Genghis as a Great Khan

The most iconic of all Mongolians, grand khan Genghis (or Chinggis in Mongolian) was the great Mongolian leader and warrior. Born in 1162, Genghis, through sheer will, united the diverse Mongol tribes and established the Great Mongol State. His empire was one of the largest the world had ever seen. His political leadership was forward-thinking and based on meritocracy. Genghis’ military tactics and success was unmatched and he possessed one of the fastest and strongest armies of his time. He truly was one of the most important figures in all of world history.
Genghis was a shaman believer his entire life and held the deepest respect for the eternal blue sky and the earth. But in order to control many tribes and states, he pursued the policy of religious freedom and therefore did not discriminate among the many different religions in the Empire. This policy was to attract people of alien countries and not to provoke their resistance. He kept some monasteries and temples and freed monks and priests from military recruitment and tax. But he strictly restricted some customs, that seemed harsh to the Mongols, such as the Muslim way of beheading sheep.

For such a great historical figure such as Genghis Khan, information on his life is surprisingly scarce. This is due to the record taking of the time and the loss of many historical documents. Much of what is known comes from “The Secret History of the Mongols” which has one of the most detailed accounts of his life. However, much mystery and controversy still surround his life and death.