c. 1162Reputable sourceDebated
The Birth of Temüjin
On the timeline · around c. 1162 ·
What happened
The future Genghis Khan was born Temüjin, son of the Mongol chieftain Yesügei, around 1162 on the harsh grasslands of Mongolia. By tradition he came into the world clutching a clot of blood in his fist — an omen, the sagas said, of the conqueror he would become.
Why it matters
From this obscure birth on the steppe would come the man who founded the largest contiguous land empire in history. His life turned the scattered, feuding nomads of Mongolia into a world power.
How we know
The main source for his early life is the Secret History of the Mongols, written soon after his death; his exact birth year is debated, with 1162 the most commonly cited.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Genghis Khan · Reputable source