Empire in 1207

A new law has come into force - Yasa of Genghis Khan. In Yas, the main place was occupied by articles about mutual assistance in the campaign and the prohibition of deception of those who trusted. Those who violated these regulations were executed, and the enemy of the Mongols, who remained faithful to their ruler, was spared and accepted into their army. Loyalty and courage were considered good, and cowardice and betrayal were considered evil.

Genghis Khan divided the entire population into tens, hundreds, thousands and tumens (ten thousand), thereby mixing tribes and clans and appointing specially selected people from his confidants and nukers as commanders over them. All adult and healthy men were considered warriors who ran their households in peacetime and took up arms in wartime.

Armed forces Genghis Khan, formed in this way, amounted to approximately 95 thousand soldiers.

Individual hundreds, thousands and tumens, together with the territory for nomadism, were given into the possession of one or another noyon. The Great Khan, the owner of all the land in the state, distributed land and arats to the noyons, on the condition that they would regularly perform certain duties in return.

The most important duty was military service. Each noyon was obliged, at the first request of the overlord, to field the required number of warriors in the field. Noyon, in his inheritance, could exploit the labor of the arats, distributing his cattle to them for grazing or involving them directly in work on his farm. Small noyons served large ones.

Under Genghis Khan, the enslavement of arats was legalized, and unauthorized movement from one dozen, hundreds, thousands or tumens to others was prohibited. This ban meant the formal attachment of the arats to the land of the noyons - for disobedience the arats faced the death penalty.

An armed detachment of personal bodyguards, called keshik, enjoyed exceptional privileges and was intended to fight against the internal enemies of the khan. The Keshikten were selected from the Noyon youth and were under the personal command of the khan himself, being essentially the khan’s guard. At first, there were 150 Keshikten in the detachment. In addition, a special detachment was created, which was always supposed to be in the vanguard and be the first to engage in battle with the enemy. It was called a detachment of heroes.

Genghis Khan created a network of message lines, courier communications on a large scale for military and administrative purposes, and organized intelligence, including economic intelligence.

Genghis Khan divided the country into two “wings”. He placed Boorcha at the head of the right wing, and Mukhali, his two most faithful and experienced associates, at the head of the left. He made the positions and ranks of senior and highest military leaders - centurions, thousanders and temniks - hereditary in the family of those who, with their faithful service, helped him seize the khan's throne.

In 1207-1211, the Mongols conquered the land of the forest tribes, that is, they subjugated almost all the main tribes and peoples of Siberia, imposing tribute on them.

Before the conquest of China, Genghis Khan decided to secure the border by capturing the Tangut state of Xi-Xia in 1207, which was located between his possessions and the state of Jin. Having captured several fortified cities, in the summer of 1208 Genghis Khan retreated to Longjin, waiting out the unbearable heat that fell that year.

He captured the fortress and passage in the Great Wall of China and in 1213 invaded directly the Chinese state of Jin, going as far as Nianxi in Hanshu Province. Genghis Khan led his troops deep into the continent and established his power over the province of Liaodong, central to the empire. Several Chinese commanders went over to his side. The garrisons surrendered without a fight.

Having established his position along the entire Great Wall of China, in the fall of 1213, Genghis Khan sent three armies to different parts of the Jin Empire. One of them, under the command of the three sons of Genghis Khan - Jochi, Chagatai and Ogedei, headed south. Another, led by the brothers and generals of Genghis Khan, moved east to the sea.

Genghis Khan himself and his youngest son Tolui, at the head of the main forces, set out in a southeastern direction. The First Army advanced as far as Honan and, after capturing twenty-eight cities, joined Genghis Khan on the Great Western Road. The army under the command of Genghis Khan's brothers and generals captured the province of Liao-hsi, and Genghis Khan himself ended his triumphant campaign only after he reached the sea rocky cape in Shandong province.

In the spring of 1214, he returned to Mongolia and made peace with the Chinese emperor, leaving Beijing to him. However, before the leader of the Mongols had time to leave the Great Wall of China, the Chinese emperor moved his court further away, to Kaifeng. This step was perceived by Genghis Khan as a manifestation of hostility, and he again sent troops into the empire, now doomed to destruction. The war continued.

The Jurchen troops in China, replenished by the aborigines, fought the Mongols until 1235 on their own initiative, but were defeated and exterminated by Genghis Khan's successor Ogedei.

Following China, Genghis Khan was preparing for a campaign in Central Asia. He was especially attracted to the flourishing cities of Semirechye. He decided to implement his plan through the valley of the Ili River, where rich cities were located and ruled by Genghis Khan’s longtime enemy, the Naiman Khan Kuchluk.

While Genghis Khan was conquering more and more cities and provinces of China, the fugitive Naiman Khan Kuchluk asked the gurkhan who had given him refuge to help gather the remnants of the army defeated at the Irtysh. Having gained a fairly strong army under his hand, Kuchluk entered into an alliance against his overlord with the Shah of Khorezm Muhammad, who had previously paid tribute to the Karakitays. After a short but decisive military campaign, the allies were left with a big gain, and the gurkhan was forced to relinquish power in favor of the uninvited guest.

In 1213, Gurkhan Zhilugu died, and the Naiman khan became the sovereign ruler of Semirechye. Sairam, Tashkent, and the northern part of Fergana came under his power. Having become an irreconcilable opponent of Khorezm, Kuchluk began persecuting Muslims in his domains, which aroused the hatred of the settled population of Zhetysu. The ruler of Koylyk (in the valley of the Ili River) Arslan Khan, and then the ruler of Almalyk (northwest of modern Gulja) Bu-zar moved away from the Naimans and declared themselves subjects of Genghis Khan.

In 1218, Jebe's troops, together with the troops of the rulers of Koylyk and Almalyk, invaded the lands of the Karakitai. The Mongols conquered Semirechye and Eastern Turkestan, which Kuchluk owned. In the first battle, Jebe defeated the Naiman. The Mongols allowed Muslims to perform public worship, which had previously been prohibited by the Naiman, which contributed to the transition of the entire settled population to the side of the Mongols. Kuchluk, unable to organize resistance, fled to Afghanistan, where he was caught and killed. The residents of Balasagun opened the gates to the Mongols, for which the city received the name Gobalyk - “good city”.

The road to Khorezm opened before Genghis Khan.

After the capture of Samarkand (spring 1220), Genghis Khan sent troops to capture Khorezmshah Muhammad, who fled across the Amu Darya. The tumens of Jebe and Subedei passed through northern Iran and invaded the southern Caucasus, bringing cities to submission by negotiation or force and collecting tribute. Having learned about the death of the Khorezmshah, the Noyons continued their march to the west. Through the Derbent Passage they entered the North Caucasus, defeated the Alans, and then the Polovtsians.

In the spring of 1223, the Mongols defeated the combined forces of the Russians and Cumans on Kalka, but when retreating to the east they were defeated in Volga Bulgaria. The remnants of the Mongol troops in 1224 returned to Genghis Khan, who was in Central Asia.

Upon returning from Central Asia, Genghis Khan once again led his army through Western China. According to Rashid ad-din, in the fall of 1225, having migrated to the borders of Xi Xia, while hunting, Genghis Khan fell from his horse and was seriously injured. By evening, Genghis Khan began to develop a high fever. As a result, the next morning a council was convened, at which the question was “whether or not to postpone the war with the Tanguts.”

Genghis Khan's eldest son Jochi, who was already strongly mistrusted, was not present at the council due to his constant evasion of his father's orders. Genghis Khan ordered the army to go on a campaign against Jochi and put an end to him, but the campaign did not take place, as news of his death arrived. Genghis Khan was ill throughout the winter of 1225-1226.

In the spring of 1226, Genghis Khan again led the army, and the Mongols crossed the Xi-Xia border in the lower reaches of the Edzin-Gol River. The Tanguts and some allied tribes were defeated and lost several tens of thousands killed. Genghis Khan handed over the civilian population to the army for destruction and plunder. This was the beginning of Genghis Khan's last war. In December, the Mongols crossed the Yellow River and entered the eastern regions of Xi-Xia. Near Lingzhou, a clash of a hundred thousand Tangut army with the Mongols occurred. The Tangut army was completely defeated. The path to the capital of the Tangut kingdom was now open.

In the winter of 1226-1227. The final siege of Zhongxing began. In the spring and summer of 1227, the Tangut state was destroyed, and the capital was doomed. The fall of the capital of the Tangut kingdom is directly related to the death of Genghis Khan, who died under its walls. According to Rashid ad-din, he died before the fall of the Tangut capital. According to the Yuan-shi, Genghis Khan died when the inhabitants of the capital began to surrender. The “Secret Legend” tells that Genghis Khan accepted the Tangut ruler with gifts, but, feeling bad, ordered his death. And then he ordered to take the capital and put an end to the Tangut state, after which he died. Sources name different causes of death - sudden illness, illness from the unhealthy climate of the Tangut state, a consequence of a fall from a horse. It is established with certainty that he died in the early autumn (or late summer) of 1227 on the territory of the Tangut state immediately after the fall of the capital Zhongxing (the modern city of Yinchuan) and the destruction of the Tangut state.

There is a version that Genghis Khan was stabbed to death at night by his young wife, whom he forcibly took from her husband. Fearing for what she had done, she drowned herself in the river that night.

According to the will, Genghis Khan was succeeded by his third son Ogedei.

Where Genghis Khan was buried has not yet been established; sources give different places and methods of burial. According to the 17th century chronicler Sagan Setsen, “his original corpse, as some say, was buried on Burkhan-Khaldun. Others say that they buried him on the northern slope of Altai Khan, or on the southern slope of Kentei Khan, or in the area called Yehe-Utek.

The main sources by which we can judge the life and personality of Genghis Khan were compiled after his death (especially important among them "The Hidden Legend"). From these sources we receive information both about Chinggis’s appearance (tall, strong build, wide forehead, long beard) and about his character traits. Coming from a people who apparently had no written language or developed state institutions, Genghis Khan was deprived of a book education. With the talents of a commander, he combined organizational abilities, unyielding will and self-control. He possessed enough generosity and friendliness to retain the affection of his associates. Without denying himself the joys of life, he remained a stranger to excesses incompatible with the activities of a ruler and commander, and lived to an old age, maintaining his full force your mental abilities.

Descendants of Genghis Khan - Genghisids:

Temujin and his first wife Borte had four sons: Jochi, Chagatai, Ogedei, Tolui. Only they and their descendants inherited the highest power in the state.

Temujin and Borte also had daughters: Khodzhin-begi, the wife of Butu-gurgen from the Ikires clan; Tsetseihen (Chichigan), wife of Inalchi, the youngest son of the head of the Oirats, Khudukha-beki; Alangaa (Alagai, Alakha), who married the Ongut noyon Buyanbald (in 1219, when Genghis Khan went to war with Khorezm, he entrusted her with state affairs in his absence, therefore she is also called Toru dzasagchi gunji (princess-ruler); Temulen, wife Shiku-gurgen, son of Alchi-noyon from the Ungirads, the tribe of her mother Borte; Alduun (Altalun), who married Zavtar-setsen, noyon of the Khongirads.

Temujin and his second wife, the Merkit Khulan-Khatun, daughter of Dair-usun, had sons Kulhan (Khulugen, Kulkan) and Kharachar; and from the Tatar woman Yesugen (Esukat), daughter of Charu-noyon, sons Chakhur (Jaur) and Kharkhad.

The sons of Genghis Khan continued the work of their father and ruled the Mongols, as well as the conquered lands, based on the Great Yasa of Genghis Khan until the 20s of the 20th century. The Manchu emperors, who ruled Mongolia and China from the 16th to the 19th centuries, were descendants of Genghis Khan through the female line, as they married Mongol princesses from the line of Genghis Khan. The first prime minister of Mongolia of the 20th century, Sain-Noyon Khan Namnansuren (1911-1919), as well as the rulers of Inner Mongolia (until 1954) were direct descendants of Genghis Khan.

The consolidated genealogy of Genghis Khan was conducted until the 20th century. In 1918, the religious head of Mongolia, Bogdo Gegen, issued an order to preserve the Urgiin bichig (family list) of the Mongol princes. This monument is kept in the museum and is called "Shastra of the State of Mongolia"(Mongol Ulsyn Shastir). Today, many direct descendants of Genghis Khan live in Mongolia and Inner Mongolia (PRC), as well as in other countries.

Name: Genghis Khan (Temujin)

State: Mongol Empire

Field of activity: Politics, army

Greatest Achievement: United the nomadic tribes of the Mongols, created the largest empire in history by territory

The Mongol warrior and ruler Genghis Khan created the Mongol Empire, the largest in the world by area in the history of mankind, by uniting disparate tribes in Northeast Asia.

“I am the Lord's punishment. If you have not committed mortal sins, the Lord will not send you punishment in the face of me!” Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan was born in Mongolia around 1162 and was given the name Temujin at birth. He married at the age of 16 and had many wives throughout his life. At age 20, he began building a large army with the intention of conquering individual tribes in Northeast Asia and uniting them under his rule. He succeeded: the Mongol Empire became the largest in the world, much larger than the British, and existed even after the death of Genghis Khan (1227).

Early years of Genghis Khan

Born in Mongolia around 1162, Genghis Khan received the name Temujin - the name of the Tatar leader who was captured by his father Yesugei. Young Temujin was a member of the Borjigin tribe and a descendant of Khabula Khan, who briefly united the Mongols against the Jin (Chin) dynasty in northern China in the early 1100s. According to The Secret History of the Mongols (a modern account of Mongol history), Temujin was born with a blood clot in his hand—in Mongol folklore, this was considered a sign that he was destined to become ruler of the world. His mother, Hoelun, taught him to survive in the dark, turbulent Mongol tribal society and instilled in him the need to form alliances.

When Temujin was 9 years old, his father took him to live with the family of his future bride, Borte. Returning home, Yesugei encountered a Tatar tribe. He was invited to a feast, where he was poisoned for past crimes against the Tatars. Upon learning of his father's death, Temujin returned home to claim the title of head of the clan. However, the clan refused to recognize the child as ruler and expelled Temujin and his younger and half-brothers, dooming them to a miserable existence. The family had a very hard time, and one day, in a dispute over hunting spoils, Temujin quarreled with his half-brother Bekhter and killed him, thereby establishing his position as the head of the family.

At the age of 16, Temujin married Borte, strengthening the alliance between her Konkirat tribe and his own. Soon after, Borte was kidnapped by the Merkit tribe and taken in by their leader. Temujin fought her off and soon after she gave birth to her first son, Jochi. Although Borte's capture casts doubt on Jochi's origins, Temujin accepted him as one of his own. With Borte, Temujin had four sons, as well as many other children with other wives, which was common in Mongolia at that time. However, only his sons from Borte had the right to inherit.

Genghis Khan - "Universal Ruler"

When Temujin was about 20 years old, he was captured by his family's former allies, the Taijits. One of them helped him escape, and soon Temujin, along with his brothers and several other clans, assembled his first army. So he began his slow rise to power, building a large army of more than 20 thousand people. He intended to eliminate the traditional enmity between tribes and unite the Mongols under his rule.

Excellent in military tactics, merciless and cruel, Temujin avenged the murder of his father by destroying the Tatar army. He ordered the death of every Tatar man taller than a cart wheel. Then, using their cavalry, Temujin's Mongols defeated the Taichiuts, killing all their leaders. By 1206, Temujin had also defeated the powerful Naiman tribe, thereby gaining control of central and eastern Mongolia.

The rapid success of the Mongol army owed much to Genghis Khan's brilliant military tactics, as well as to his understanding of the motives of his enemies. He used an extensive spy network and quickly adopted new technologies from his enemies. The well-trained Mongol army of 80,000 soldiers was controlled by a sophisticated signaling system of smoke and burning torches. Large drums sounded commands for charging, and further orders were transmitted by flag signals. Each soldier was fully equipped: he was armed with a bow, arrows, a shield, a dagger and a lasso. He had large saddle bags for food, tools and spare clothes. The bag was waterproof and could be inflated to prevent drowning when crossing deep and swift rivers. Cavalrymen carried a small sword, spears, body armor, a battle ax or mace, and a spear with a hook to push enemies off their horses. The Mongol attacks were very destructive. Since they could only control a galloping horse with their feet, their hands were free for archery. The entire army was followed by a well-organized supply system: food for soldiers and horses, military equipment, shamans for spiritual and medical assistance, and accountants to account for spoils.

After victories over the warring Mongol tribes, their leaders agreed to peace and gave Temujin the title "Genghis Khan", which means "universal ruler". The title had not only political, but also spiritual significance. The supreme shaman declared Genghis Khan to be the representative of Mongke Koko Tengri ("Eternal Blue Sky"), the supreme god of the Mongols. Divine status gave him the right to claim that his destiny was to rule the world. Although, ignoring the Great Khan was tantamount to ignoring the will of God. That is why, without any doubt, Genghis Khan will say to one of his enemies: “I am the Lord’s punishment. If you have not committed mortal sins, the Lord will not send you punishment in the face of me!”

The main conquests of Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan wasted no time in capitalizing on his newfound divinity. While his army was spiritually inspired, the Mongols found themselves faced with serious difficulties. Food and resources decreased as the population grew. In 1207, Genghis Khan marched his armies against the Xi Xia kingdom and forced it to surrender two years later. In 1211, Genghis Khan's armies conquered the Jin dynasty in northern China, enticed not by the artistic and scientific wonders of the great cities, but rather by endless rice fields and easy enrichment.

Although the campaign against the Jin dynasty lasted almost 20 years, Genghis Khan's armies also fought actively in the west against the border empires and the Muslim world. Initially, Genghis Khan used diplomacy to establish trade relations with the Khorezm dynasty, an empire with its head in Turkey that included Turkestan, Persia and Afghanistan. But the Mongolian diplomatic caravan was approached by the governor of Otrar, who apparently thought that this was just a cover for a spy mission. When Genghis Khan heard about this insult, he demanded that he be given a governor, and for this purpose he sent an ambassador. Shah Muhammad, the head of the Khorezm dynasty, not only refused the demand, but also refused to receive the Mongol ambassador as a sign of protest.

This event could have triggered a wave of resistance that would have spread across central Asia and eastern Europe. In 1219, Genghis Khan personally took charge of planning and executing a three-stage attack of 200,000 Mongol soldiers against the Khwarezm dynasty. The Mongols passed through all the fortified cities unhindered. Those who survived the assault were placed as human shields in front of the Mongol army as the Mongols took the next city. No one was left alive, including small domestic animals and livestock. The skulls of men, women and children were stacked in tall pyramids. One by one, the cities were conquered, and eventually Shah Muhammad and then his son were captured and killed, ending the Khorezm dynasty in 1221.

Scholars call the period after the Khorezm campaign Mongolian. Over time, Genghis Khan's conquests connected the major trading centers of China and Europe. The empire was governed by a legal code known as the Yasa. This code was developed by Genghis Khan, was based on general Mongol law, but contained decrees prohibiting blood feud, adultery, theft and perjury. Yas also contained laws that reflected Mongol respect for environment: a ban on swimming in rivers and streams, an order for any soldier following another to pick up everything that the first soldier dropped. Violation of any of these laws was usually punishable by death. Advancement through the military and government ranks was based not on traditional lines of heredity or ethnicity, but on merit. There were tax incentives for high-ranking priests and some craftsmen, and there was religious toleration that reflected the long Mongol tradition of viewing religion as a personal belief, not subject to judgment or interference. This tradition had practical use, since there were so many different religious groups in the empire that it would be quite cumbersome to impose one religion on them.

With the destruction of the Khorezm dynasty, Genghis Khan again turned his attention to the east - to China. The Xi Xia Tanguts disobeyed his orders to send troops to the Khorezm campaign and openly protested. Capturing Tangut cities, Genghis Khan eventually took the capital of Ning Hia. Soon the Tangut dignitaries surrendered one after another, and the resistance ended. However, Genghis Khan had not yet fully avenged the betrayal - he ordered the execution of the imperial family, thereby destroying the Tangut state.

Genghis Khan died in 1227, shortly after conquering Xi Xia. The exact cause of his death is unknown. Some historians claim that he fell from his horse while hunting and died from fatigue and injuries. Others claim he died from a respiratory illness. Genghis Khan was buried in a secret place according to the customs of his tribe, somewhere in his homeland, near the Onon River and the Khentii Mountains in northern Mongolia. According to legend, the funeral escort killed everyone it encountered to hide the location of the burial, and a river was built over Genghis Khan's tomb, completely blocking access to it.

Before his death, Genghis Khan entrusted top leadership to his son Ögedei, who controlled much of East Asia, including China. The rest of the empire was divided among his other sons: he took central Asia and northern Iran; Tolui, being the youngest, received a small territory from the Mongol homeland; and Jochi (who was killed before Genghis Khan's death) and his son Batu took control modern Russia And . The expansion of the empire continued and reached its peak under Ögedei's leadership. Mongol armies eventually invaded Persia, the Song Dynasty in southern China, and the Balkans. When the Mongol troops reached the gates of Vienna (Austria), Supreme Commander Batu received news of the death of the Great Khan Ogedei and returned to Mongolia. The campaign subsequently fizzled out, marking the furthest Mongol invasion of Europe.

Among the many descendants of Genghis Khan is Kublai Khan, the son of the son of Tolui, the youngest son of Genghis Khan. At a young age, Kubilai showed great interest in Chinese civilization and throughout his life he did much to incorporate Chinese customs and culture into Mongol rule. Kublai rose to prominence in 1251 when his elder brother Monkke became Khan of the Mongol Empire and appointed him governor of the southern territories. Kublai is remembered for the growth of agricultural production and the expansion of Mongolian territory. After Monkke's death, Kubilai and his other brother, Arik Boke, fought for control of the empire. After three years of tribal warfare, Kublai was victorious and became the Great Khan and Emperor of China's Yuan Dynasty.

Jagatay or Chagatai is the second of the four sons of Temujin and Borte Ujin Khatun, lived 1185-1242.

He was known as the best expert and keeper of Yassy - the legislation of the first Mongolian state.

similar to the symbolic hill of the northern border of Mongolia in the 13th century.

He began his activities by participating in military campaigns. From 1211 to 1215 to China, and from 1219 to 1224 to Khorezm.

The capital of the Lord of the West, Shah Mohammed, Gurganj (now Koneurgench) was besieged in April 1221 by three sons of the Conqueror of the East Temujin, whose names were Jochi, Chagatai and Ogedei.

Despite being outnumbered by more than two times, Mohammed's army was unable to withstand the 200,000-strong army of Genghis.

In the same year, the eldest son of Chagatai, named Mutugen, died near Bomian, and the inhabitants of this city paid dearly for this misfortune!

Chagatai's winter headquarters - Ordu was located in Merauzik and the Ili River valley.

Chagatai was not the ruler of a separate state; his domain was controlled centrally from the headquarters of the Great Khan of Mongolia, located in the city of Karakorum.

The laws of Chinggis Khaan prohibited cutting the throats of animals, urinating, and even just going into flowing water.

All these violations were punished quite harshly, and Chagatay jealously monitored all of the above.

It was for this reason that the Muslims hated their governor, and when the latter died, they said goodbye to him with these words: “That man, out of fear of whom no one entered the water, has now drowned himself in the wide ocean of death!”

In 1220, the son of the deceased Mohammed II named Jalal ad-Din continued and led the fight of Khorezm against the Mongol invasion.

In Khorosan, he gathered the remnants of his father’s army, numbering several tens of thousands of people, and defeated the Mongols at the Battle of Perwan. However, already in November the nomads took revenge in the battle on the Ili River.

The entire family of the Sultan was captured, which was mercilessly executed, and Jalal ad Din himself, with four thousand surviving soldiers, swam across the river and hid in India, where he spent three years, and then again moved to Transcaucasia.

Having amassed strength, he undertook a campaign against Iraq and Mesopotamia, conquered the cities of Ajmi and Fars, and penetrated into Georgia (Battle of Garni). In 1225 he captured Azerbaijan, part of Armenia and the capital of Georgia, Tbilisi. In 1227 he defeated the Mongols on the Reya River, and then in a place near Isfkhan. In 1230 he conquered the Iraqi fortress of Khalat.

For more than 10 years he avenged his relatives and fought for the liberation of his homeland, for which he received the nickname “Indomitable”, but in the end, the noyon of Khan Chagatai named Chermugen with a 30 thousand army of selected keshketen, trained like hound dogs for prey, drove him to the mountains of Kurdistan, where he died.

“Mushroom Mountain” bequeathed his throne to his grandson named Khara Hulagu, the son of Mutugen, but after the ascension of the Great Khan Guyuk to the throne, Khara was deposed and Yesu Menke was appointed in his place.

The formal reasons for this event were reflected in the following verdict of Guyuk Khaan: “During the life of the father, the son cannot inherit his throne!”

Yesu, instead of conscientiously fulfilling his duties in managing the Ulus, preferred to look daily at the bottom of the wine jug, and his wife was in charge of all government affairs.

After the Great Kurultai of 1251, which took place in the capital of the Empire, the city of Karakorum, many adult Chagataids were executed, and power in their territories was divided between the Great Khaan himself and the Ruler of the Golden Horde, Batu.

However, in 1260, one of the grandsons named Algu managed to restore the power of Chagatai's descendants over these lost territories.

Algu's successors Mubarek and Borak, seeking to establish closer ties with local population, converted to Islam, but by 1340 the Chagataev Ulus finally broke up into a number of small principalities.

The fictitious funeral of Chagatai allegedly took place in the area of ​​Lake Issyk Kul.

The real burial took place under one of the many mounds in the foothills of the Barguzinsky ridge, in present-day Buryatia.

“Mushroom Horus” was neither the greatest ruler, nor general, nor an outstanding world-class personality, but he certainly deserves to have his name remembered, at least in the year of the 810th anniversary of the Mongolian state.

Alexander Klementyev

To the question How many children did Genghis Khan have? given by the author Mk 2 the best answer is Total number Genghis Khan’s children are almost impossible to identify: he had too many wives and concubines, and in addition to this there were children from other women, and quite a few.
The khan had four sons from his beloved wife Borte and many children from other wives, who, although they were considered legitimate children, had no rights to take their father’s place.
The eldest son is Jochi, the second son is Chagatai, the third son is Ogedei and the youngest is Tului.
Daughters:
Khodzhin-begi, wife of Butu-gurgen from the Ikires clan.
Tsetseihen (Chichigan), wife of Inalchi, the youngest son of the head of the Oirats, Khudukha-beki.
Alangaa (Alagai, Alakha), who married the Ongut noyon Buyanbald.
Temulen, wife of Shiku-gurgen, son of Alchi-noyon from the Khongirads, the tribe of her mother Borte.
Alduun (Altalun), who married Zavtar-setsen, noyon of the Khongirads.
From the second wife of the Merkit woman Khulan-Khatun, daughter of Dair-usun, there were sons Kulhan (Khulugen, Kulkan) and Kharachar; and from the Tatar woman Yesugen (Esukat), daughter of Charu-noyon, sons Chakhur (Jaur) and Harkhad.
Source: h ttp://

Answer from Nose warmer[newbie]
Dad seemed to be a grandson

Answer from Mikhail Bobreshov[active]
Genghis Khan is the military rank of the main khan of the horde army during the campaign. There was an elected position when the army was large and there were several khans.
Additionally: the meaning of the word Horde: OR-strength, D-good, A-as. Together - the power of goodness of the aces.

Answer from Request[newbie]
I only know four sons

Answer from Flush[active]
4
Joshes
Ugiday
Batu
Tuluy

Answer from Olga Osipova[guru]
Genghis Khan was the father of 16 million children
A group of scientists has published a study that reveals that about 16 million people living today on the Asian continent share a common male ancestor. According to team leader Chris Tyler-Smith, a specialist from the University of Oxford (UK), this common ancestor was none other than Genghis Khan (1167-1227) or, more precisely, his paternal grandfather, who lived about a thousand years ago.
In the 13th century, the Mongol Empire stretched from China to the Caspian Sea. Seven hundred years later, its traces are still visible in the genetic makeup of the Asian male population. Thus, 8% of men living in China, Pakistan, Uzbekistan and Mongolia (part of the former Mongol Empire) show many common features in the Y (male) chromosome. Since these characteristics are passed on unchanged from generation to generation in boys, scientists have the right to claim that they come from the same person. Genghis Khan had a harem. At the end of all his victorious battles, he wanted the vanquished to give him the most beautiful women. His eldest son did not lag behind his father, he had 40 sons. His grandson Kublai, who ruled China, also had numerous concubines and 22 legitimate sons. Every year his harem was replenished with 30 young virgins.
Genghis had many wives, but, besides Borte, only the Merkit Khulan gave birth to a son. This wife almost always guessed his wishes. She didn't like being alone. Genghis Khan could not resist her charms.
And
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Every person burdened with power at the end of his life life path begins to think about a successor, about a worthy successor to his work. The great Kagan Genghis Khan was no exception. The empire he created stretched from the Caspian Sea to the Yellow Sea, and this huge formation needed an outstanding personality, in no way inferior in his strong-willed qualities to the great conqueror.

There is nothing worse when a state is ruled by a weak and weak-willed ruler. He tries not to offend anyone, to be good to everyone, but this is impossible. There will always be dissatisfied people, and spinelessness and softness will lead to the death of the state. Only a firm master's hand can keep people in line for their own good. Therefore, a ruler must always be tough, sometimes cruel, but at the same time fair and reasonable.

Genghis Khan fully possessed such qualities. The wise ruler was cruel and merciless to his enemies, but at the same time highly valued the courage and bravery of his opponents. The Great Khagan exalted the Mongol people and made the whole world tremble before him. The formidable conqueror controlled the destinies of millions of people, but he himself turned out to be powerless in the face of impending death.

The conqueror of half the world had many sons from different wives. The most beloved and desired wife was Borte. She gave birth to the ruler four sons. These were the rightful heirs of Genghis Khan. Children from other wives had no rights to the throne.

The eldest son's name was Jochi. In character, he was far from his father. The man was distinguished by his kindness and humanity. The most terrible thing was that he pitied people and forgave their enemies. This was simply unacceptable at that harsh time. This is where a wall of misunderstanding arose between father and son. Envious relatives added fuel to the fire. They regularly whispered various nasty things about Jochi to Genghis Khan. Soon the formidable ruler formed a negative opinion about the abilities of his eldest son.

The decision of the great kagan was unequivocal, and at the very beginning of 1227 Jochi was found dead in the steppe. The man's spine was broken, and his soul almost immediately flew to another world. Breaking spines was a favorite pastime of the Mongols. Strong warriors took the doomed man by the shoulders and legs, pulled his feet to the top of his head, and the spine broke. The unfortunate man died instantly.

Genghis Khan's second son was named Chagatai. He was a tough, strong-willed and executive person. His father appointed him “guardian of Yasa.” In modern times this corresponds to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court. Chagatai strictly enforced the laws, and punished violators cruelly and mercilessly.

The third son's name was Ogedei. He, like the eldest son, did not take after his father. Tolerance for people's shortcomings, kindness, and gentleness were his main character traits. All this was aggravated by the love of a cheerful and idle life. If he were an ordinary person, he would be considered the life of the party. But Ogedei was the son of a formidable ruler, and therefore such behavior was considered unworthy.

The fourth son's name was Tului. He was born in 1193. From “Meng-da Bei-lu” (an ancient chronicle called “The Secret History of the Mongols”) it is known: Genghis Khan was captured by the Manchus from 1185 to 1197. Consequently, Tului was not the natural son of the great kagan. But, returning to his native steppes, Genghis Khan did not reproach Borte for anything and treated Tuluy as his own son. Tuluy proved himself to be a very good military leader and administrator. Along with this, he was distinguished by his nobility and was selflessly devoted to his family.

After the death of Genghis Khan in August 1227, all conquered lands were temporarily ruled by Tului. At the kurultai (congress of the nobility) in 1229, the third son of Ogedei was elected great khan. But it was not a very good choice. The gentleness of the ruler greatly weakened central government. She held on only thanks to the will and firmness of Chagatai’s second son. He actually led the lands of a huge empire. The great khan himself spent all his time in the Mongolian steppes, wasting priceless years of his life on feasts and hunting.

Already from the beginning of the 30s of the 13th century, the Mongols established a strict inheritance system. It was called minority. After the death of the father, all his rights passed to the youngest son, and each of the eldest sons received only a share of the total inheritance.

The heirs of Genghis Khan obeyed the laws just like everyone else. In accordance with this, the huge empire was divided into uluses. Each of them was headed by the grandson of Genghis Khan. These newly-made rulers were subordinate to the great khan, but in their domains the descendants of the great kagan reigned supreme.

Batu was the second son of Jochi. He took possession of the Golden Horde on the Volga. His elder brother Orda-Ichen received the White Horde - the territory between the Irtysh and Semipalatinsk. Sheybani's third son received the Blue Horde. These are lands from Tyumen to the Aral Sea. 2 thousand Mongol warriors also went to their grandchildren. The total number of the army of the huge empire numbered 130 thousand people.

The children of Chagatai also received land plots and warriors. But the children of Tului remained at the court of the Great Khan, since their father appeared younger sons and had the right to all of Genghis Khan's inheritance.

Thus, the conquered lands were divided among relatives. Genghis Khan's heirs received their shares in accordance with the minority. Naturally, someone was unhappy. Someone felt that he was bypassed and offended. All this subsequently became the cause of bloody strife that destroyed the great empire.

The article was written by ridar-shakin