"War is the greatest plague that can afflict humanity; it destroys families. Any scourge is preferable to it."
Martin Luther King’s famous utterance throws a light on the horrors of war. The impact of war not only changes the geographical structures of nations but also its destiny. Such changes are recorded in the blood-inked pages of history. Eight centuries ago, a nomadic child grew up to be an almost invincible conqueror called Genghis Khan; ruled over half the world. This event was one of those rare times in history when a legend was made and what followed were a series of events that the world in the future would read about in old manuscripts and would be awed by the accomplishments that a nomadic chieftain achieved.
The original name of Genghis Khan was Temujin, which meant ‘war booty’ and was derived from a captive rival, by his proud father who was a warrior himself. The name was tagged to his firstborn son like a medal. Temujin was born clutching a blood clot the size of a knucklebone. The exact date of his birth is not known, but the Mongolians believed that he was born in 1162, near Lake Baikal, in Mongolia. Some historians consider 1155 as his year of birth, whereas others debate and believe that he was born in 1167.
MONGOLIA WHEN HE WAS BORN
At the time of Genghis Khan's birth, the Mongols were scattered nomads living in small groups, feuding among themselves and raiding Tartar settlements and the Juchen Jin (Chinese Chin) that occupied northern China. His tribe lived on a large tract of land along and between the Kerulin and O’non rivers in Mongolia. Politically, this was the way the Mongol nation existed, and the local people recognized their own tribal connections with blood ties. They fought incessantly with their bloodthirsty enemies like the Tartars in the east and the Keraits in the west. To the southwest were the Uighurs and to the south was the Chinese Chin dynasty which was also well established. The Chin dynasty was so powerful that they extracted dues of various kinds from their nomadic northern neighbors. To the far West, Sultan Muhammad of Khwarizm was ruling around the neighboring areas of the Black Sea. The Mongols had a fiercely independent nature, a strong system of social values and culture. They were essentially shamanistic in religious beliefs. They were people who entered a trance state during a ritual and practised divination and healing. Their nomadic existence meant that they relied on barter rather than on money. Because of internal conflicts amongst the different Mongol tribes, they were economically poor. It is said that they were people who would eat ‘anything that moved’ and even that they did not hesitate to resort to cannibalism.
According to Mongolian legends, Temujin’s birth was considered auspicious as he came into the world holding a clot of blood in his hand. He was also said to have been of divine origin. There was a myth about the first ancestor of Mongols being a blue-gray wolf, ‘born with a destiny from heaven on high’; the offspring from a predator and prey, the legendary ancestor was a human being from the Mongol race.
Temujin’s early years were anything but promising. His father Yisugei was a barbarian chieftain of the Royal Borjigh clan and his mother Hoelun, who had been kidnapped from another tribe by his father, must have never thought that their first child would be a world conqueror.
Temujin - the youthful Genghis Khan - had many duties. The boys of the family had to fish the streams they passed in their trek from the smmer to winter pastures. The horse herds were in their charge, and they had to ride afield after lost animals, and to search for new pasture lands. They watched the skyline for raiders, and spent many a night in the snow without a fire. Of necessity, they learned to keep the saddle for several days at a time, and to go without cooked food for three or four days - sometimes without any food at all.
Temujin marked by great physical strength and ability to scheme - which is only another way of adapting oneself to circumstances. He became the leaders of the wrestlers although he was spare in build. When night fell Temujin would listen to the tales of the ministrels, old men who rode from one wagon-tent to another carrying a one-stringed fiddle, and singing in a droning voice the tales of a tribes forebears and heroes. Temujin was conscious of his strength, and his right of leadership as he was the son of Yisugei the Valiant.
Once, Yisugei robbed a group of the Tartar’s tribe. The rival Tartars, neither forgiving nor forgetting this affront, wanted revenge. This they accomplished by poisoning Yisugei. They succeeded in killing him. Temujin was deprived of fatherly love at the tender age of nine. Tribal laws had no provision for succession and the appointment of a regent. So the nine-year boy was made chief. However, all of Temujin’s tribesmen abandoned him. To the Mongols, cattle were not only currency, but also symbol of honor and status in society. Temujin’s family had only seven sheep relegating them to pauper state and as a result they were treated as outcasts. Thus, the family became a victim to starvation facing the bitterness of their own tribesmen. For the next three years of life, Temujin lived through tough times. Together with his younger brothers Hasar and Hachiun, he was brought up by his mother. Instead of a staple diet of meat and mare’s milk, they had to survive by snaring rodents like field mice, marmots, fish, roots, berries and wild onions.
Those three years are considered to be the most important period of his life. The harsh life on the steppes of Mongolia molded the young boy and sharpened his wits to a degree unheard of even among the cunning and crafty Mongols.
Once he was captured by Taychiut, a fellow Mongol from another tribe. Rather than killing him, Taychiut kept him in his camp, wearing a wooden collar. One night, when the tribe was enjoying a feast near the campfire, Temujin, being ineptly guarded, knocked down the sentry with a blow from his wooden collar and fled. Furious, Taychiut dispatched search parties. One of his men found him but was impressed by the fire in his eyes. So instead of catching him, he helped Temujin to escape at the risk of his own life.
The most precious property of a nomad are his horses. Temujin had to fight the thieves trying to steal horses and other live stocks. Situations came to such a state that Temujin lost eight out of his nine horses. Brave Temujin tried following their trail when he met Bo’orchu, a young stranger who was engaged in milking and asked about his lost horses.
Moved by Temujin’s fate, Bo’orchu handed the reins of his own horse to him and joined Temujin in his search. This brave young Mongol remained with Temujin throughout his life attending on Temujin as his closest friend and aide.
The First Taste Of Blood
According to Thomas Hobbes, The condition of man is a condition of war against everyone, and this condition of the ancient Mongols was one of the strongest elements that affected Temujin. The prevailing circumstances were pushing him towards the way of violence and he was not even aware of it. The loneliness, the poverty, the society and the feeling of hatred – all made him a bitter man. All his anger and frustration found expression through his violent and barbaric acts displayed during his teens.
Bekhter, his half brother often used to steal whatever Temujin collected for a meal. Once he grabbed a fish that Temujin had hooked. This enraged Temujin so much that he killed the offending sibling in a hail of arrows. Earlier his half brother had also stolen his bird. To kill a man is considered barbaric, but for Mongols, it was a trivial matter. Temujin was 15, when the incident took place. The cruelty prevalent in society had made him a heartless person, who was never ready to forgive a wrongdoer or a traitor. Temujin, in fits of revenge, never showed remorse.
According to The Secret History of the Mongols, by Dr. de Rachewiltz, when the implacable Genghis killed his older half brother for stealing a bird and a fish from him, his mother Hoelun cried for the ‘great crime’ of her son in the poverty stricken land :
From the warmth of my tomb
When he broke forth fiercely
Clutching a black dot of blood in his hand,
This one was born from me !
Like a wild dog biting off its after birth…
Like a lion that cannot master its rage…
Like a falcon attacking its own shadow…
You have destroyed !
The Dawn After The Night
Temujin’s mother was unhappy at the waste of a potential soldier. She ingrained her son’s mind : We have no one to fight with us except our own shadows. Out of the shadows, Temujin grew quickly to manhood. Like other Mongols, he too was taught from an early age to ride horses, and shoot a bow and arrow. Moreover, his mother instilled in him an appreciation of the value of allies in the harsh environment in which they lived. As he grew older, the brave, intelligent and genius Temujin managed to draw a number of trusted figures around him. Some of them even became united with him through the bond of brotherhood. All this time, he never forgot that he had been abandoned by his own community. He never forgot the poorly neglected laws and traditions that enabled them to abandon him and his family. He understood the necessity of a cohesive communal unit, an appreciation of law and tradition, as well as proper organization. He understood that the lack of proper laws and tradition had led to the decline of his tribe. The harsh weather, conflicts with roaming bandits and hard knocks dealt by life, forged him into a far more powerful man, than any of his tribesmen had become in their adulthood. Even the tribesmen pledged allegiance to the young boy and as people started coming to see Temujin. On the rocky hills, Temujin used to exhort his audiences to forge alliances and raise a great military force. In time, he was unanimously declared as the chieftain of his tribe. Then, Temujin began to train his tribesmen with the strictest disciplines in warfare.
KIDNAPPING OF THE BRIDE
His status grew exponentially, and upon reaching manhood, the 18-year Temujin married Borte, a girl of his choice. As a tradition, he was given a black sable coat, which was to prove the foundation of his fortune. However, the shadow of his father’s crime did not leave him. Borte was a Merkit girl and Temujin’s mother was also a kidnapped wife of one of the Merkit men. The Merkits had been looking for an appropriate opportunity to take revenge. While the marriage ceremony was going on, 300 Merkits attacked Temujin’s camp. They kidnapped many women, including Temujin’s wife Borte. Initially Temujin and his allies could not face the Merkits. Immediately Temujin approached Toghril Khan, leader of the Kertait tribe and sworn brother of Temujin’s father, for help. Toghril provided him with an army of 20,000 soldiers. Temujin’s childhood friend, Jamuka also rallied behind Temujin with all his men. This time around, Temujin completely routed the Merkits with the help of a strategy that would help him crush the future rebellions and managed to rescue his wife. After the war, Temujin’s immense strength and unrelenting will power aided him in emerging as an undisputed local leader.
TEMUJIN BECOMES ‘GENGHIS KHAN’
Now, Temujin had become a ‘player’ in the rough and tumble world of the Steppes. According to The Secret History of the Mongols, a national Mongolian history; after the initial victory over Merkits, one of Temujin’s allies abandoned him. An enraged Temujin exterminated his betrayers, conscripted the males of the traitor’s tribe and enslaved the females. He started subjugating other tribes, one by one and held their people as his slaves and soldiers. Even his first patron Toghril,
popularly known as Wang Khan and childhood friend Jamuka rebelled against him on this count. He taught Jamuka and the Kertaits a lesson by defeating them. Indeed, he left no nomad leader alive to stab him in the back. When he had strengthened his army sufficiently, he attacked one of his strongest enemies, the Tartars and slaughtered all those taller than the height of a cart axle. He left the children, expecting them to grow up, ignorant of their past identity and to become loyal followers of the Mongols. He intended to provide himself with a fighting force, and to dispel the sense of clan that favored fragmentation. He gained control over his rival tribes one after the other. His daredevilry and charisma were so powerful that the shamans in his camp spread the word of heavenly mandate for his power. The Mongols and the neighboring tribes hailed him as their leader. Within a span of few years, he was accepted as emperor of all the nomadic and Mongol tribes.
After defeating his last serious rival Naiman in 1204, Temujin became the sole claimant of the ruler’s position of the Mongols. By 1206, the Mongol nobility
unanimously proclaimed 44-year old Temujin as their leader and a nomad was hailed as ‘Genghis Khan’ at Kuriltai, the great assembly of Mongols. The title granted by his people means the ‘Oceanic Ruler’ or the ‘Fierce Ruler’.
PRE-WAR PREPARATION
Genghis Khan now concentrated on careful planning to enforce the strictest discipline on all his subordinates. He also created a sophisticated intelligence network to keep himself informed of the happenings around. He used this information to formulate appropriate tactics for the expansion of the Mongol domain. He implemented a strategy to send envoys to rival states demanding their submission. If they surrendered, Genghis would allow their rulers to remain in power. But the only condition was, they had to pay taxes and provide labor and military assistance as and when needed. If they failed to do so, Genghis would never give up, occupying such states with the power of his sanguinary armed forces.
However, the great Khan did not forget the harsh lessons of his formative years. The sufferings through the inadequate laws and orthodox traditions led him to formulate the first written laws in Mongolia. Finding the necessity of tradition, he reformed the great Kharakorum City and proclaimed it as the capital of Mongolia. It was a minister of the Khan of the Naiman, the last Mongol rival of Genghis, who impressed upon him the advantages of literacy and he also helped him to formulate the alphabet of the Mongol language and in its propagation.
THE MARCH BEGINS
After building a well-trained army, imposing uniform laws and creating the Mongol script, he set about aiming to conquer the world. The conquests of the great Mongol were yet to come. It would sound interesting that one of Genghis’ advisers, who was formerly in the service of the Emperor of northern China, explained him the importance of peasants and artisans as producers of taxable goods. He also encouraged Genghis to utilize the cultivable fields of northern China as grazing fields for breeding his horses.
This idea impressed Genghis and he set his ambitions on the conquests of China. Convinced that the heavens wished the Mongol reign to rule the world, he invaded populous and prosperous northern China. In 1209, Genghis began his first triumphant march at the head of the united tribal army, burning any city that put up a show of resistance. His troops traveled 600 miles southwards to China, crossing the Gobi desert, surviving on milk and blood drawn from their horses. They first attacked the kingdom of Xi Xia (Hsi Hsia) and after a sustained campaign, he raised the Mongol flag over the disunited Tanguts, a kingdom of five million subjects. The Xi Xia kingdom became a Mongol vassal.
VICTORY OVER ZHONGDU
In 1211, commercial and tributary disputes with the Chin Dynasty of China also led to hostilities. Genghis frequently attacked the Chin Empire. After a lapse of four years, Genghis surrounded their capital Zhongdu (the present day Chinese capital – Beijing). The Chin emperor pleaded with Genghis to withdraw his troops, presenting him gold, silver, horses, slaves and a princess. The princess later became one of Genghis’ many wives. Overwhelmed by such treatment, Genghis agreed to withdraw his troops. But as the Chin court promptly fled southward to Kaifeng (Nan Chung), Genghis became enraged at the treachery. In a counter attack, he stormed back to Zhongdu in 1215. The roads of the city shuddered with the thundering sound of horse hooves. Zhongdu was occupied by the Mongols, who looted it mercilessly. Now, Genghis turned his eyes towards the empire of Khwarizm.
ASSAULT ON ISLAMIC EMPIRES
The third big campaign of Genghis Khan was provoked by Shah Muhammad of Khwarizm, an empire expanding from the south to the east of the Caspian Sea. "I am the master of the lands of the rising sun while you rule those of the setting sun. Let us conclude a firm treaty of friendship and peace." – Genghis sent this message to the Shah of Khwarizm. The almighty and arrogant Shah accepted the olive branch as a sign of friendship from the Mongol messenger but the next moment he ordered him killed. When Genghis Khan received Shah’s response in the form of the unfortunate envoy’s severed head, the enraged Mongol roared, "I was not the instigator of these tribulations. Grant me the strength to extract vengeance !"
Besides this, the Governor of the city of Otrar, a part of the Islamic Empire, had massacred a caravan of Muslim merchants, who were travelling under Genghis Khan’s protection. These reasons were enough for provoking war. City after city was destroyed by the furious Mongol troops. Fields and gardens were destroyed and irrigation systems damaged beyond repair. The inhabitants were massacred or compelled to join the Mongols. Genghis quenched his thirst of vengeance by destroying the Royal Palace of Khwarizm. Shah Muhammad himself was executed. Over the next two years, he stormed the capital of the Islamic Empire, Samarkand. Other cities like Herat, Nishapur, Merv and the historical city of Bukhara were also usurped. A historian, who witnessed the destruction later noted his view, ‘They came, they snapped, they burnt, they slew, they plundered and they departed.’
STORMS CENTRAL ASIA
In 1220, he directed his troops northward, towards Russia targeting Central Asia. The Russian Cossacks were equally notorious. By this time, Genghis had equipped his archers with the new Chinese weapon, Kwan do. It was the long halberd invented by the Chinese warlord General Kwan. The weapon consisting of four to six feet long wooden staff topped with a two-foot long blade as wide across as one or two outstretched palm trees. This blade was devised to slice through the legs of a rival’s horse. Along with the Mongolian bow and arrow, the Kwan played a pivotal role in the defeat of the fierce Cossacks. Genghis settled for a treaty with the Russian Tsar stating that he would supply armed forces to help the Mongols, whenever called for. With aid from such ally, Genghis slipped back south into China.
BATTLE ENDED
Till 1223, the Mongolian armies had subjugated most parts of the Asia including northern China, Persia, Afghanistan, Russia, and several other small empires. The ‘oceanic’ ruler led his troops south for the last time to quash the absconding Chin Emperor, Hsi Hsia and his Kingdom Nan Chung.
The Kingdom of Nan Chung, the new Chin capital was attacked and the war lasted for three continuous years, claiming over 60,000 lives. Eventually, one more powerful kingdom of China subordinated itself to Genghis’ powers. Now Genghis, the supreme of the continent, returned back to Russia, cutting a swathe across Belarus, Hungary, Poland and Romania. This was his last campaign and the kingdoms that were won over were, in the words of journalist Mike Edwards, ‘historical blurs’.
Genghis Khan’s string of victories continued for over 21 years. During his last battle, he fell from his horse and injured himself. From his deathbed, he ordered the killing of Hsi Hsia.
He focused on establishing an effective administration of the vast Mongol Empire, from the Aral Sea to the Yellow Sea. He appointed rulers for different provinces. The great Khan passed away on August 18, 1227, having named his third son Ogodei Khan as his successor. At his death, he was around 65 years of age and the cause of death is still a mystery. Perhaps, Genghis had previously ordered secrecy in the event of his death. His commanders killed almost all who saw the funeral procession of the great conqueror. Rumor has it that 800 troops were killed while returning after attending the funeral of their leader, so that the location of his grave could be kept secret. His grave was also left unmarked; perhaps to discourage grave robbers and no one has found it till date.
GENGHIS KHAN
Leadership – the tour d'force of the world, is the ability of a person to lead, inspire and mobilize masses to act in unison, in pursuit of a common goal. Genghis Khan, also spelled Ching–Gis, Chingis, Teng hiz or Iinghis, the great Mongol conqueror, was one such leader who brought different tribes under the Mongolian flag and then expanded his empire across Asia, right up to the Adriatic Sea.
Starting from an obscure destination, he swept throughout Asia like a juggernaut and set in motion, forces more powerful than any kingdom. He conquered almost half the world claiming and achieving the top spot among daredevil conquerors of this world. Harnessing the diverse and dispersed strength of various clans, in turn conquering city after city, he raised a mammoth empire. The ‘Universal Ruler’ as he was called, worshipped the Eternal Blue Heaven, the holy deity of Mongolians, throughout his life.
It is unfortunate that this man of substance and valor is known only for his exploits and the trail of destruction that he left behind after his conquests. Today the icy eyes of Genghis Khan grace the Mongolian currency, bestowing upon him the respect of the Mongolian People. It is still a fond belief among die-hard Mongolians that Genghis Khan would return to earth like the legendary Phoenix, ‘rising from the ashes’, the one who unified and expanded their nation into the largest ‘landmass’ empire of its time.
1162 Temujin (Genghis Khan) was born near Lake Baikal, Mongolia.
1171 His father was murdered.
1177 He killed his half-brother, Bekhter.
1180 Borte his bride was kidnapped. He attacked the kidnappers tribe, the Merkits with the help of his allies and managed to rescue his wife.
1200 He emerged as a leader.
1206 Temujin was enthroned as ‘Genghis Khan’.
1209 Genghis Khan waged his first foreign campaign.
1215 He destroyed Zhongdu in China.
1218 He invaded the Khwarizm Empire.
1220-21 He occupied Samarkand and Bukhara. He invaded Russia, Syria, Egypt, Persia, Afghanistan and Parts of Europe.
1222 He appointed the rulers for all occupied countries.
1223 Decided to withdraw his armies and returned to Mongolia via India and Tibet.
1226 His last campaign against Hsi Hsia, the Nan Chung Kingdom of China.
August 18, 1227 Genghis Khan died.
I am the punishment of God. If you had not committed great sins, God would not have sent punishment like me upon you.
My greatest good fortune was to pursue and defeat my enemies, to conquer their kinds and their people, and to divide the plunder of their riches.
Leave no conquered leader behind who might rally his horsemen.
My strength was fortified by Heaven and Earth.
ON GENGHIS KHAN
"He was, in these early years of the thirteenth century, incomparably the greatest general in Asia and probably in the world. He was a cruel genius whose simple rule was : ‘Leave no conquered leader behind who might rally his horsemen’. When he subdued an area he killed off all leaders, distributed survivors over vast and differing districts, then galloped off with his booty to the next challenge. Like the Tartars, he destroyed existing orders, unlike them, he established new systems, which would endure for centuries."
–JamesA.Michener
"Genghis Khan pledged to share with his followers both the sweet and the bitter of life. In structuring his army, he integrated soldiers from different tribes, thus inspiring loyalty to the Mongol army as a
whole rather than to a specific lineage. He gave his enemies one simple choice : surrender and be enslaved, or die. By consistently enforcing discipline, rewarding skill and allegiance and punishing those who opposed him, Genghis Khan established a vast empire."
"The greatness of the Khan as a military leader was borne out not only by his conquests but by the excellent organization, discipline, and maneuverability of his armies. Moreover, the Mongol ruler was an admirable statesman, his empire was so well organized that, so it was claimed, travelers could go from one end of his domain to the other without fear or danger."
"Simply to remember that Genghis and his heirs were men like other men, with their virtues and vices, generous and mean, not blood-crazed monsters somehow apart from the human race. Even in our computer age we do not understand the complexities of such men. That is why history matters."
Dr. de Rachewiltz
PERSONALITY
Genghis Khan’s personality was a complex one. He was a man of great physical strength, tenacity of purpose and an unbreakable will. The strong and enduring Genghis was not obstinate and would listen to advice from others. He also sought advice from his wives and mother, even though it was not an age of feminism. He was shrewd and calculating. He had all the qualities including flexibility that enabled him to be a maker of alliances. Men, who brought their clans to his side against the enemy tribes, would note "the fire in his eyes, the light on his face".
He was ruthless but not without compassion. He could deceive but was not petty. Loyalty was the base behind all his deeds. People found guilty of treachery towards their lords were promptly punished and this would set a good example for others. Jamuka, a childhood friend of Genghis was a good example. Once Jamuka was taken captive after losing a tribal war against Genghis. He had already killed 70 of Genghis’ soldiers by boiling them in oil. Despite Jamuka’s inhumane deed, the ‘great’ Genghis offered to spare his life. In a Homeric scene, the enemy refused the amnesty and demanded execution. Eventually, with great sorrow, Genghis acquiesced and decided to execute his friend without spilling a single drop of blood. In accordance with Mongol custom for a nobleman, Jamuka was rolled in a carpet and kicked to death. Genghis often meted out generous treatment to those he defeated. If an enemy could impress him with his bravery, Genghis would promote him over the heads of Mongol captains. He recognized the values of his individual enemies. It would be interesting to know that one of his most trusted generals, Jebe, was once a young enemy of Genghis, who shot his horse in a battle. Genghis would order the execution of a soldier, who was disloyal to his commander. On the other hand, he would pardon and even bestow honors upon those, who had fought loyally for their commander, even if against himself.
VISION
Genghis’ vision was as clear as the mirror – to make his people prosper economically, to empower himself and to destroy or eliminate his rivals completely. It would be wrong to say that Genghis had ever dreamt of building the world’s biggest empire. As the ancient Mongol tribes were fighting each other, he recognized that plunder of the riches was the best means of preventing them from such conflicts. Though he helped his people to prosper, he allowed them to preserve their nomadic way of life.
Though he could not read or write, Genghis had an excellent foresight. He understood the power of spreading ideas via the written word, and utilized it to enchain his vast empire with excellence. He imposed first written laws for Mongols. This code of conduct which was known as the ‘Great Jasagh’, provided cruel punishment for wrongdoings. According to the code, people could be sentenced to death for refusing work, for urinating in running water, and for gluttony. The code was not only for punishing the offenders but also for setting quite admirable ethical rules, like honoring all religions, sharing food without any partiality, respecting the poor and the elders. With a heavy hand, he imposed and enforced his code of conduct. In another way, it helped him unite different regions, people and different factions of tribes under his rule. Genghis also pardoned the cities that opened their gates without any opposition to the invading hordes and which provided him with many skilled persons, artisans and soldiers. He always respected the scholars who surrendered, as he was eager to learn new things and absorbing ideas from other cultures. Genghis’ efforts were responsible for the spread of the Uighurs Script as the common and popular Mongolian script.
Empowerment was another facet of his foresight. He defined ‘empowerment’ as a contract between a leader and his followers for mutual trust and accountability. It may be difficult to accept that the ‘strict’ Mongol leader practiced empowerment. The army units were led by commanders, personally selected by Genghis. His policy was to pick up the persons, designate them as commanders from his immediate family, sheepherders or even conquered warriors he trusted and respected. Both in wartime and in peace, Genghis strictly followed the guiding principle of ‘merit’ in choosing his commanders. Nobility and loyalty were the additional qualities included in his criteria for selection. He trusted these people to get the job done but if they failed, he clearly held them accountable for the consequences. Commanders were ordered to keep their troops ready for battle at all times. Those who failed to fulfill this condition were dismissed immediately. A soldier from even the lowest rank had the possibility of being promoted, based on his merit. The Mongol army trusted Genghis completely and his vision of ‘empowerment’, impressed the soldiers who served the army with the slogan : Rather die than let him down.
POWER
Power was of paramount importance and attracted Genghis, beyond everything. In war as in the hunt, sharing the spoils was the main aim. Amassing material wealth did not matter much to him. He was the most generous of leaders, who totally shared his tribes belief in the nomadic way of life. He shared everything with his loyal supporters. They were free to speak the truth and Genghis usually moderated his passion and anger with thoughtful responses. He was most perceptive about politics in rival tribes and cities. Have a liberal and tolerant attitude on the beliefs of others and never persecute people on religious grounds –was the driving force behind all his military actions. When he fought against Sultan Muhammad of Khwarazm, other Islamic nations chose to keep away from the battle considering it a non holy war between two individuals.
Personal trauma and the severe climate of the Steppes conditioned Genghis as an inimitable and indestructible warrior. During his conquests, many kings surrendered and offered the hand of their princesses, in marriage. That lessened Genghis’ intention of conquering their kingdoms. His personality, shrewdness, and luck made him successful in every walk of life.
Against his rivals, vengeance was a constant theme, reflecting his Mongol cultural heritage. Terror, his main weapon of war, was enough to frighten enemies. Genghis slaughtered people with ease. He often bypassed those cities and populations who submitted, but those which raised their hands in opposition were wrecked in no time.
To conquer half the world is not a child’s play, but Genghis made it possible by his accoutrements, which included good use of military technology, strategic engagement in war, unique organization of his army and last but not the least, a clear cut administrative system for conquered peoples. His strategy for organizing the army is indeed unique, as he would split his soldiers into units of 10,000 instead of segregating them by tribal affinity. This reduced the possibility of internal conflicts on trivial lines. He had an elite ‘household guard’ (commandos) upon whom he relied for the most challenging tasks.
For his armies, the rules were clear and tough. Any kind of theft led to execution. Adultery was considered a big crime and as a punishment both parties were sentenced to death. Rules of engagement were equal for all and everyone had to obey them. All the commanders were strictly instructed not to abuse their soldiers. If a soldier deserted the army, or failed to help a fellow warrior whose baggage fell from his horse, he was executed. In the same way, if two or more members of the troop gained a victory but were not supported by their comrades, the latter were executed. Genghis’ lust for power enabled him to unite rival tribes into a nation and made that nation the heart of the largest empire, the world had ever seen.
