The Mongolian Steppes in the late twelfth century was a lawless territory. Chaos was the rule. Wives and live stock were stolen only to be lost by thieves to others through ambush and subterfuge. All men lived as enemies and all men lived in poverty with no viable way to better themselves. Everyone was climbing out of the same dark abyss – pulling at the leg above and stepping on the head below. Together they could ride out of this hell and into history - but how? With no law and no moral standard the impossible deliverance sprouted from the Steppes in the guise of a boy pushed aside and impoverished of position and comfort. Through strength, will power and personal charisma Temujin, later known as Genghis Khan, established justice and stability with a vision of what the Mongols could be.
In ten years of conquest Temujin had forged alliances with many tribes. With growing influence and numbers of warriors the elders were convinced to call a Khuruldai. This was a political and military council whose job was to elect a supreme leader, a Genghis Khan. There was great support for Temujin to be elevated to Genghis Khan. Yet formidable adversaries opposing him were still in the field and would fight.
Temujin, the new Genghis Khan was a man of many talents and copious contradictions. The conqueror, destroyer and murderer became a great builder, innovator and protector of orphans and abandoned women. Three great passions dominated his world; women, foreign affairs and world domination.
Incredibly, a nomad fascinated by world cultures, chose to imitate those far off lands by building a great city. Temujin brought artisans, intellectuals and politicos from the far reaches of his empire to Karakorum, his walled city. Gathered, by force, these men would build a fabulous city and capital of the great Mongolian Empire. Ultimately the latest weapons and war machines of the world were in the hands of Temujin. Momentum was building.
Temujin had great ambition, not the least was uniting the tribes of the Steppes and forging an empire. The Silk Rode flowed through Mongolia like a golden river from the Orient to Eastern Europe. Confronting and purging the Chinese from the Steppes would put control of the Silk Road in Mongolian hands. Those hands would embrace fabulous wealth and the invading army from the Mongolian Steppes would change the world.
Building an empire was a family affair. Wealth and power would be Temujin's. The sons of Genghis Khan were his strong arms in the field, but they were suspicious and jealous of one another. Jochi, the eldest, was conceived during the time Borte, their mother, had been kidnapped by Merkit tribesmen. She had been sold as a wife before Temujin could steal her back. Nine months after her return she gave birth to Jochi. Was he Temujin's son?
Jochi's lineage was always a source of tension amongst his brothers and some of Khan's generals. Chagatai, the second son of Khan was hot-headed and the most vocal. He never accepted Jochi as Temujin's eldest son and heir.
Temujin knew well the dangers of conspiracies. What heightened intrigue and made Jochi's position less stable was a quiet marauder. Gonbold was a Merkit warrior who had once kidnapped Borte and was perhaps Jocin's biological father. Communicating in secret with the queen and her eldest son, Gonbold hoped to build a wedge between Khan and the heir to his empire. His goal was to foment the already tense dissension amongst Temujin's sons. He would use stealth and manipulation to consume the flames of Temujin’s empire. Gonbold hid amongst the populace of Karakorum. His Merkit followers were spread out in the near by steppes, under cover but ready to quickly usurp the great Khan. Temujin had Gongold and his men chained in the public square of Karakorum. After long and slow torture their bodies were set ablaze. Khan knew the value in the theater of public executions.
None of this dissension had any affect on the loyalty of Temujin. He believed in all of his sons and would delegate power and position to them. His goal was to strengthen and build an empire. The challenges were great. Formidable foes forced Temujin's family to forget their differences and join together in the name of survival and empire. Temujin believed he was only as strong as his most powerful foes. He welcomed the opposition as proof of his personal greatness and destiny.
A powerful adversary still roamed the Steppes. Jamuka was a boyhood friend and ally to Temujin; jealously and resentment ended their alliance. In the west Jamuka joined the Naiman tribes and was gathering many warriors and building strong resistance. Jamuka had defeated Temujin years earlier at the battle of Khalakhaljid Sands. His was a real threat and Khan sent Jochi, his eldest son, to end Jamuka's resistance. The Naiman's were one tribe, Khan was many. Jamuka was tortured and executed. His women were publicly violated. Members of the Naiman's were scattered.
Surely and inevitably scattered tribes were consolidated into the Mongolian dominion. Still the Jin Dynasty stood in the way of limitless wealth. The silk road was yet to be conquered.
The Jins ruled northern China from Beijing. Foolishly a delegation was sent to Genghis Khan demanding Mongol submission as vassals. Defying the Jins usually meant the loss of “the flow” of goods along the Silk Road. Beijing misjudged the situation. Genghis Khan ordered his son Tolui to attack Beijing with siege engines and trebuchets. When the city fell the Jin's were vanquished and the Silk Road flowed unobstructed through Mongolia.
This was the realization of Genghis Khan’s vision and ambition. Temujin betrothed his daughter to a tribal chief of the Tangut's in the southern part of the empire along the Silk Road. The riches of the Silk Road were at last in the firm grasp of Khan. For two hundred years the Mongols controlled the flow of trade. Dark forces were always on the horizon looking for a breach in the armor of the Mongol horde. Khan never feared.
