In the first quarter of the historically eventful 13th century, the expanses from Siberia to northern Iran and the Sea of Azov were announced by the neighing of the horses of countless invaders pouring out from the depths of the Mongolian steppes. They were led by the evil genius of that ancient era - the fearless conqueror and conqueror of the peoples, Genghis Khan.
Son of the hero Yesugei
Temujin - that was the name of Genghis Khan, the future ruler of Mongolia and Northern China, at birth - was born in a small tract of Delyun-Boldok, nestled on the banks of the Onon River. He was the son of the inconspicuous local leader Yesugei, who nevertheless bore the title of bagatura, which means "hero" in translation. He was awarded such an honorary title for his victory over the Tatar leader Tmujin-Ugra. In battle, proving to his opponent who is who and capturing him, he, along with other booty, captured his wife Hoelun, who became Temujin's mother nine months later.
The exact date of this event, which affected the course of world history, has not been precisely established to this day, but 1155 is considered the most probable. How his early years wentalso, reliable information has not been preserved, but it is known for certain that already at the age of nine, Yesugei in one of the neighboring tribes betrothed his son a bride named Borte. By the way, for him personally, this matchmaking ended very sadly: on the way back, he was poisoned by the Tatars, where he and his son stayed for the night.
Years of wanderings and troubles
From a young age, the formation of Genghis Khan took place in an atmosphere of a merciless struggle for survival. As soon as his fellow tribesmen learned about Yesugai's death, they left his widows to the mercy of fate (the ill-fated hero had two wives) and children (who also left a lot) and, having taken all the property, went to the steppe. The orphaned family wandered for several years, on the verge of starvation.
The early years of the life of Genghis Khan (Temujin) coincided with the period when, in the steppes that became his homeland, local tribal leaders waged a fierce struggle for power, the purpose of which was to subjugate the rest of the nomads. One of these contenders, the head of the Taichiut tribe Targutai-Kiriltukh (a distant relative of his father), even captivated the young man, seeing him as a future rival, and kept him in wooden blocks for a long time.
The fur coat that turned the history of peoples
But fate was pleased to grant freedom to a young prisoner who managed to deceive his tormentors and break free. The first conquest of Genghis Khan dates back to this time. It turned out to be the heart of the young beauty Borte - his betrothed bride. Temujin went to her, barely gaining freedom. A beggar, with traces of stocks on his wrists, he wasunenviable groom, but is it possible to embarrass a girl's heart?
As a dowry, Father Borte gave his son-in-law a luxurious sable fur coat, with which, although it seems incredible, the ascent of the future conqueror of Asia began. No matter how great the temptation was to show off in expensive furs, Temujin preferred to dispose of the wedding gift differently.
With him, he went to the most powerful steppe leader at that time - the head of the Kereit tribe Tooril Khan and brought him this only value of his, not forgetting to accompany the gift with flattery suitable for the occasion. This move was very far-sighted. Having lost his fur coat, Temujin acquired a powerful patron, in alliance with whom he began his path of conqueror.
The start of the journey
With the support of such a powerful ally as Tooril Khan, the legendary conquests of Genghis Khan began. The table given in the article shows only the most famous of them, which have become historically significant. But they could not have taken place without victories in small, local battles that paved the way for him to world glory.
When raiding the inhabitants of neighboring uluses, he tried to shed less blood and, if possible, save the lives of his opponents. This was by no means done out of humanism, which was alien to the inhabitants of the steppes, but with the aim of attracting the defeated to their side and thereby replenishing the ranks of their troops. He also willingly accepted nukers - foreigners who were ready to serve for a share of the booty looted on campaigns.
However, the first years of the reign of Genghis Khan oftenmarred by unfortunate miscalculations. Once he went on another raid, leaving his camp unguarded. This was taken advantage of by the Merkit tribe, whose warriors, in the absence of the owner, attacked and, having plundered the property, took away all the women with them, including his beloved wife Bothe. Only with the help of the same Tooril Khan, Temujin managed, having defeated the Merkits, to return his missus.
Victory over the Tatars and capture of Eastern Mongolia
Each new conquest of Genghis Khan raised his prestige among the steppe nomads and brought him to the ranks of the main rulers of the region. Around 1186, he created his own ulus - a kind of feudal state. Having concentrated all the power in his hands, he established a strictly defined vertical of power on the territory subordinate to him, where all key posts were occupied by his close associates.
The defeat of the Tatars was one of the biggest victories that began the conquest of Genghis Khan. The table given in the article refers this event to 1200, but a series of armed clashes began five years earlier. At the end of the XII century, the Tatars were going through hard times. Their camps were constantly attacked by a strong and dangerous enemy - the troops of the Chinese emperors of the Jin dynasty.
Taking advantage of this, Temujin joined the Jin troops and attacked the enemy together with them. In this case, his main goal was not booty, which he willingly shared with the Chinese, but the weakening of the Tatars, who stood in his way to undivided dominion in the steppes. Having achieved what he wanted, he took possession of almost the entire territory of Eastern Mongolia, becoming its undivided ruler, since the influence of the Jin dynasty in this area has noticeably weakened.
Conquest of the Trans-Baikal Territory
One should pay tribute not only to Temujin's military talent, but also to his diplomatic abilities. Skillfully manipulating the ambitions of the tribal leaders, he always directed their enmity in a direction favorable to him. Making military alliances with yesterday's enemies and treacherously attacking recent friends, he always knew how to be the winner.
After the conquest of the Tatars in 1202, Genghis Khan's aggressive campaigns began in the Trans-Baikal Territory, where Taijiut tribes settled in the vast wild expanses. It was not an easy campaign, in one of the battles of which the khan was dangerously wounded by an enemy arrow. However, in addition to rich trophies, he brought the Khan self-confidence, since the victory was won alone, without the support of allies.
The title of the Great Khan and the code of laws "Yasa"
The next five years were the continuation of his conquest of numerous peoples living on the territory of Mongolia. From victory to victory, his power grew and the army increased, replenished at the expense of yesterday's opponents who had transferred to his service. In the early spring of 1206, Temujin was proclaimed a great khan with the highest title of "kagan" and the name Chingiz (water conqueror), with which he entered world history.
The years of Genghis Khan's reign became a period when the whole life of those subject to himpeoples was regulated by the laws developed by them, the set of which was called "Yasa". The main place in it was occupied by articles prescribing the provision of comprehensive mutual assistance on a campaign and, under pain of punishment, forbidding deception of a person who trusted in something.
It is curious, but according to the laws of this semi-savage ruler, one of the highest virtues was loy alty, even shown by the enemy in relation to his sovereign. For example, a prisoner who did not want to renounce his former master was considered worthy of respect and was willingly accepted into the army.
To strengthen the vertical of power during the years of Genghis Khan's life, the entire population subject to him was divided into tens of thousands (tumens), thousands and hundreds. Above each of the groups was placed the chief, head (literally) responsible for the loy alty of his subordinates. This made it possible to keep a huge number of people in strict obedience.
Every adult and he althy man was considered a warrior and at the first signal was obliged to take up arms. In general, at that time, the army of Genghis Khan was about 95 thousand people, bound by iron discipline. The slightest disobedience or cowardice shown in battle was punishable by death.
| Event | Date |
| Victory of Temujin's troops over the Naiman tribe | 1199 |
| Victory of Temujin's forces over the Taichiut tribe | 1200 year |
| The defeat of the Tatar tribes | 1200 year |
| Victory over the Kereites and Taijuites | 1203year |
| Victory over the Naiman tribe led by Tayan Khan | 1204 |
| Genghis Khan attacks on the Tangut state Xi Xia | 1204 |
| Conquest of Beijing | 1215 |
| Genghis Khan's conquest of Central Asia | 1219-1223 |
| Victory of the Mongols led by Subedei and Jebe on the Kalka River over the Russian-Polovtsian army | 1223 |
| The conquest of the capital and state of Xi Xia | 1227 |
A new path of conquest
In 1211, the conquest of the peoples inhabiting Transbaikalia and Siberia by Genghis Khan was almost completed. Tribute flowed to him from all over this vast region. But his rebellious soul did not find peace. Ahead was Northern China - a country whose emperor once helped him defeat the Tatars and, having strengthened, rise to a new level of power.
Four years before the start of the Chinese campaign, wanting to secure the route of his troops, Genghis Khan captured and plundered the Tangut kingdom of Xi Xia. In the summer of 1213, having managed to capture the fortress that covered the passage in the Great Wall of China, he invaded the territory of the Jin state. His campaign was swift and victorious. Taken by surprise, many cities surrendered without a fight, and a number of Chinese military leaders went over to the side of the invaders.
When Northern China was conquered, Genghis Khan moved his troops to Central Asia, where they were also lucky. Having conquered vast expanses, hereached Samarkand, from where he continued his journey, conquering Northern Iran and a significant part of the Caucasus.
Genghis Khan's campaign against Russia
To conquer the Slavic lands in 1221-1224, Genghis Khan sent two of his most experienced commanders - Subedei and Jebe. Having crossed the Dnieper, they invaded the borders of Kievan Rus at the head of a large army. Not hoping to defeat the enemy on their own, the Russian princes entered into an alliance with their old enemies - the Polovtsy.
The battle took place on May 31, 1223 in the Azov region, on the Kalka River. It ended with the defeat of the Russian-Polovtsian troops. Many historians see the reason for the failure in the arrogance of Prince Mstislav Udatny, who crossed the river and started the battle before the main forces approached. The desire of the prince to cope with the enemy alone turned into his own death and the death of many other governors. Genghis Khan's campaign against Russia turned out to be such a tragedy for the defenders of the fatherland. But more difficult trials lay ahead of them.
The last conquest of Genghis Khan
The conqueror of Asia died at the end of the summer of 1227 during his second campaign against the state of Xi Xia. Even in winter, he began the siege of his capital - Zhongxing, and, having exhausted the forces of the defenders of the city, he was preparing to accept their surrender. This was the last conquest of Genghis Khan. Suddenly he felt ill and took to his bed, and after a short time he died. Not excluding the possibility of poisoning, researchers tend to see the cause of death in complications caused by an injury received shortly before in a fall fromhorses.
The exact burial place of the great khan is unknown, just as the date of his last hour is unknown. In Mongolia, where the Delyun-Boldok tract was once located, in which, according to legend, Genghis Khan was born, a monument erected in his honor stands today.
