One of the most interesting figures from the 13th century world is Genghis Khan. As the leader of the Mongols, he conquered more overall territory than any other leader in history – including Alexander the Great. It also means that he likely was responsible for killing more people than any other leader in world history. Here are some interesting facts about Genghis Khan that help to further the enigma of a man he really was.
1. Religious Freedom
Khan believed that people should be free to believe and worship whatever they wanted. Unlike other leaders who would imprison people of different religions, he incorporated one of the world’s first great melting pots. This helped him to embrace other cultures and eventually open up a world where the East could meet the West.
2. Call Me Temujin
The world remembers him as Genghis Khan, but to his parents, he would always be their Temujin. Believed to be born in 1162, Khan’s name literally means “blacksmith.” No one really knows how the name Genghis actually came about. It could have been a honorary title for being an emperor of the known universe or interestingly enough, it could also mean this: “Just Khan.” So… maybe just call him Khan. Or Temujin.
3. An Invisible Man
You can find hundreds of images of Genghis Khan with a simple Google search. The only problem is that no one actually knows what he looked like. No artwork depicting him survived from that era and no sculptures of him have been found so far. That means all of the artwork with his image are based on extrapolations or estimations of descriptions that others have put into words. One writer from the 14th century even claimed that Khan had green eyes and red hair.
4. Keep Your Enemies Close
What made Khan so great was the fact that he stopped following the rules of his predecessors. He didn’t promote leaders based on their family, status, or class. He brought in people because they were experienced and good at what they did. This even meant that he would have some of his former enemies become his top rulers. Needless to say this didn’t set very well with some folks, but because he was so feared [killing up to 40 million people will do that for you], no one ever dared to move against him.
5. Put a Stamp On It
What made the Mongols so great wasn’t just their military might. It was the fact that they relied on a vast system of communications that was very much like an early version of the Pony Express. There were posts set up throughout the empire so that messages could travel up to an estimated 200 miles per day. Not only did this make it possible for supplies and letters to be passed along at unprecedented speeds for that time, but it let Khan know what was happening throughout his vast empire at almost any given time.
6. Death From Death
Rumor has it that Genghis Khan took great measures to make sure that no one would know where he was buried. It has been said that when the funeral procession which was taking Khan to his final resting place would encounter someone, they would kill that person so they wouldn’t be able to share what had been seen. Once buried, the ground was then supposedly trampled to disguise the location. It’s precise location still remains unknown to this day.
7. A Fierce Temper
In total, it is believed that the various Mongol invasions and wars may have reduced the total global population by more than 10%. His fierce temper often brought him to a place of revenge, yet Khan also approached new kingdoms and offered them the chance to surrender to his rule without bloodshed. There were no second chances though. When a treaty was broken, Khan once waged a war that killed millions in response. Then he went after the soldiers of his that wouldn’t fight. He even once ordered the entire execution of a royal family because they defied him.
8. Many Descendants
Genghis Khan might have sought peace, but he wasn’t above pillaging kingdoms and raping conquered women. Keep in mind that Khan is considered a founding father of Mongolia and is even pictured on their currency. It also means that he may have fathered potentially thousands of children over the course of his life. In a genetic study that was conducted in 2003, it was estimated that 0.5% of men carry a certain chromosome that may have come from Khan.
It’s been said that Khan always believed that the true strength of a man was shown in the number of offspring he was able to leave behind. This means that 1 in 200 men that are alive right now are direct descendants of Genghis Khan if this study is accurate. Talk about leaving a living legacy.
9. A Brilliant Tactician
One of the common military strategies that Khan employed was known as the “false retreat.” By pretending to back away, he could draw out his enemies because they would pursue his army, thinking they had won. Then his soldiers would turn around and quickly advance on horseback and decimate the army. Because the soldiers were trained to control their horses with their legs, they could even advance archers into the midst of battle. This strategy was so effective that Khan eventually defeated a Russian army that was four times the size of his.
10. An Empire Divided
Khan eventually had four sons that helped to rule with him. His will upon his death was to have the empire divided amongst the four sons so that there would be no in-fighting amongst them. Together they would go on to continue expanding the Mongolian empire and further the modern development of the APAC region. It would continue until 1368 and would have likely continued on longer had not Khan’s grandchildren feuded over who the rightful heir to the empire would be.
That division is also reflected in how people feel about this ruler. Some see him as a brutal conqueror. Others seem him as the bringer of wealth, civilization, and power to his people. The Chinese dynasties used to support one random tribe at a time in order for the Mongols to stay subservient to them. With his unification of the tribes, Khan was able to literally change the world.
Genghis Khan is a polarizing figure still today. Up to 1 in 10 men in the APAC region may be a direct descendant of his, meaning that his influence could still be felt in the world today. For a man that conquered so much land so long ago, it is fair to say that Genghis Khan would be proud of the legacy he left
