Jenghiz Khan, the Mongol chieftain who eventually conquered almost the entire Asian continent, was born in 1162. His father, a petty Mongol chieftain, named the boy Temujin, after a defeated rival chieftain that he had grown to respect. When Temujin was nine, his father was killed by a member of a rival tribe, and for some years the surviving members of the family lived in constant danger and privation. This was a very precarious position, but Temujin's situation was to become a lot worse before it got better. When he was a young man he was captured in a raid by a rival tribe. To prevent his escaping a wooden collar was placed around his neck. From this extremity of helplessness, as an illiterate prisoner in a primitive, barren country, Temujin rose to become the most powerful man in the world.

Temujin: From Rags to Riches

His rise started when he managed to escape from his captors. He then allied himself with Toghril, a friend of his father's, and chieftain of one of the related tribes living in the area. There followed many years of tribal warfare among the hundreds of Mongol tribes, in the course of which Temujin gradually fought his way to the top. The tribesman of Mongolia had long been known as skilled horsemen and fierce warriors, as well as excellent horse breeders producing some of the finest lines of horses in the world. Throughout history, they had made sporadic raids into northern China. However, before the rule of Temujin, the various tribes had always spent most of their manpower and horses fighting each other in an age-long civil war. Temujin, remarkably, managed to weld all of these tribes together under his leadership, and in 1206 an assembly of the Mongol chieftains proclaimed him Jenghiz Kahn, or "the Universal Emperor."

Jenghiz Kahn: The Ruthless Conqueror

That he banded together hundreds of tribes in a matter of years is truly a grand accomplishment but that, of course, is only the beginning of the story. The formidable military machine that Jenghiz Khan had gathered was then turned outward upon nighboring nations. He first attacked the Hsi Hsia state in northwestern China and the Chin Empire in northern China. While these battles were going on, a dispute arose between Jenghiz Khan and the Khwarezm Shah Muhammad, who ruled a considerable empire in Persia and central Asia, all the results of the Great Muhammad, but that is another story. In 1219, Jenghiz led his armies against the Khwarezm Shah, not that they weren't also fighting China, but a new detachment was sent to Persia. He drove through the Persian archers in overwhelming victories, destroying the Khwarezm Shah's empire,, and subsequently burned everything in his path that would not surrender to him. While other Mongol armies were attacking Russia, Jenghiz Khan himself led a raid into Afghanistan and northern India. He returned to Mongolia in 1225, and died there in 1227.

Jenghiz Kahn: Ruthless Tactics

Indeed, many stories contribute magic to Jenghiz Kahn's victories, but truthfully, his victories were achieved by the sheer ruthlessness he displayed in battle. If ever there was a leader who massacred mercilessly or commanded fear in enemies while respect from his subjects, Temujin was that leader. During the Persian, Russian, and Chinese campaigns he was known to burn down entire cities; razing buildings, men, women, and children with them.

Jenghiz Kahn: Rule After Death

Almost prophetically, Jenghiz Kahn chose his third son- totally against tradition- to rule after his death. It was a brilliant choice for Ogadai Khan became a briiliant general in his own right. Under his leadership, the Mongol armies continued to advance in China, completely overran Russia, and advanced into Europe. In 1241, a series of Polish, German, and Hungarian armies were completely routed by the Mongols, who advanced well past Budapest. However, in that same year, Ogadai died, and the Mongol armies withdrew from Europe, never to return. Under the next two leaders of the Mongol Empire, both grandsons of Jenghiz Khan- Mangu and Kublai Khan, China was completely overrun as well as Korea, Tibet, and other parts of Southeast Asia. By 1279, when Kublai Khan completed the conquest of China, the Mongols ruled the largest land empire in all of history. This was their highpoint, and in not too long the whole empire would slip through their fingers.

Jenghiz Kahn: The Mongol Empire: Reasons for Collapse

One reason why the Mongol Empire collapsed was the fact that it was so big and communication lines, as well as supply lines were dangerously overstretched.

Another reason the Mongol Empire collapsed was because of the hatred they brought on themselves by the territories they conquered. All citizens of conquered territory who were not of Mongol blood were considered inferior and retained far less rights. Thus, the Mongols were now noblemen, and everyone else were peasants- a far cry from when Temujin was born. Also the Mongol taxed ruthlessly and displayed their extravagant wealth to all that they had taxed. They were tyrants almost everywhere they ruled.

The Peasant revolts could not be dealt with like normal battles that Mongols fought, and although untrained, the huge armies assembled in China and Russia against them were unstoppable.

After Jenghiz Khan died, his officers had to break off their successful war on Europe and the Middle East and make a three month trek back to Mongolia's capital. These three months were critical because they allowed the forces against Mongolia to regroup and take back some territory that was lost.

Most of the khans after Jenghiz Khan died very young or only shortly after attaining the khan title. This eventually led to the infighting that caused brother to fight brother and cousin to cousin, weakening the whole empire. This was the main reason for the Mongolian Empire's collapse.

Sources

This article is a compilation of research and writings from:

Empire of the Steppes a History of Central Asia by Rene Grousset
The 100 - A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History by Michael H. Hart