Genghis Khan Research Paper

Throughout the years many historical events have been created into TV shows and movies. Often times the movies or real life events are not always historically accurate to create a more interesting plot. The same applies Sergei Bodrov's interpretation of Genghis Khan’s life in the movie "Mongol". While many of the names, people, and events are accurate; there is a great deal of discrepancies portrayed throughout this film. Everything from dates to events has been exaggerated to make for a more interesting movie. Very little is known about the actual events of Temujin and Börte’s early life; most of what is known comes from The Secret History of Mongols (Cleaves).

Temujin was born in 1162 to Yesügei, the chief of the Yakka Mongol tribe, and would

In 1201 Jamuqa was chosen as Gurkhan and formed and army to attack Temujin and Wang Khan. Jamuqa attacked Temujin, and both fought. Temujin’s victory was gained with the help of inclimate weather which lead to a victory for Temujin. After the battle, all of Jamuqa’s troops were destroyed but he managed to escape. Genghis Khan demanded that Jamuqa and all his family to be slain, even the children. Jamuqa’s entire family was murdered including his wife, kids, uncles, cousins, brothers, in-laws, nieces and nephews. The Khan then declared that all the men of Jamuqa’s tribe and all the male children taller than a wagon wheel to be eliminated as well. Women and younger children were sold into slavery. After the Khan’s brutal massacre, the tribe Jamuqa belonged to ceased to exist (Cleaves). In the film, Genghis Khan goes into battle against Jamuqa, Targutai, and their army. When the thunderstorm begins, Jamuqa’s army began to flee out of fear of the storm; this is what allowed Genghis Khan to defeat him. After the defeat, both Jamuqa and Targutai tried to escape. Jamuqa successfully got away while Targutai was captured and killed by his own people. After he is killed, his body is brought to Genghis Khan where he commands Targutai’s betrayers to be killed. The people who were spared after the battle were taken into Genghis Khan’s army. Jamuqa was found, captured, and brought to Genghis Khan where he spares his

At the time of Börte’s abduction by the Merkit tribe, she became pregnant with Temujin’s first son Jochi. Some researchers suggest that Börte was pregnant before the abduction and that Jochi was Temujin’s legitimate child. On the other hand others suggest that Börte was given as a wife to a member of the Merkit tribe which would means Temujin couldn’t have been Jochi’s legitimate child (Cleaves). After Jochi, Temujin and Börte had three more sons Chaghatai, Ogedei, and Tolui. Jochi would have been the successor to Genghis Khan, due to senority, but he died during his father’s lifetime leaving Chaghatai and Ogedei to become his successors. Chaghatai would become Khan for a short time only to be undermined by his brother Ogedei who would become the second great Khan of the Mongol Empire. Temujin would eventually have many more children including some daughters from other wives (Weatherford). The film only shows Temujin having two children instead of four, Jochi, Börte’s first son, and an adopted daughter Mongen. There are no records of Genghis Khan having any adopted children nor a daughter named Mongen