Genghis Khan, aka Temuchin, aka Temujin — the founder of the Mongol Empire, one of the greatest generals in the history of Asia. This material is another attempt to “wave a mop” in the attic of myths and legends surrounding the Mongol conqueror and his army.
Red-haired and blue-eyed
All the tales about the allegedly blue-eyed and red-haired Genghis Khan originate from the Persian chronicler Rashid al-Din. Except that he lived in the XIV century — more than a century after Temujin’s death. The gap is too big to fully trust his words. But we know for sure that Genghis Khan’s grandson Khubilai Khan supervised the creation of his grandfather’s portrait.
At the age of 12, the boy could still remember him. And on this very portrait we see the usual appearance of the Mongol Khan: swarthy skin, slanted eyes, except that with an unusual for that time beard.
A red-haired, blue-eyed conqueror, driven by a thirst for adventure, is galloping across the vast steppes of Mongolia. A kind of Mongolian Conan the Barbarian! Sounds a bit Hollywood, doesn’t it? A fragment of the painting “Genghis Khan”, a reproduction from the Yuan Dynasty, XIV century.
“Does the name Borjigin (Genghis Khan) mean anything?” you ask. The translation of the name is also in question, ranging from “bluish gray” to simply “gray wolf.” So it’s unlikely that the name hints at Caucasoid roots.
Take care of women!
Historians have a version that once long ago Genghis Khan’s wife was kidnapped by the Merkits, who lived in the middle reaches of the Selenga River. And Khan had to rescue her from captivity. Maybe it was this event that affected the status of Mongolian women. They felt much freer than Chinese or Persian women. The Kagan allowed women to fight on an equal footing with men and participate in the political activities of the country. And wife kidnapping and marriages against their will were forbidden by law.
According to different calculations Genghis Khan had about 500 wives and more than 3000 concubines. Among them a special place was occupied by four “senior” wives: Borte, Kulan, Yesui and Yesurgen. Concubines were often given to Genghis Khan as a tribute, or a “gesture of goodwill”. And from ancient times it was believed that if the khan had few children, he was a failed man.
The world’s largest empire
It is often heard that the Mongol Empire was the largest in the history of mankind. This is partly true — it is indeed the largest land state that has ever existed. However, if you look not at the territory, but at the total area of possessions, there are powers and bulkier. For example, in 1919-1922, the giant British Empire surpassed Mongolia at the zenith of its power. But the British, to be clear, had massive colonies all over the world.
A fragment of the painting “Temyujin proclaimed Genghis Khan”, Jami al-Tawarikh, 15th century.
The Mongol Empire was losing in size to the Umayyad Caliphate, the Achaemenid Empire, the Macedonia of Alexander the Great…. In general, the palm of primacy in this case is not at all unambiguous!
Silk Road
For a long time, China traded with Europe, thanks to the Silk Trade Route. But traders were waiting for a lot of dangers on the way, so the road had to be temporarily closed. A little later these lands were conquered by Genghis Khan, and during his reign the Silk Road resumed its work. It is this period that is considered the “golden” period. The safest time for traders! The Mongols even organized parking lots where travelers could cool off and rest. No one robbed them now.
They take quantity!
Who of us has not seen in movies or read in books how hordes of Mongol horsemen pounced on defenseless towns? And although it was useless to fight back, the local heroes still resisted to the last, for the enemies were…. How many Mongol warriors were there in those days? You may be surprised, but not millions, as you might think.
The Russian Kalmyk historian Erendzhen Khara-Davan established that the maximum number of Genghis Khan’s army was 230 thousand people (it was during the campaign to Khorezm). By the moment of departure of Genghis himself in 1227 at him remained about 129 thousand soldiers — on the most generous estimations.
During invasion to Russia the army of Mongols numbered 100-150 thousand according to archeologists. A small garrison, would you say? However imagine the army where each third fighter had 3-4 spare horses for rotation. It looked impressive! Besides, Russian, Chinese and other chroniclers of that time willingly thickened colors, telling about “countless” invaders.
So yes, the Mongolian compounds were among the largest for their time. But by no means millions of hordes, as we are often tried to make us believe. Rather, it was a minority, surpassing the enemy not in number, but in organization and tactics of fighting.
In Mongolia, they invented the Russian mat
This ancient “Mongolian” legend can discourage anyone from uttering the famous swear words. Allegedly cruel and insensitive nomadic conquerors brought to the noble Old Russian language this disgusting vocabulary. However, there is evidence that refutes this myth. For example, in the found Novgorod birch bark letter № 955 even before the invasion of Batyi mentioned the very abnormal “three letters”, which some people actively use to this day.
So the roots of Russian mat go much deeper and have nothing to do with the Mongols. As one famous fan of quoting the classics said, here clearly “the comrade has made a mistake”.
Barbarians and savages
Well, hordes of Mongolian barbarians have already begun to loom before your mental gaze? Hordes of ferocious nomads on stunted horses, dressed in the skins of wild animals and waving primitive clubs? Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, that’s not how it works! The image of the Mongol Empire as ignorant hordes is very different from reality. Genghis Khan’s army was actually one of the most advanced and organized military machines of its time.
First, they had a clear hierarchical structure, from arbans (platoons) to tumens (divisions). Iron subordination and discipline.
Secondly, Mongolian warriors already used composite bows, arrows, siege weapons, and later even borrowed the first cannons from the Chinese! And commands in the army were given by means of a system of flags and lanterns — the then “high-tech”.
And that’s not all. The Mongol Empire had its own written language, legislation, currency and logistics. And Ugedei, Genghis Khan’s heir, created one of the first regular postal services in the world — messengers delivered letters throughout the empire!
In general, no gathering of ignorant nomads. It was a super-modern for that time contract army, where soldiers received salaries and allowances for service.
Execution cannot be pardoned
Genghis Khan hated bad news. The one who brought such news was necessarily punished. And the Mongol Khan was inventive in his punishments. According to legend, once couriers learned that the eldest son of the Kagan — Dzhuchi — had been killed! The fear of announcing such terrible news was incredibly great. And the couriers thought of a way out. They asked the musician to tell this news to the khan. The musician played a sad tune. The Khan understood everything, but decided to punish the musical instrument for good. He filled it with lead!
Russians are descendants of the Tatar-Mongols
Let’s end on a note of family humor! Or rather, a mix of humor and dark conspiracy theory. Some are seriously convinced that modern Russian people are descended from the warm relations of Mongol warriors with local women at the time of Batyi’s invasion. Mol, merciless nomads have ruined all Russian men, and women … In general, you are able to imagine. Gloomy and unattractive theory, agree?
Some historians believe that nothing out of the ordinary Mongols on the Russian lands did not do. They did not settle them, did not put their viceroys. Everything was reduced to periodic detours of Tatar tribute collectors. Local peasants paid the tax to their princes, and those already paid with the visiting guests.
Certain mixing, of course, there was — but mainly at the level of nobility, when Russian princes for political reasons entered into dynastic marriages with Mongols. Up to the broad masses of people the matter obviously did not reach. If there are any “Horde roots” at modern Russians, then only in families of descendants of ancient boyar families. And most people have few relatives in Mongolia. At least, direct and blood relatives.