Gebghis Khan

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Genghis Khan (Temujin)

Genghis Khan, whose original name Temujin, was born around 1167. He was born near Lake Baikal in Russia. His father was a powerful Mongol King named Yesukai. At thirteen, Temujin succeeded his father as the Chief of his tribe. He was to become the creator of one of the largest empires to ever exist. Genghis Khan means "Universal King" or "Universal emperor".

Many neighboring countries feared Genghis Khan and his vast Empire. He was known for his cavalry, which was superior to any other. Their armor was light so they had a wider range of motion. The cavalry could shoot as many as six arrows per minute. On horseback, the cavalry was unstoppable. With this army he was able to unite all of Mongolia under his rule. He next turned south toward China.

Temujin began his conquest of China after he was given his title Genghis Khan. By 1208, he had a foothold inside the Great Wall of China.

In 1213, he pushed south and west into the ch’in Empire, and didn’t stop until reaching the Shantung Peninsula. By 1215, he had taken over Yanking, the only stronghold left in Northern China.


In 1218, the Korean Peninsula fell to the Mongols. In 1219, in retaliation for the murder of some Mongols, Genghis Khan pushed his armies westward, taking over a vast Turkish empire that included modern Iraq, Iran, and part of Turkistan. In 1222, Genghis Khan marched into Russia and took over the region between the Volga and Dnepr rivers, as well as territories stretching from the Persian Gulf almost to the Arctic Ocean.


Genghis Khan struck fear in the hearts of many. His ingenious, strategic battle plans never failed. Exclaiming "I am the punishment of God," he conquered the largest Empire this world has ever seen, larger even than that of Alexander the Great. He seemed truly unconquerable, but on August 28, 1227, he died. Some say he drank himself to death. When he died his e...