GENGHIS KHAN'S RISE TO POWER

Mongolia in the late 12th Century was a wilderness populated by disparate tribes, all vying with one another in their seasonal search for pastureland for their flocks. There was no government, no single unifying force. Into such an environment was born Temujin, son of Yesugei Bat'atur, leader of a small clan involved in a struggle between the mongol and tatar tribes.

When only 9 years of age, he was sent to his future in-laws following the arrangement of betrothal to a girl from his mother's tribe, the Unggirad. However his father was poisoned by some tatars and died and temujin returned to his mother and siblings. when the tribe deserted them, the family was forced out to live off the land as best they could. During this difficult time Temujin grew into adolescence, befriending a young man of similar age called Jemuga.

One day temujin got into an argument with a half brother over some birds he had shot and killed him. At this early age he was demonstrating his assertion of control and power. When he was 16 he returned to the Unggirad tribe and took his betrothed, Borte, as his bride. it was soon after that he turned to an old friend of his father, To'oril of the Kereyids, asking if he would become his patron in his struggle to regain his clan. To'oril agreed but before they could put any plan into action, Borte was captured by Merkits and carried off. Temujin's boyhood friend Jemuga was given command of a rescue party and he returned triumphant with Borte. She was, however, pregnant, and the resulting boy, Jochi, was forever haunted by possible illegitimacy.

Eighteen months later Temujin and Jemuga fell out and most of the men followed Temujin, believing him to be the better leader. Jemuga was filled with jealousy and vowed to bring his rival to ruin, particularly as Temujin was elected 'Khan of the Mongols', a rather empty title. Jemuga launched a surprise attack and Temujin only just escaped with his life. He then rescued To'oril from exile after his patron had been cast out by his tribe and had him reinstated as leader of the Kereyids. Following more success in battle against the Merkits the Chinese enlisted both Temujin and To'oril to defeat the Tatars, a victory which resulted in To'oril being given the title 'Ong Khan'.

During the winter of 1201-2 Jemuga gathered together a confederation of Merkids, Naimans, Tatars, Tayichi'uds and Unggirads to attack Ong Khan and temujin, but the confederation was badly organised and were picked off one by one. The war ended in a crushing defeat for the Tatars by the Khingan Mountains which virtually destroyed their army.

However it was then that Temujin and Ong Khan fell out, Ong Khan becoming fearful of the reputation the young man was getting. After Temujin's forces were badly mauled by the Kereyids Ong Khan refused to come to his aid and Temujin retreated with 4,600 men to Lake Baljuna in 1203. He waited his time and soon the Kereyids and Ong Khan began to fragment, so Temujin struck, shattering the Kereyids over a three-day battle. Ong Khan fled but was caught and executed. The defeated Kereyids were absorbed into the Mongol tribe and became part of Temujin's growing army.

Jemuga was still at large and gathered the remnants of the defeated tribes and joined up with the Naimans, the last rivals left to Temujin. It was now that Temujin reorganised his army into units of ten, ready for the battle with Jemuga. In 1204 the two armies met, and it turned out to be a victory for Temujin. The Naimans were accepted into the ranks of the Mongols and Jemuga was caught and executed. In 1206 Temujin was elected 'Genghis Khan' at the quriltai of that year.

For three years the new Mongolian nation was forged, and once his army was ready, Genghis struck out. In 1209 the Uighur tribe voluntary joined the Mongols. Reinforced with them, raids went out into Hsia-Hsia and the ruling Tanguts were forced into submission, becoming unwilling vassals. In 1211 the first rais into China occurred and they smashed a Chin army of 70,000 within a few hours, but were unable to take any city due to a lack of seige equipment.

In 1213 they returned, slaughtering thousands of peasants and laying seige to the city of Chung-tu. The Chinese emperor bought off the Mongols and for the moment was saved. He however moved his capital to K'ai-Feng which Genghis interpreted as a break in the truce and returned to besiege the city in 1214. It fell the following year and was razed to the ground.

Shortly afterwards Genghis turned his attention to the west and the Transoxianan empire of the Khwarazm Shah. In 1218 Mongol envoys were executed by the Shah. This was tantamount to an act of war. It was at this point that Casca appears to have left Genghis Khan's army, for it was just prior to the move against Khwarazm which took place in 1219. Casca missed the war which turned out to be a victory for the Mongols.

Source: Storm From The East by Robert Marshall, Penguin history Books.

Click to return to The Mongol | Click for Booklist