Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan (c.1160 - 1227), also spelt Chinggis Khan, was the founder of the Mongol Empire who conquered and ruled over large parts of China, Central Asia, Russia and even as far as Iran between the years 1206 to 1227.
Known for his ruthless tactics and unrelenting warfare, Genghis Khan employed terror to subdue his enemies, often massacring entire cities and ensuring that his reputation for cruelty spread throughout the empire. His military strategies, including the use of psychological warfare and highly disciplined troops, allowed him to conquer vast territories with remarkable speed.
His legal code, known as the Yassa, sought to maintain order by addressing issues like theft, bribery, and military discipline. Genghis also encouraged trade, communication, and the exchange of ideas across his empire, which fostered cultural, technological and religious advancements. Despite his brutal methods on the battlefield, he laid the groundwork for a thriving, multicultural empire that supported innovation and integration of diverse peoples.
He followed the Tengrist faith, the traditional shamanic and animist belief system of the Mongols revolving around the worship of one god, Tengri, the eternal blue sky, and emphasising harmony with nature, ancestor worship, and the spiritual power of the Khan as a ruler chosen by divine will. Despite this, he tolerated and learnt from a wide range of religious persuasions, including Buddhism, Islam, Manicheaism and Christianity.
Genghis Khan had early associations with Nestorian Christians, who lived in his empire and were spread across the region from Central Asia to Persia. Nestorian Christianity was a branch of Eastern Christianity that had spread along the Silk Road and had a significant presence in Central Asia at the time. In Mongolia, the Keraites, one of the five tribes of Mongolia at that time, followed Nestorianism and were one of the key allies to Genghis' Borjigin tribe as they helped him to unite the Mongol tribes and found the Mongol empire. The Khan of the Keraites, a devout Christian named Toghrul, served as an important early patron and ally to Genghis.
