Genghis Khan
Introduction Temujin was born in 1162, near Lake Baikal and Khaldun Mountain in present day Mongolia. He was born into the Mongol society. He was the son of Yesukai, his father who was a Mongol chief of a region between the Amur River and the Great Wall of China, and Ho'elun, his mother. Temüjin began his gradual ascension to power by offering himself as a holder of land by feudal tenure on conditions of homage and allegiance*, or a vassal, to his father's anda, sworn brother, Toghrul, who was khan, or lord, of the Kerait. Their relationship was reinforced when Temujin’s wife, Borte, was captured by the Merkits. Temüjin turned to Toghrul for support. Without hesitation, Toghrul offered Temujin twenty thousand Kerait warriors to his disposal. The campaign against the Merkits was completely successful and Temujin was reunited with his unscathed lover, Borte. Toghrul’s son, Senggum was jealous of Temujin’s early power and planned to assassinate him. Even though he had been saved countless times by Temujin, Toghrul gave in to his son’s churlish antics. Immediately after the news of Senggum’s intentions reached Temujin, Temujin sent out and defeated Senggum and his loyalists. Toghrul refused to give Temujin his daughter to Temujin’s oldest son, Jochi. In Mongol culture, this showed great disrespect, thus, was a spark to the conflict that occurred soon after. The two factions split and war was underway. Toghrul allied himself with Jamuka, Temujin's blood brother. Internal complication between Toghrul and Jamuka, and desertion of Toghrul’s forces led to his own defeat. Temujin made sure that this meant total defeat and extinction of the Kerait tribe. Temujin’s next direct threat was Jamuka who had retreated to the Naimans. However, soon a group of sheperds captured Jamuka and turned him into Temujin. Under request, Jamuka had a bloodless death, his back was broken. Temujin was given the name “Genghis Khan” by the after he united the Merkits, Naimans,