Genghis Khan, Temüjin

Genghis Khan, born as Temüjin, was the founder and ruler (Khan) of the Mongol Empire, the largest contiguous empire in history. He came to power by uniting the many nomadic tribes situated in northeast Asia. While nine years old he was brought by his father to pick his bride. He chose Börte and promised her he would come back in five years when he was at the marriageable age (12). On the way back from the neighboring tribe, the party stopped at a traditional resting spot and they found themselves eating right in front of one of their common enemies. Temüjin’s father, Yesügei, followed the Mongolian tradition and exchanged food with the tribe. Although he greatly suspected the milk to be poisoned, he followed the tradition and died. Temüjin was then too young to rule the Borjigin (his tribe), and the Khan’s advisors stole from their own king. They badly wanted to kill Temüjin, but following the protocol, it was defended to kill children. He was to be kept prisoner and be stuffed until he surpassed the wheel of a cart, which meant he was then no longer a child. Temüjin escaped and was recaptured and escaped again. He married Börte in the end and he fought his jealous blood brother and his father's advisor (who had made himself Khan) who so wanted to kill him. It was this victory that set him off to unite all of Mongolia and he became Genghis Khan, meaning 'Universal Leader'.

Like in almost every subject in history, a country mostly only sees the good of one of their natives who tried to conquer the world. If a country was conquered by someone else, most of the time the negatives are taught to children. This happened with Genghis Khan. In Mongolia, he is considered a great, kind leader who united Mongolia and brought peace between the many nomadic tribes. In Russia, a country Genghis Khan partially conquered, he is considered a cruel, merciless, rapist. The good news is the Mongolian version is true. The bad news is the Russian version is also mostly true. Genghis Khan was kind to his soldiers but he showed no mercy to traitors or enemies. He was indeed a rapist and he preferred women and conquest to sports or falconry. After each city or village was conquered, he got the first pick of women and he took most of the beautiful ones, and left the others to his soldiers.

"The greatest pleasure is to vanquish your enemies and chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth and see those dear to them bathed in tears, to ride their horses and clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters."

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