GENGHIS KHAN

GENGHIS KHAN, Mongol conqueror, whose nomad armies created a vast empire under his control, from China to Russia. He was born near Lake Baykal in Russia, the son of Yesukai (d. 1180?), a Mongol chief and ruler of a large region between the Amur River and the Great Wall of China. At the age of 13, Temujin succeeded his father as tribal chief. His early reign was marked by successive revolts of his subject tribes and an …

…travelers could go from one end of his domain to the other without fear or danger. At his death, on Aug. 18, 1227, the MONGOL EMPIRE, (q.v.) was divided among his three sons and gradually dissipated. Four of his grandsons, however, became great Mongol leaders in their own right. Genghis Khan's invasions were of great historical importance long after his death, for the Turks, who fled before him, were driven to their own invasion of Europe.