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. 

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.

Here you can find a youtube link to a superb BBC documentary which describes the life and history of Genghis Khan, ruler of the Mongols.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=2NySAt0IisA

“I am the punishment of God...If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent a punishment like me upon you.” "The greatest happiness is to scatter your enemy, to drive him before you, to see his cities reduced to ashes, to see those who love him shrouded in tears, and to gather into your bosom his wives and daughters."- Genghis Khan

As well as a cunning military strategist Khan was also incredibly ruthless when he had to be. If he encountered any sort of heavy resistance from an enemy city he usually dealt with this by massacring the people once he'd broken through their defences. This was often women and children included. He only allowed two or three people to keep their lives as he wanted them to run off to the next settlement and tell them of Khan's terrible army. This made it easier for everyone as the settle could just surrender instead of being crushed by the superior Mongol forces.

 Khan's army was incredibly mobile as all warriors were mounted on horseback. The soldiers of his army had three different roles. These were as swift, lightly armored cavalry, heavily armored cavalry and mounted archers. His men were more organised than any other army than people had ever seen. His archers stood at the back and sent a rain of arrows from overhead to constantly pester and abuse the enemy. Any undisciplined resistance was no match for Khan's fast paced, well armed force. Its believed Khan never really lost a battle during his ruler-ship. The Mongols went on to move up into the China, breaking through The Great Wall defeating the Xia Dynasty to the West and the Jin Dynasty in the South. One feature of the Mongol force which became highly influential was a portable siege structure that could be used to breach and scale castle walls. They were later dismantled after battle and could be carried on horseback to the next city, allowing him to transport the structures between towns easily.

Having conquered his ancient enemies, the dynasty's of  China, Khan took a look to the West. Within no more than a few years later Genghis Khan had toppled both the vast empires of Russia and Persia. The Persians presented the greatest resistance the Mongols had yet encountered so when the Persian capital, Baghdad, was eventually captured, the ruthless Mongols decided to wrap up the Sultan of Persia (leader) along his family in a huge rug and then  brutally trampled him with their horses. Another story describes how  the Mongols, having just come over the high Russian slopes stormed into Kiev.  Some legend says that they put wooden planks over the bodies of captured Russian generals and princes and began to slowly crush them to death by gathering his men and having a feast on top of them.  Khan had conquered most of the Eastern world before he reached his death. He was certainly ruthless, he was certainly bloodthirsty, but he was also efficient and clever and because of this he earned himself a reputation as one of the greatest leader that ever walked the Earth.

Some of the most influencial decisions Genghis Khan took during his life were carried out roughly during  the years 1177-1206.  It was in this period that Khan somehow managed, against all odds, to unite the previously unorganisied tribes which were dispersed throughout Mongolia.  He formed a united Mongol Confederation which was absolutely loyal to his rule.  In some cases he had to crush his more resilient enemies and massacre them but more frequent they instead chose to surrender to the invaders of his massive army.  Genghis Khan was not cruel to his subjects, he allowed individuals minor leadership roles within the clans, he shared out the wealth of his empire and was tolerant of the many different religions which existed throughout Mongolia.  He conquered tribes such as the Naimens, Merkits, Tatars, Khamag Mongols and Keraits.

40m tall statue of Genghis Khan on horseback erected in 2008 at the site where Khan, according to legend, found his sacred golden whip.  The statue is located east of the Mongolian capital Ulan Bator on the banks of the Tuul River and cost the government $4.1 million to build.

“If you're afraid - don't do it,  - if you're doing it - don't be afraid!” ― Genghis Khan

So like I said, this will be a blog in which explain how the landscape, people and culture allowed Genghis Khan's empire to become so vast.  The name Genghis Khan means "The Total Lord" or lord of all.  Obviously this was not his birth name, it was a title he acquired from his followers through the actions he carried out.  He real name was Temujin.  It's known that his descendants continued to conquer and rule the empire long after his death.  I want to take a look at the foundation of the Great Khan's empire and how he raised his armies from the dust in this particular post.

Khan was no stranger to war and conflict during his youth.  He lived a tough childhood, with exposure to tribal feuds, poverty and imprisonment. An arranged marriage at the age of nine meant Temujin was sent away to serve the neighboring Onggirat tribe for three years until he reached the age of marriage.  His wife to be, was bórte.  When Khan was twelve,  his father,who was leader of the Borjigin clan, was poisoned by a rival tribe after they invited him into their tent for a meal.  After his fathers death, Temujin tried to claim leadership of his fathers people however they refused to be ruled by someone so young. And rather harshly they instead chose to remove Temujin's mother and all her children from the clan.

Temujin's family lived in poverty for the next few years, surviving of left over carcasses and any small game which they could find.  When he was fourteen, the young Khan killed his brother in a dispute over hunting spoils.  This act formed the foundation of his ruthless leadership mentality.  Soon after this event, another tribe captured Temujin and his family however he heroically escaped with help of a generous guard who set him free.  The story of his escape spread rapidly between villages and now with impressive reputation he gained some followers.