Genghis Khan is one of the most powerful and successful military leaders in history. He organized the Mongols and other tribes of the Steppes into one of the strongest military forces in the history of the world, one that would ultimately conquer the continent of Asia and rule over the largest land empire Earth has ever known.

Temujin

Genghis Khan was born with the name Temujin around the year 1162. The actual year of his birth is unknown. His father was Yesukhei, Khan (chief, ruler) of the Kiyad. However his father was murdered when he was in his early teens, and Temujin lost everything, his tribe abandoning him.

Living a life of poverty, Temujin married Borte of the Kerkirat tribe when he was 16. The Merkit tribe soon stole her, however. Borte was eventually returned to him several months later. The stealing of wives was common practice among the Mongols, and Temujin would remember this incident later in his life when he would bring an end to this practice.

As he grew into adulthood, Temujin allied himself with a friend of his father, Ong Khan. Ong Khan saw the potential in Temujin, especially after the campaign against the Tartars of the west in which Temujin faired exceedingly well. Ong Khan decided to adopt Temujin and make him his heir.

This move angered Senggum, son of Ong Khan, who had hoped to be his successor. Senggum attempted to assassinate Temujin, but Temujin learned of this and defeated him and his supporters in battle.

During his life Ong Khan had been building a coalition of Mongols and other tribes of the Steppes. Temujin assisted him greatly in this, and after Ong Khan’s death Temujin became khan of this new coalition.

Genghis Khan

After Ong Khan’s death, Temujin continued to unite the tribes. In 1206 the entire Mongol world was under his control. But Temujin would not stop there. Now in his early forties, he saw an even greater destiny for himself and for the Mongols he ruled. He renamed himself Genghis Khan, which means Lord of the Earth, and began his quest to conquer the world.

Although we today generally view him as a barbarian, Genghis Khan actually did much to civilize the Mongols. His biggest accomplishment in this arena was the development of a written language for the Mongols, as well as the development of a written code of laws.