GenghisKhan

GenghisKhan, also known as Temujin before his rise, was the founder of the Mongol Empire and one of history's most influential military leaders. Born circa 1162 into the Borjigin clan on the Mongol steppe, he united the fractious Mongol tribes through a combination of alliance-building, personal charisma, and force. After forging a central leadership and loyalty-based system, he was proclaimed Genghis Khan, or "universal ruler," at a 1206 kurultai.

He restructured Mongol society and the army, introducing a merit-based approach to promotion and a disciplined, highly mobile cavalry force. The Mongol military organization used decimal and unit formations, signaling protocols, and a system of feigned retreats and rapid strikes that proved devastating in campaigns.

GenghisKhan's campaigns united and expanded the empire across much of Asia. He led campaigns against the Jin Dynasty in northern China, subjugated Western Xia, and then launched a devastating invasion of the Khwarezmian Empire after the murder of Mongol merchants. Within two decades, Mongol forces controlled large parts of Central Asia and northern China, with further conquests and administration continuing under his successors. The empire also developed an extensive relay network, known as the yam, to support rapid communication and trade.

His legacy includes both the creation of the largest contiguous land empire in history and a lasting influence on warfare, administration, and cross-cultural exchange. He died in 1227 during a campaign against Jin forces; the location of his burial remains unknown. He was father to several sons who would continue the expansion, notably Ögedei, Chagatai, Tolui, and Jochi.