Overview
This transcript ranks and describes eight of the most brutal acts committed by Genghis Khan against his enemies, highlighting mass killings, extreme punishments, and systematic attempts to erase entire populations or cities.
Sibling Murder for Dominance
- At age 14, Genghis Khan killed his half-brother Bekter over a dispute involving stolen fish.
- The murder established Genghis Khan's dominance within his family during a period of hardship after his father's death.
Deadly Burial Secrecy
- Genghis Khan ordered all witnesses to his burial killed to ensure his corpse remained undiscovered.
- This involved the execution of servants, soldiers, and potentially those who executed others, all to eliminate knowledge of the burial site.
Molten Silver Punishment
- After a caravan sent for diplomacy was massacred, Genghis Khan punished the governor responsible, Inalchuq, by pouring molten silver onto his face or into his bodily orifices.
Use of Human Shields
- During campaigns against the Jin Dynasty, Mongols used prisoners (men, women, and children) as human shields in sieges.
- Prisoners were forced to the front lines and made to carry siege equipment, often suffering the brunt of defensive attacks.
Siege and Massacre of Zhongdu (Beijing)
- Genghis Khan besieged Zhongdu (now Beijing) to force submission by starvation, resulting in cannibalism among citizens.
- After taking the city, the Mongols killed tens of thousands, leading to mass suicides and widespread destruction.
Destruction of Merv
- In retaliation against the Khwarezmian Empire, the Mongols slaughtered nearly the entire population of Merv (estimates up to 700,000).
- Survivors were few, the city was burned, and water systems destroyed to prevent recovery.
Annihilation of Nishapur
- Following the death of his son-in-law, Genghis Khan ordered the total destruction of Nishapur.
- All living beings, including animals, were killed, and victims’ skulls reportedly piled into separate groups by gender and age.
Erasure of the Tangut Civilization
- Genghis Khan ordered the complete eradication of the Tangut people, including their king, cultural records, and architecture.
- Survivors were forcibly relocated and assimilated, nearly erasing Tangut identity and language, considered an early example of attempted genocide.