THE RISE OF TEMUDJIN "GENGHIS KHAN" - Chapter 8. Death and Burial of the Conqueror.

THE MONGOLS HISTORY - by Jeremiah Curtin - HQ Full Book.

Chapter 8: Death and Burial of the Conqueror of Jeremiah Curtin's The Mongols: A History presents a vivid and sweeping account of the final years of Genghis Khan—known in the text as Jinghis Khan—and the events that followed his death, which shaped the Mongol Empire's future. This chapter encapsulates the transition from the relentless campaigns of conquest to the delicate moment of imperial succession, offering rich insight into Mongol leadership, warfare, mythology, and cultural practices surrounding death and legacy. The chapter begins in the winter of 1222–1223, with Jinghis Khan encamped near the Indus River, after his tremendous campaigns across Central Asia and into the Islamic world. 

This pause marks a rare moment of rest for the conqueror and his armies. While there, Jinghis contemplates a return to Mongolia, a homeland both spiritual and strategic. His decision to head back north in 1223 is portrayed as momentous, even shrouded in myth and legend. Curtin explores the folklore that sprang up around this decision: some claimed the spirits of his ancestors called him home, others suggested omens or supernatural forces were involved. These myths underscore the semi-divine status Mongols attributed to their khan.

Jinghis's departure from the western front was not without bloodshed. As part of his ongoing strategy to instill fear and maintain absolute control, he issued a brutal command—to slaughter all prisoners deemed useless, especially those incapable of contributing to the Mongol war effort. This reflects a grim aspect of Mongol pragmatism and the uncompromising ruthlessness of their leadership. The narrative then shifts to Chepé Noyon, one of Jinghis Khan’s trusted generals, who is dispatched westward with a specific and devastating mission: to exterminate the Polovtsi, also known as the Cumans—a nomadic Turkic people inhabiting the steppe regions. The Mongols saw them as threats and obstacles to future expansion. Chepé’s march to Tiflis (Tbilisi) marks a continuation of Mongol incursions into the Caucasus. Curtin meticulously follows Chepé’s movements as he enters into a temporary alliance with the Polovtsi, exploiting their disunity and lack of preparation. This alliance, however, was a calculated deception. Once Chepé achieved his strategic goals, the Mongols betrayed the Polovtsi, attacking them and forcing them to flee westward, ultimately seeking refuge in the Kievan Rus'.

This movement sets in motion a wider conflict. The Polovtsi appeal to the Rus’ princes for aid, and Prince Mstislav of Kiev, among others, rallies to their side. Curtin details the uneasy alliance of Russian principalities, noting their internal divisions and lack of cohesive command. The resulting confrontation in 1224 culminates in the Battle of the Kalka River, one of the most decisive early Mongol victories against European forces. The Rus’-Polovtsi coalition is crushed, and Curtin vividly describes the tactical genius of the Mongols in exploiting their enemies’ weaknesses. The battle’s aftermath spreads terror throughout Southern Russia, where the Mongols’ fearsome reputation becomes solidified in local lore and politics. With the western campaign secured, the narrative returns to Jinghis Khan, who by 1225 is finally home on the Kerulon River in Mongolia. This marks a symbolic return to his roots and the beginning of the end of his life. Curtin uses this moment to reflect on the life of a man who had risen from tribal obscurity to become ruler of the greatest contiguous empire in history.

At this point, Curtin introduces a retrospective account of Mukuli, one of the khan’s most loyal generals. Mukuli had led successful campaigns against the Kin dynasty in northern China as early as 1216, expanding Mongol influence further into East Asia. His death in 1223, although briefly mentioned, symbolizes the passing of the first generation of Mongol commanders—those who had risen with Jinghis from the start. In 1226, Jinghis once again leads a campaign, this time into the Tangut kingdom, located in what is now western China. The siege of Ling Chau is recounted with particular attention to the combination of military might and psychological warfare that defined Mongol conquests. The city’s submission does little to stop the Mongol advance, and Curtin emphasizes that Jinghis’s ambition and strategic vision remained undiminished even in his final years. However, in 1227, Jinghis Khan dies during the Tangut campaign under somewhat mysterious circumstances. Curtin recounts several accounts of his death—some attribute it to illness, others to wounds suffered in battle. The ambiguity surrounding his passing adds a mythic quality to his final days. The burial of Jinghis Khan is portrayed with an almost sacred secrecy. His body is transported back to Mongolia, possibly to the sacred Burkhan Khaldun mountain, although its exact burial site remains unknown to this day. The Mongols reportedly killed anyone who witnessed the funeral procession, preserving the secret. 

Following the death of the conqueror, attention turns to the succession of power. Jinghis had divided his empire among his sons and grandsons, but ultimate authority was meant to pass to a single leader. A kurultai (great council) is convened in 1229 on the banks of the Kerulon River, echoing Jinghis’s own rise to power. The election of Ogotai, his third son, is a pivotal moment for the Mongol Empire. Curtin details how Ogotai’s leadership style, though less ferocious than his father’s, was marked by a keen administrative mind and a vision for long-term expansion. Ogotai's first actions as khan reflect both piety and ambition. He orders offerings to be made to the shade (spirit) of Jinghis, reinforcing the spiritual and political continuity of Mongol rule. This reverence for Jinghis becomes a cornerstone of Mongol identity. Ogotai then begins to outline new expeditions, particularly toward the west, setting the stage for the Mongol invasions of Europe that would occur in the coming decades.

The chapter concludes by underscoring the enormous legacy left by Jinghis Khan. His genius as a strategist, his brutality in war, and his unifying vision had reshaped Eurasia. Curtin’s narrative is not only a recounting of battles and dates but a meditation on the creation of an empire that would outlive its founder and continue to influence world history for generations.  

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