Turkish-Mongol Emperor: Genghis Khan (Final)

Historical Significance of Genghis Khan:

In this article, which is the last of the series on Genghis Khan and his Empire, I would like to bring to your attention supplementary information about Genghis Khan.

Genghis Khan; Born Temuçin, he was a Mongolian commander and ruler who lived between 1162-1227, the founder and first Khagan of the Turkish-Mongolian Empire. His childhood name, Timuçin, comes from the Chinese word "Çeng-sze" meaning "Perfect Warrior". The word Genghis has been a reflection of the historical personality of Genghis Khan.

I find it useful to express why the subject of Genghis Khan is explained in a completely different way with such contradictory concepts. Earlier, I had the opportunity to examine their own leaders, whom European historians and politicians have heroized and sanctified. In the eyes of the average Westerner, the level of wealth their own civilizations have in the world today, their pioneering in the last five centuries of the world, the 'definition' that we know as modern society today corresponds to the Western society, over time Westerners considered other societies and especially Turks, Mongols and Muslims as inferior civilizations. created the illusion of seeing. However, although there were Ancient Greek and Roman civilizations in Europe until 1500, the main center of gravity was in Andalusia, the Middle East, China and most importantly the Turkish world. The Mongols, who lived a life intertwined with the Turks, established the largest empire in history, especially under the leadership of Genghis Khan, in the steppes of Central Asia. Even though this great empire was divided within itself, piece by piece, they kept alive a Turkish-Mongol state tradition that has survived to the present day.

For example, Batu Khan, the son of Cuci, the eldest son of Genghis Khan, lived between 1205 and 1255 and is the founder of the Golden Horde of the Turkish-Mongolian Empire. Between 1240 and 1255, he ruled the Golden Horde State, which he founded in the center of today's Russia, until his death.

Genghis Khan's Army and the Turks:

The commander-in-chief of the army of this empire founded by Genghis Khan, the person we can call today's Chief of General Staff, was a Turkish general, Sabutay. In addition, there were 11 armies attached to him, and the commanders of eight of them were of Turkish origin. 80% of the army consisted of Turks. The point I would like to emphasize here is to state that it does not matter much whether Cengiz's ethnic origin is Turkish or Mongolian. After all, we are talking about one of the greatest leaders in history, whose father is Mongolian and whose mother is Turkish. In the 13th century, when today's understanding of the nation-state did not exist, Genghis Khan had established his empire with a state tradition based on his own people and, in Ibn Khaldun's words, based on asabiyya. This empire successfully included all the tribes living in Central Asia and ensured that his empire was accepted as 'everyone's empire'.

Although Genghis Khan was a fierce warrior, he had accepted as his first policy to seize the regions he conquered without looting as much as possible and without harming the people of that region. Finally, when a region was captured, they were allowed to establish their own administration, to convene administrative conventions in an autonomous structure, to elect their own rulers, and to continue their existence as 'vassals' of the Turkish-Mongolian empire, provided that they adhered to the law of Genghis Khan.

Importance of Genghis Khan Laws:

Genghis Khan had his rules, which he called Yasa, put into written texts, and even after he died, many countries, including China, Iran, and Russia, from the Sea of ​​Japan to the interior of Poland and the Hungarian plains, were governed for many years according to these rules, called the Law of Genghis Khan.

Thus, after the war ended in the states founded by Genghis Khan and his sons, who continued the same laws and traditions, the defeated and conquered communities had the opportunity to live together on equal terms, with the Genghis laws valid for both communities, regardless of religion, language, lineage, class. they found.

Since Genghis Khan adopted Shamanism and had a monotheistic belief, he was very tolerant towards those who had a monotheistic understanding and did not pressure them to accept his belief. Therefore, at the time of Genghis Khan, he approached the Turkish tribes, most of whom were Muslims, with respect, neither did he pressure them to change their religion, nor did he expect such a thing.

Most of the historians say that Genghis Khan was Turkish. There are rumors that Genghis Khan, who spoke Mongolian and Turkish Genghis Khan, introduced himself as Turkish. In addition, Chinese historians attribute Genghis Khan's lineage to the Turks.

Genghis Khan is a Turk, a source of pride for Turkishness:

According to Zeki Velidi Togan, a famous Turkish scientist and known for his Turkestan researches and enriching Turkish literature, Genghis Khan is Turk, so Timur is Turk because he has the same root as Cengiz.

The state architecture of Genghis Khan was not made of stone, but of societies devoted to him from the heart. Today, I believe that we should protect this legacy that Genghis Khan left behind. First of all, I greet everyone whose name is Cengiz. Traditionally, the name Cengiz is passed down from generation to generation in families who know the value of this great man. Because the people of Anatolia know and appreciate: Genghis Khan was one of us, one of the greatest commanders and warriors that history has ever seen.

The last words of Genghis Khan before he died and today:

"Well, now the big dream is over and the way has been seen for me. Every day has a night and a light will go out. Both those sitting on the throne and those leaning on this dry wood will one day turn into a dry mold. Happy are those people who get light from the closing day and They light up their nights. You should be one of those happy people and learn something from my death. Let there be no skin fight between you, bury me in the mountains of Burhan Haldun."

I completed to write down this article, which I published in four parts, plus with the conclusion part that you read today. Ibn-i Haldun says; "States are living organisms, they are born, grow, and die one day."

Yes, the great war machine that Cengiz built does not exist now, but he has taught us a lot. States live with institutions and take firm steps towards the future. Let's keep the institutions alive so that our state will be eternal. More than ever, we need an increase in the number of decent profiles at every level and everywhere, from politicians, soldiers, bureaucrats, who live on a meritorious, non-monetized lifestyle. The word 'nation' is Mongolian. The nation-state is built not by fighting, but by unity and solidarity, but above all by hard work.

References:

1.Prof. Jack WEATHERFORD, US Anthropologist, historian writer, author of Genghis Khan.

2.Wilhelm Von RUBRUK, travel to the Great Khan of the Mongols,

3.Prof. AFET İNAN, Professor of History, academic. First Turkish History Congress Genghis Khan declaration.