Genghis Khan | |||||
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1st Khagan of the Mongol Empire (Supreme Khan of the Mongols) King of Kings |
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Genghis Khan as portrayed in a 14th-century Yuan era album, the original version was in black and white. Original size is 47 cm wide and 59.4 cm high. Paint and ink on silk. Now located in the National Palace Museum, Taipei, Taiwan.
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1st Great Khan of the Mongol Empire | |||||
Reign | Spring 1206 – August 18, 1227 | ||||
Coronation | Spring 1206 in a kurultai at the Onon River, Mongolia | ||||
Successor | Ögedei Khan | ||||
Born | Temüjin likely 1162 Khentii Mountains, Mongolia |
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Died | August 18, 1227 (aged c. 65) | ||||
Spouse |
Börte Üjin Khatun Kunju Khatun Khulan Khatun Yesugen Khatun Yesulun Khatun Isukhan Khatun Gunju Khatun Abika Khatun Gurbasu Khatun Chaga Khatun Moge Khatun |
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Issue |
Jochi Chagatai Ögedei Tolui Others |
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House | Borjigin | ||||
Father | Yesügei | ||||
Mother | Hoelun |
Full name | |
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Genghis Khan Mongol: Чингис хаан Chinggis Khaan Mongol script (right): Chinggis Khagan |
Genghis Khan (c. 1162 – August 18, 1227), born Temüjin, was the Great Khan and founder of the Mongol Empire, which became the largest contiguous empire in history after his death. He came to power by uniting many of the nomadic tribes of Northeast Asia. After founding the Empire and being proclaimed "Genghis Khan", he launched the Mongol invasions that conquered most of Eurasia. Campaigns initiated in his lifetime include those against the Qara Khitai, Caucasus, and Khwarazmian, Western Xia and Jin dynasties. These campaigns were often accompanied by large-scale massacres of the civilian populations – especially in the Khwarazmian and Western Xia controlled lands. By the end of his life, the Mongol Empire occupied a substantial portion of Central Asia and China.
Before Genghis Khan died he assigned Ögedei Khan as his successor. Later his grandsons split his empire into khanates. He died in 1227 after defeating the Western Xia. He was buried in an unmarked grave somewhere in Mongolia. His descendants extended the Mongol Empire across most of Eurasia by conquering or creating vassal states in all of modern-day China, Korea, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and substantial portions of Eastern Europe and Southwest Asia. Many of these invasions repeated the earlier large-scale slaughters of local populations. As a result, Genghis Khan and his empire have a fearsome reputation in local histories.