| Genghis Khan, who died on this day, was a warrior and ruler of genius who, starting from obscure and insignificant beginnings, brought all the nomadic tribes of Mongolia into a rigidly disciplined military state. He chose as his successor his son Ögödei and, to ensure that his other sons would obey Ögödei, passed on to him an army and a state in full vigour. At the time of his death, Genghis Khan had conquered the landmass extending from Beijing to the Caspian Sea, and his generals had raided ... |