Sunday 17 November 2013

Death and burial

Ganghis Khan is believed to have died during August in the year 1227 whilst attempting to conquer the powerful capital of the Western Xia, Yinchuan. The Western Xia was located in modern day Northern China. Much speculation surrounds the exact cause of the Mongol's death and to this day it remains a mystery. Most Mongolians like to believe he was killed in battle against the Western Xia, however there are many other theories surrounding his death. Illness, a fall from his horse and wounds sustained during hunting or battle are all popular theories.  Most contemparary historians hold the view that he fell off his horse while travelling through the land of modern day Egypt and died due to war wounds and also pure physical fatigue.  Many European texts describe how he was killed by the Chinese Western Xia in battle however the merchant Marco Polo describes how he died after an arrow struck him.  He writes the wound created, later became infected and he died during his final invasion campaign. There are also many invented theories created by the ancient rivals the Great Khan.

 For many years before his passing, Genghis Khan had requested to be buried, according to the customs of his tribe, in an unmarked grave at an unknown location. Most believe his body was returned to his birthplace in Khentii Aimag, close to the Onon River . Legend says, the men who traveled back to bury him killed anyone they encountered both travelling to and from the burial site so the location could be concealed absolutely. 

Tuesday 12 November 2013


Although Khan certainly united many, many tribes and clans which were dispersed across Asia during his lifetime, I think any good leader will know you can't manage to conquer half the world without some torture, a few massacres and of course, a great deal of be-headings.

It's estimated that under Genghis Khan's rule about 11.1% of the worlds population died including the Mongol warriors and their enemies.  That's about 40 million people! That's also more than Hitler and Joseph Stalin put together.  Well anyone who killed their half brother in a dispute at the age of ten obviously has some cold blood within them.