Analyzing Genghis Khan’s Advocacy for Loyalty and Unity in His Leadership
Genghis Khan once said, “One arrow alone can be easily broken but many arrows are indestructible.” Imagine you see one arrow coming at you, it is easily avoided. that one singular arrow on its own does not pose a threat. Now, add more arrows to the equation, and all of a sudden, you are likely doomed, simply because you cannot dodge all the arrows at once. The greater the numbers the more united they are, and the less of a chance the opposition stands. Genghis Khan understood this and was known for uniting the singular tribes in Central Asia and beyond creating a cohesive empire that worked together to continue its expansion. He was a military genius, and he had a strong understanding of the importance of unity and specifically loyalty. This was a motivating factor in his quest to conquer as much land as possible and unite them under one rule and law. His methods were not always kind he was known for sometimes being brutal. But it’s also important to understand where his ideologies, and advanced skills came from. His life experiences, his rise to power, and the type of ruler he was. All are important to understand him and his obsession with loyalty and how it affected the Mongolian Empire.
Genghis Khan’s early life was not easy by any means it was relatively difficult. Before he achieved his title as “Genghis Khan” he was known as Temüjin. According to “Genghis Khan: Early Life” he was born between the years of 1155 to 1168. He was born in Burhan Haldun, a hilly region in Mongolia's Hentiy Province. He was born to his father Yesügei, a minor tribal chief of the Kiyad and the Borjigin clan leader, and his mother Nöker of Ong Khan of the Kerait tribe (New World Encyclopedia Organization 5). He was born into a family that held status. His mother was descended from the Khan tribe, which is where Genghis Khan gets the later part of his title. Temüjin’s childhood was harsh. When he was only 9 or 12 years old, his father, Yesügei, delivered Temüjin to the family of his future wife (Börte of the Onggirat tribe). His father delivered him to Deisechen, leader of the Onggirat tribe, and made his way back to his village, but along the way he was poisoned and killed by Tartar enemies whom he had conflicts with in the past. Temüjin claimed to be the clan's leader as a result of this, but his clan refused to be governed by a young boy and abandoned him and his family. Temüjin, his mother, and his siblings lived as penniless nomads for the next few years, living on scraps and being forced to hunt (8-9). Ghengis Khan's childhood was made worse by abandonment, he lost his father relatively young and was left with his siblings, half-siblings, and mother to take care of. He had to hunt for his food and scavenge for sustenance. He was left to take care of his family as nomads, with no tribe to help. These circumstances of the life he led would later help form his ideologies. Life for him was harsh, so he became harsher.
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Temüjin would later go on to kill his half-brother over an argument about hunting spoils. Despite his mother's harsh rebuke, he never showed regret for the murder; the act also solidified his status as leader of the home. Later, life did not get easier, He was kidnapped and kept hostage. The Ta'yichiut enslaved Temüjin, but a sympathetic prisoner, Chilaun's father, a future Genghis Khan general, saved him (9). Both of these are early life examples of how Ghengis Khan would later rule. He was stern and was not afraid to kill. Even his half-brother was not spared from his wrath. He killed him with little remorse and reaped the benefits. But he was fair, and those that helped him were rewarded. His mother taught him many life lessons about surviving in Mongolia's harsh landscape and even worse political climate, particularly the importance of forming alliances with others, a lesson that would shape his later understanding (10). With the knowledge provided to him by his mother, he learned to hunt and fight. He also learned about the politics of the land and formed his own beliefs and ideologies based on how he was treated. He understood most importantly the need for loyalty and structure. He would go on to attempt to build an army that started small consisting of his friends and his brothers, but with wit, and courage, he expanded his empire to one of the greatest in history that would go on to conquer and rule for years to come.
Ghengis Khan would soon start his reign, he continued to grow intellectually and militarily. In “Genghis Khan: Historical Background” Temujin remembered how his village had abandoned him, and he never forgave them, customs that had allowed them to forsake their loyalty. Their treatment of him gave him a strong awareness of a necessary cohesive community unit, with one law, loyalty, and organization. The necessity to be able to withstand the most extreme weather conditions, and battle off nomadic robbers. He formed the personality of a military and strategic genius. When he stumbled upon his former tribe, he rekindled with them and trained them, and they pledged loyalty to him after witnessing his wisdom. (Daniel Meissner 4-5). His being abandoned by what was supposed to be his community formed many of the ideologies he would use as a conqueror and leader. He realized the flaws in the old ways. He believed that strength was important and that understanding one's environment and natural advantages was a necessity. His wisdom in his early years made him a force to be reckoned with once on the battlefield and in politics.
Ghengis Khan would go on to expand his army by marrying his former intended wife, Börte. According to “Genghis Khan and Mongol Rule” Temüjin intended to grow his supporters, and with Toghrul's (Börtes father) support he could gain protection, more followers, and status. Toghurl accepted Temüjin's marriage to Börte, as he also needed allies in the region. Temüjin gained higher status with this collision, and with that, a new servant named Jelme (he would later become a friend and prominent military leader), and a new highly valuable alliance was formed (George Lane, 19). Using marriage as a political tool proved to be wise for Ghengis Khan, he gained much-needed support and protection and alliances that would prove to be useful in his coming years. Also, raising his servant in rank would show how he rewarded those loyal to him.
His power would grow immensely after the alliance was formed according to “Genghis Khan: The Great Khan” Temujin's leadership and military capabilities soon earned him wins over local foes, and his army got stronger. One tribal chief enemy was famed for cooking his prisoners during battle. Despite this Temujin proved unstoppable, and by forming many alliances, he was able to unite most of the nomadic tribes of Central Asia, each of which was made up of separate clans (Mark Cartwright 5). Temujin, with the help of his former clan men, Toghrul and his friends, and his military genius, quickly, effectively, and without fail rose to power. He united tribes despite initial mass resistance, expanding his army and conquering a large portion of Central Asia.
He later adopted the name Ghengis Khan and was known for his expectations of loyalty. It became one of his most defining qualities as a ruler. An example can be found in the title “Shaping Influences on the Leadership of Genghis Khan, George Washington, and Nelson Mandela: Applications for Educators” by Dr. Jean-Pierre Bongila quotes “Genghis Khan was moved by loyalty to himself and he dealt summarily with his adversaries. Any opposition to his power and conquest was met with an extreme blow to the adversary” (5). The abandonment he faced as a child, and his ability to morally deduce why it was wrong possibly made him value and appreciate loyalty more than other leaders in history. When his loyalty was not met he was not afraid to fight back, oftentimes brutally. When Genghis Khan's blood-brother Jamuka turned out to be one of his rivals, even he was not spared. In “Genghis Khan, Life, Death, and Resurrection” we see just how dedicated Genghis Khan was to loyalty. Temujin's brother Jamuka, had sent men after him. As he fled, he reunited with Toghrul who was deposed by his younger brother. Jamuka would ally with neighboring tribes and would become their leader as they feared the alliance between Genghis Khan and Toghrul. They would end up in a battle where Genghis Khan would recognize two acts of loyalty, and deal with each accordingly. Genghis Khan was struck with a poisonous arrow during battle, Jelme (the previously mentioned slave turned friend) saved and cared for him until he was recovered. Genghis understood that he owed him his life. Once the battle was victorious Genghis stumbled into Sorkan-shira, Chilaun's father, the man who saved him when he was escaping from Taychiuts. Sorkan-Shira’s friend Jirko shoots the arrow that almost killed Genghis, but Jirko quickly pleads fealty to Genghis, and he rewards him by making him his “arrow” and renaming him Jebe. Jebe and Jelme would rise in the ranks and become two renowned generals. Sorkan-Shira and his bloodline were also rewarded and gained status in the courts. (John Man 99-100). Ghengis was fair, and he was willing to forgive. He gave chances for people to swear loyalty to him, and when they did he would reward them greatly. However, his dedication to loyalty was not only extended to himself. When his brother, Jamuka, was finally captured for his crimes, it was only thanks to his men's betrayal. Genghis Khan executed them for betraying their leader and offered his brother one last chance to plead fealty to him. But instead, his brother asked to be killed (Man 107-108). He was not to be crossed and he made this very clear amongst his ranks. Any attempt of disloyalty or coup would be met with death. His brother, despite betraying him, was still given the chance of redemption. Genghis Khan even showed loyalty to his brother by executing his capturers, and by granting him his final request of killing him. “Encyclopedia of Mongolia and the Mongol Empire” By Christopher P. Atwood refers to Genghis Khan’s relationship with his blood brother Bo’orchu. Bo’orchu was loyal to Genghis Khan since they were children and in return received command of the entire right wing of the army. Bo'orchu also shared command of the Keshik (The Royal Guard) and received 17,300 households in North China’s Guangping to rule (55). Another example of Genghis rewarding those with consistent loyalty is rank, with power, and with spoils of war and riches.
Genghis Khan eradicated the idea of separate tribes to achieve loyalty and unity from all whom he conquered. Genghis Khan constructed an elite bodyguard, who was allowed exceptional privileges and held the whole military and social organization together. This was a brilliant move because the corps consisted of the regimental commanders, and their sons, who had the same ranks - except that in the case of a disagreement. The son would be favored over the parent. This was done so that any commander who thought to usurp, knew that their son would be a captive of Ghengis Khan and would be forced to fight one another (Man 111-112). This was brilliant, it ensured the loyalty of his entire ranks, solidifying his rule. No one dared to overthrow him as there was more to lose than just their heads. By potentially pitting father and son against each other, he had their loyalty in a bag. And with everyone’s full loyalty to him, Ghengis Khan could now focus on conquest. Conquest that would become the backbone of the Mongolian Empire, economically, and through legacy. A conquest that would lead to spoils and riches for those loyal to him, a conquest that would forever change the history of Central Asia, from the Pacific Ocean to the Persian Gulf.
Genghis Khan’s early life forced him to become the person he was, and the circumstances of his father's death and his family being abandoned made him realize the major faults in his society at the time. He learned from these experiences and made sure to implement through every step of the way loyalty. He built his empire on loyalty and none of his generals ever crossed him. He conquered a great amount of land with loyalty alone. And he established an empire and a legacy that would last for years to come. His unique and intriguing leadership tactics made him a force to be reckoned with. And his legendary conquest will forever be glorious.
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