There have been many powerful generals who conquered, expanded their nation’s borders, and influenced millions of people by spreading their culture. Few generals, however, matched the effectiveness and cunning that was possessed by Genghis Khan of the Mongols.
Genghis Khan’s real name was Temujin. When his father died, he was still a child, and his father’s enemies had the family exiled, believing that without a clan and the protection it offered, they would die. However, instead of giving up, the resourceful Mongol family lived off the land, and prospered. Temujin became stronger and stronger, and took control of the family. As he continued to grow, other tribes feared that he was becoming too strong, and devised a plan to capture Temujin. He was then tied with a wooden yoke that restricted his movement. However, he escaped one night by knocking his guard in the head.
After escaping, Temujin started to make alliances with other tribes, and was eventually assimilated into the tribe of his wife. Soon after this event, the camp was raided, and his wife was captured. Temujin rescued his wife. Many men started to follow him, and Temujin was starting to become a Khan.
Over next several years, Temujin gained several more followers, and started training his men for battle. The scattered Mongol people united, and became a single nation. Temujin, after eliminating all his rivals, became the supreme Khan, or Genghis Khan.