BATTLE OF KALKA RIVER

The figure of Genghis Khan of the Mongols looms like a colossus over the whole history of the Middle Ages, in both the east and west. With an army that displayed unsurpassed mobility and tight coordination, he established one of the largest land empires ever. His empire also proved durable, being able to survive his death and division among his heirs for some two centuries or more in places.

Genghis’ beginnings hardly boded well for the future world conqueror. Born around 1162 and called Temujin in his youth, at the age of 12 he became the head of his household when his father was slain by rival Tatars. His father’s erstwhile Mongol supporters would not consent to follow a boy, and his family, consisting of his mother and his brothers, experienced hard times. For safety they hid in the mountains. His early life was extremely difficult, but it toughened him.

Temujin allied himself with Togrul, khan of the Keraits, and with him took revenge on those who had killed his father, ruthlessly crushing his blood enemies, the Tatars. Eventually he and Togrul quarrelled and Temujin was driven far away, with