Who was Genghis Khan

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Q.� When

A.� From 1162-1227. Genghis Khan was born to Yesugei, a Mongol chieftain, and called Temujin, which means 'iron worker'. At the age of 13, members of a rival tribe, the Tatars, poisoned Yesugei. Temujin swore vengeance, but an attempt to become leader soon failed and he and his family were outcast.

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Q.� Well, he was only 13 ...

A.� Yes - but he was an ambitious young man. Life was hard in exile - and so was Temujin. On a hunting trip he was ambushed by an enemy tribe and taken prisoner. He killed his guard and escaped ... and tales of his exploits while on the run soon made him a local hero. He then met and befriended Bogurchi, son of a rich man, who would become a blood-brother and trusted ally. Their exploits became greatly exaggerated and enhanced his reputation even further. He made a further ally in Togrul, his father's brother, and together they attacked the Tatar enemy and began to unite the Mongol tribes.

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Q.� His power base was building up

A.� Yes - he was only 17 and had thousands of highly organised men under his command. In 1183 the Mongols gathered to declare Temujin their great Khan, or king, giving him the name Genghis.

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Q.� Genghis

A.� Genghis, sometimes Ghengis, means 'precious warrior' or 'spirit of light'.

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Q.� The Mongols were all united

A.� Not all - so Genghis had to fight it out, particularly with the Keraits, who were led by Jamuga, a boyhood friend of Genghis. Jamuga refused Genghis's chance to surrender and was beaten after a series of battles. Genghis decided to be merciful to his old pal.

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Q.� He freed him

A.� No - he killed him, but without spilling a drop of his blood. Jamuga was suffocated between two felt blankets. Nice.

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Q.� How did Genghis expand his empire

A.� In 1206 Genghis was named Khan of Khans and king of 'all people who lived in felt tents'. In 1207 he began a crusade to conquer China, then three separate empires - the Qin, Tangut empires in the north and the Sung Empire in the south. He managed to conquer most of northern China by 1218 when his attention was turned to Russia.

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Q.� What happened

A.� Mohammed II, Shah of Khwarazm (modern Uzbekistan), slaughtered a Mongolian caravan and a delegation of ambassadors. This was the excuse Genghis needed to attack. He led 90,000 men from the north and he sent a general with 30,000 men to attack from the east. The shah's army numbered more than 400,000 men, but were beaten by Genghis's efficient army. In 1223, 20,000 Mongol warriors devastated a Russian army of 80,000. The Mongols quickly fought their way through Russia and into Europe, destroying entire cities in Russia, Hungary and Poland.

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Q.� And how did it all end

A.� Genghis died in 1227, after falling from his horse during a hunt. He was severely injured and died shortly afterwards.

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Q.� And he died a bully-boy and butcher

A.� Not quite as simple as that. Genghis was a great leader and innovator. He would pluck leaders from the ranks if they showed skill. He was a superb organiser and even adopted a decimal system for dividing up his armies into smaller troops.

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Q.� And where is he buried

A.� His body was taken back to his birthplace, Hentei, north-east of Ulan Bator. Horses were then been driven back and forth over his grave to obscure it, and soldiers were posted until trees grew over the area. The exact location has never been found.

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Steve Cunningham

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