Genghis Khan

Temujin is born in Deluun Boldog.

Jan 1, 1162

Temujin is born in Deluun Boldog near modern day Mongolia. Little is known of his earliest years. He may have been the descendant of a family of blacksmiths and he may have been named for a Tatar chieftain that his father had recently captured.

Genghis Khan's Life

Period: Jan 1, 1162 to Aug 18, 1227

This the a timeline of all the major events in Genghis Khan's 65 year life.

Temujin and his mother are abandoned by his father's tribe.

Jan 1, 1171

After his father is poisoned, Temujin goes to take over his father's role as chieftain of their tribe. However, the tribe refused to be ruled by a young boy and cast out Temujin, his mother, and his three brothers, forcing them to live in poverty.

Temujin kills his half-brother.

Jan 1, 1172

In an argument during a hunting expedition, Temujin kills his half-brother, Behter, who liked to take whatever young Temujin killed or caught. This is the beginning of his reputation as a great warrior.

Temujin marries a woman from the Onggirat tribe.

Jan 1, 1187

Hoping to build an alliance with the Onggirat tribe, Temujin marries Borte. She is then kidnapped by the Merkit tribe as revenge against Temujin's father, who stole a Merkit wife.

Temujin rescues his wife from the Merkit tribe.

Jun 1, 1187

Temujin gathers several hundred supporters and rescues Borte from the Merkit tribe, where she was someone else's wife. Temujin rescues her and she gives birth to his first son nine months later. He takes several other wives over the course of his life.

Temujin is named Genghis Khan of the Mongolian Empire.

Jan 1, 1206

Temujin is named Genghis Khan, the ruler of the Turko-Mongol people. He builds an army that becomes one of the strongest in the world.

Genghis begins his first foreign war.

Jan 1, 1209

In his first war outside of Mongolia, Genghis leads his army against the kingdom of Xi Xia in China. Genghis's army, far more organized than that of Xi Xia's, he wins easily and Xi Xia becomes a seperate state of Mongolia.

Genghis defeats Zhongdu by starving the residents.

Jan 1, 1215

Genghis leads his army into northern China in 1214. When the Jin emperor asks Genghis to withdraw, promising him a princess, slaves, gold, and silver. Genghis agrees but gets angry and fears a counterattack when the Jin court retreats. He returns to Zhongdu in 1215 and starves the city until it surrenders.

Genghis begins his final campaign.

Jan 1, 1226

As punishment for disobedience, Genghis leads his army to Xi Xia. His army diverts a canal and water threatens to flood the city of Ningxia, forcing the troops to surrender.

Genghis orders the destruction of Xi Xia.

Jun 1, 1226

The aging and ill general orders his army to remove any trace of Xi Xia. The troops comply and completely destroy entire towns and villages. Residents are either killed or taken as slaves.

Khan dies, possibly due to prior injuries.

Aug 18, 1227

Already in failing health, Khan dies in a camp during a campaign against Xi Xia, a kingdom of China. He may have died due to injuries he received after he fell off of a horse the previous year.