Genghis—World’s Greatest “Khan”queror

Heroic Women of the Mongol Empire

2010-02-02T19:24:00Z

Mongol history is primarily macho history. Most prominent are the military campaigns and deeds of Genghis Khan and his famous sons and grandsons. But where are the women in Mongol history? What was their role in the grand narrative of “Mongol dominance?” To help address these questions, here’s a list of five heroic women in Mongol history.

1. Hoelun was the mother of Temujin, the boy who later became “Genghis Khan.” After Hoelun’s husband was murdered, she raised her children as a single mom—a truly heroic task in the harsh and rugged landscape of the Mongolian steppe. She remained a trusted advisor to her son once he became the Great Khan.

2. Borte was Genghis Khan’s primary wife. She gave birth to nine children, the scions of the Mongol empire. As empress, Borte probably also helped rule the Mongol homeland, but unfortunately, we know few details of her life.

3. Sorkhokhtani was the wife of Tolui, Genghis Khan’s youngest son. After Tolui’s death, Sorkhokhtani’s political savvy insured that her sons inherited more than their share of the Mongol Empire. Most successful was Kublai Khan, who conquered China and established the Yuan Dynasty.

4. Torregene was an exceptionally powerful woman, taking the reins of the Mongol Empire from AD 1241 to 1246, following the death of her husband Ogodei—Genghis Khan’s grandson. Amidst several competing candidates for the office of Great Khan, Torregene saw to it that her son Guyuk ascended to the position of supreme ruler.

5. Chabi was the wife of Kublai Khan and as an empress was quite influential. She provided great political support to her husband and was also a patron of Tibetan Buddhism, allocating funds for monasteries and other projects.

The high status women described above had more rights and opportunities than most. The average Mongol woman worked tirelessly to raise her children, tend to the flocks, and milk the animals. In some cases, women also venturened into battle—one of Genghis Khan’s daughters reportedly led a force that destroyed Nishapur, in present day Iran. Though the sources are somewhat scarce, scholars are taking a closer look at the roles of women in the Mongol Empire.

Last Call for Genghis! Come see the Genghis Khan Exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science through February 7th, 2010.

Great Khan Extends Cold-Hearted “Diss” to Pope

2010-01-09T00:10:00Z

A recent article in the Telegraph notes that for the first time, the Vatican archive has published a letter received by Pope Innocent IV from Guyuk Khan, the grandson of Genghis Khan (see actual letter at left).

In the letter, Guyuk calls for Europe’s immediate submission and demands that the Pope and other western leaders travel to Karakorum and give the Khan his due “props” or else…But this is only one-half of a colorful exchange between two men from seemingly different worlds.

Guyuk’s letter was first provoked by a message from the Pope, carried by John of Plano Carpini, an intrepid friar and spy who was present at Guyuk’s enthronement in AD 1246. The Pope’s letter lectured the Mongols on Christian theology, scolded them for attacking Christian nations, and declared the Pontiff to be the singular earthling who spoke for God. Guyuk must have resented this challenge to his authority; he was the Great Khan, a man who inscribed his divine right on his coins, which read “By the Power of God/Dominion of Guyuk.”

Guyuk’s letter belied no grudge against Christianity, his own mother Toregene, who ruled the Mongol Empire as regent for five years, was a Christian. It was the Pope’s claim to a monopoly on God’s grace that irked Guyuk. From a Mongol perspective, they had it all wrong—the heavens had named Genghis Khan and his descendants, including Guyuk, as the inheritors of the earth. And who could argue? The Mongol Empire of the 13th century was the largest the world had ever known.

Come see the gold and silver coins of the Khan and hundreds of other Mongol artifacts at the Genghis Khan exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, open for a limited time only—through February 7th, 2010.

Genghis Khan and the “Five Snouts”

2009-12-11T22:05:00Z

Genghis Khan was unique among history’s great conquerors because of his humble origins as a nomadic herder. Mongolians today continue to look after sheep, goats, horses, cattle, and camels—referred to affectionately as the “five snouts.” The Mongols of the 13th century had an Atkins-like diet of meat, more meat, milk products (cheese, yogurt, butter, fermented mare’s milk) and an occasional wild vegetable. Think you’re cut out for this traditional Mongolian lifestyle? Read on…

To Be a Nomadic Herder, You’d Better:

Love Animals: You’ll get close and personal with the “five snouts,” so be prepared to bliss out on the interesting sights, smells and sounds of the herd. Your time will be divided between keeping your furry pals in line, finding them good pasture to munch, nursing them back to health, and coaxing them to provide you with milk.
Pack Light: You’re a nomad, so remember—the more you own, the more you haul. All your belongings will need to fit on a camels’ back or in an ox-drawn cart.
Know the Land: Got a good sense of direction? You’ll need it to find the best pasture for your animals during each season, taking into account rainfall patterns and the location of other herders competing for the best land.
Be Prepared: The barren steppes may seem like wide-open country, but every patch has been claimed. Sharpen your archery skills so you can deal with those intruding on your land—threatening the survival of your animals and family. On the other hand, if times get tough and you’re starving, you may have to become the raider
Have a Little Faith: Though you know how to take care of yourself, your local shaman can help you overcome sickness or bad luck, and make decisions for the future.

Not sure the nomadic life is for you? Stop by the Genghis Khan exhibition and learn more at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science – open now through February 7th.

Karakorum: World’s Biggest Storage Closet?

2009-11-23T16:05:00Z

After Genghis Khan’s death in AD 1227, his sons and grandsons continued to enlarge the Mongol Empire, eventually conquering China, Central Asia, greater Persia and Russia. Even though Genghis Khan ruled successfully from his felt tent, or ger, his descendants recognized the need for a permanent capital from which to rule their ever-expanding domain. In fact, some have called the ancient capital city of Karakorum “the world’s biggest storage closet” because it provided a collection point for war booty and tribute payments from subject nations across Eurasia.

Karakorum was built in the Orkhon Valley of central Mongolia in 1235 by Genghis Khan’s third son Ögödei. Of the few surviving historical accounts of life in Karakorum, the best was written by William of Rubruck, a Flemish Friar who visited the capital to evangelize the non-Christian “heathens” in the early 1250s. He describes the city’s palace, layout, and cold steppe environment. Rubruck was struck by the Mongol’s penchant for strong drink. He chronicled the Khan’s prized silver fountain, which was built in the form of a tree with branches that dispensed four different kinds of alcohol—fermented mare’s milk, wine, a honey liquor, and a rice ale. The fountain was crafted by a Parisian artisan named Guillaume de Boucher, who was captured by the Mongols and brought to Karakorum to work in the service of the Khan.

Archaeological excavations at Karakorum reveal that it was truly an international city. Artifacts found at the Mongol capital include gold and silver coins from Persia, Chinese porcelains, and an obsidian mask from Egypt. Archaeologists believe that the palace of the Great Khan lies beneath the remains of a more recent Buddhist monastery from the 16th Century, but more investigations are needed for confirmation.

To see a breathtaking array of artifacts from recent excavations at Karakorum—the first Mongol City—visit the Genghis Khan exhibition now at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science until February 7, 2010.

The Good, the Bad, and the Studly

2009-11-05T21:40:00Z

This blog provides an informal introduction to Genghis Khan, the subject of a new temporary exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Unless you’re Mongolian, the name “Genghis Khan” may conjure thoughts of a maniacal barbarian, killer, or "destroyer of civilizations.” More nuanced portraits of the Khan, however, have recently emerged that reveal his role as a nation builder, statesman, peacemaker, and patriarch.

The Good…

Genghis Khan’s unification of Mongolia ended years of intertribal warfare and violence, bringing peace and order to his homeland.
The Khan also secured trade routes between East and West—allowing for an unprecedented amount of intercontinental exchange in goods, knowledge, and even people.
Religious tolerance was a hallmark of Genghis Khan’s rule. By decree, all religions were respected and none given precedence.

The Bad…

In a chilling act of fratricide, he murdered his own half-brother while only a “tween.”
To his rivals he was merciless, warning that “he who does not submit will, together with women, children, and relatives be destroyed.” This was not a hollow threat but a promise he carried out repeatedly—and with zeal.
Cruelty, at least by today’s standards, seemed to come naturally to the Khan. He supposedly boasted that “man’s greatest fortune is to chase and defeat his enemy, seize his total possessions, leave his married women weeping and wailing, ride his gelding, use the bodies of his women as a nightshirt and support, gazing upon and kissing their rosy breasts…” The "Gobernator" paraphrased the Great Khan in his role as Conan the Barbarian (see film clip here).

& the Studly

Go easy on the Khan, after all, he might be family! A recent study of DNA across the globe, published in the American Journal of Human Genetics, argues that 0.5% of the world’s population could be descendants of Genghis Khan. Yup, “studly” just about sums it up.

If you don’t believe the hype, confront the Khan for yourself. The Genghis Khan exhibit will be at the DMNS until February 7th, 2010.

What do Genghis Khan and The Godfather’s Don Corleone have in Common?

2009-10-22T17:54:00Z

This blog provides an informal introduction to Genghis Khan, the subject of a new temporary exhibit at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science

If you’re skeptical of the similarities between Genghis Khan and Don Vito Corleone, bear with me. It requires a mash-up of world history and a leap across a vast cultural divide, but just think about it…

One was the “Don” and the other was the “khan.”

Both were respected leaders, but the Great Khan makes Don Vito look like a cub scout. Genghis Khan, variously translated as Firm, Strong, or Oceanic Ruler, established what became the largest contiguous land empire in world history. By the mid 13th century, Mongols called the shots from China to the Mediterranean—an estimated 12 million square miles.

Both made their opponents “offers they could not refuse.”

These men used extreme intimidation and violence to dissuade potential rivals. As a teenager, Genghis Khan killed his older brother who refused to share the spoils of their hunting trip. Genghis Khan routinely made the following “offer” to his enemies: give up everything and survive, or resist and risk the destruction of your city and the death of everyone you know.

Both valued loyalty above everything—except power.

The Godfather demanded loyalty from his family and associates but dispensed of these loyalties if he himself was threatened. Likewise, Genghis Khan expected his men to serve only him. The Great Khan fostered loyalty through generosity, but also blackmail. His generals were required to deliver a son to him and the boys were effectively held as hostages to insure the loyalty of their fathers. When several of his closest confidants, including his blood-brother Jamuka, challenged his authority, they paid with their lives.

Each man placed a high value on family.

Don Corleone said “a man who doesn't spend time with his family can never be a real man.” Similarly, Genghis Khan showed great kindness to his children and grandchildren. He recognized the strengths of his four primary sons: Jochi, the skilled hunter; Chaghatai, the most learned ; Ogodei, known for his generosity; and Tolui, who possessed the tools, ambition and aptitude of a conqueror.

While the Godfather has captured the imagination of millions through the novels of Mario Puzo and films of Frances Ford Coppola, the life and conquests of Genghis Khan provide the grist for a dozen or more feature films and for the upcoming exhibition at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Stop into the Museum and learn more about the world’s greatest conqueror—Genghis Khan!