Genghis Khan

1162 – 1227 · died at about 65^[1][2]

Politics & Leadership

Fun Facts About Genghis Khan

• Genghis Khan very likely spent years as a servant of the Jin dynasty of North China, the state he later overthrew, modern historians say. Mongol sources omitted the episode.^[1]
• The English spelling "Genghis" comes from an 18th-century misreading of Persian sources, and the meaning of the title itself is uncertain.^[1]
• According to legend, Genghis Khan was born clutching a blood clot in his hand, a sign in Asian folklore that the child would be a warrior.^[1]
• No eyewitness description or contemporary portrait of Genghis Khan survives. Early accounts describe him as tall and strong, with cat's eyes.^[1]
• Breaking steppe custom, Genghis divided battle plunder equally between himself and his men, and he encouraged companions to criticize his mistakes.^[1]
• Genghis was buried on or near the sacred peak Burkhan Khaldun, and the mountain was declared a "Great Taboo" zone, closed to all but its guards.^[1]
• Rumi was born just 20 years before Genghis Khan died.^[1][2][3][4]
• Genghis Khan was alive at the same time as Thomas Aquinas — their lives overlapped for 2 years (1225–1227).^[1][2][5][6]

Genghis Khan, also known as Chinggis Khan, was the founder and first khan of the Mongol Empire. After spending most of his life uniting the Mongol tribes, he launched a series of military campaigns, conquering large parts of China and Central Asia.^[1]

Contemporaries

Saladin

31 yr overlap

Rumi

20 yr overlap

Kublai Khan

12 yr overlap

Thomas Aquinas

2 yr overlap

Their World

Questions About Genghis Khan

When was Genghis Khan born?

Genghis Khan was born in 1162 and died in 1227.

How old was Genghis Khan at death?

Genghis Khan died in 1227 at about 65 years old (1162–1227).

What was Genghis Khan known for?

Genghis Khan was known for: Founder of the Mongol Empire. Genghis Khan, also known as Chinggis Khan, was the founder and first khan of the Mongol Empire. After spending most of his life uniting the Mongol tribes, he launched a series of military campaigns, conquering large parts of China and Central Asia.

Who was alive at the same time as Genghis Khan?

Genghis Khan's closest contemporary was Saladin. Their lives overlapped for 31 years.