How unbearable was Genghis Khan's death? Really died at the mouth of the princess of Western Xia? Why are history books ashamed of records? This well-known Oriental lord has made numerous achievements in his life and conquered vast territories. However, the historical record of the cause of the death of this god of war is vague and only mentioned in one stroke. Did he die or something happened to him? And what is the reason why history books avoid talking about it? Could it be that the main general of the Mongolian iron cavalry is really as unbearable as the folk legend? Where he was buried has left too many mysteries for us to unravel one by one.
Died in the smoke of war
Genghis Khan has made many miraculous achievements in his life, and he can be described as an emperor for thousands of years. However, the god of war who dominated the world finally died in the smoke of war.
In 1209, Genghis Khan personally conquered Western Xia for the third time. Previously, the Jin State refused to send troops to help, making the Western Xia a lonely army. In the face of the brave and warlike iron cavalry, the Western Xia Festival was defeated and finally had to submit to Genghis Khan.
Although the Western Xia government and opposition were deeply dissatisfied with the Mongol conquest, they had to temporarily withdraw their troops under the oppression of the Mongol iron hoof. However, a few years later, the Tangut dynasty changed hands, and the new king betrayed his word, openly "rebelled" against the Mongols, and allied with other countries to counterattack.
The move undoubtedly angered Genghis Khan. As a powerful lord, how could he tolerate the dereliction of duty of his subjects? In 1226, Genghis Khan once again personally conquered Western Xia, intending to completely exterminate this "restless" country.
However, during this expedition, Genghis Khan's body became abnormal. According to the history books: "Unhesitating, collapsed in the palace of the old disciples of Sari Chuanha." The implication is that Genghis Khan suddenly fell ill during the march, and the treatment was ineffective, and he finally died in the palace along the road.
This was undoubtedly shocking news for the Mongol army that was on the eastward crusade. The world knows that Genghis Khan was extremely brave, and he defeated countless strong enemies in his prime. Isn't it inconceivable that he is now dying on the way to war?
However, according to the analysis of later scholars, Genghis Khan, who was sixty years old at the time, was in a period of weakness and old age. Coupled with the fatigue of the battle, it is no wonder that there is a sudden illness. What's more, in the environment of a large army expedition, medical conditions are limited, and once a serious illness occurs, it is difficult to treat it in time.
Despite this, when he learned that Genghis Khan was critically ill, the Mongol minister around him advised him to withdraw his troops for the time being and wait until he recovered. However, how could Genghis Khan, as a generation of male lords, tolerate the Western Xia people being so presumptuous? He resolutely and resolutely, even if his health deteriorated, he insisted on leading the army to fight again and eliminate this "scourge" with his own hands.
In the end, Genghis Khan finally died of exhaustion. His decision not only shows the majesty and domineering of a generation of heroes, but also makes people feel sorry for this great man who opened up the territory and fell on the road to war.
The cause of death varies
There have always been different opinions about the cause of Genghis Khan's death, and there are even many absurd versions circulating. Although there is no mention in the history books, this has not stopped the outside world from speculating and speculating about the cause of the emperor's death.
Among them, one of the most widely circulated among the people is that Genghis Khan died at the hands of the princess of Western Xia. It is said that after Genghis Khan conquered Western Xia, Princess Muqi was extremely beautiful, so he took her as a concubine. However, the princess, harboring hatred for the conqueror, killed the iron-blooded man with a sharp weapon one night, while Genghis Khan was asleep.
The reason why this version is widely circulated comes from the fact that Genghis Khan did have the custom of capturing beautiful women during his lifetime; The second comes from the people's dissatisfaction and disgust with him, a wayward and tyrannical conqueror. However, from a historical point of view, this version has many doubts and lacks credibility.
A more outrageous version comes from the memoirs of the Italian traveler Marco Polo. Marco Polo served in the Yuan Dynasty for many years and experienced the heyday of the Yuan Dynasty. In his memoirs, he wrote that Genghis Khan was shot by an enemy poisoned arrow during his campaign against Western Xia and died.
Obviously, Marco Polo, as a foreigner, did not have a complete understanding of the cause of Genghis Khan's death. He was only speculating on the version he had heard, so it was inevitable that there would be inaccuracies. However, his memoirs at least prove that there was a rumor that Genghis Khan had fallen on the battlefield.
In contrast, a more credible source is the Secret History of the Mongols, written by the Mongols themselves. In this official revised history, an episode that occurred on Genghis Khan's expedition to Western Xia is recorded. It is said that Genghis Khan set up a hunt for wild horses on the road, but the wild horses were frightened and galloped, and Genghis Khan fell from his horse and was injured, which then caused a high fever and serious illness.
Although the cause of Genghis Khan's death is not explicitly stated in the book, it is not difficult to deduce from other accounts that he most likely died of injuries and illnesses caused by the accident. As an official history written by Mongolian historians, the "Secret History of Mongolia" is naturally more credible than the version circulated among the people.
In any case, the cause of Genghis Khan's death remains a mystery to this day. The various versions have appeared, reflecting a great curiosity about the cause of the death of this great man who was active in both the East and the West. However, whether it is true or not, the death of this generation of heroes is a great loss for the entire Mongol Empire, and it is difficult for its successors to the throne to dominate as much as him.
A new discovery that sparks speculation
In recent years, with the continuous progress of archaeology and science and technology, some new discoveries have also led to new speculations about the mystery of Genghis Khan.
One of the most striking is the archaeological excavation of Genghis Khan's tomb. According to historical records, Genghis Khan's mausoleum is located in a hidden place in Mongolia, and the burial method is also extremely secretive, for fear of outsiders prying eyes.
It was not until 2004 that archaeologists finally discovered a group of tombs suspected to be the tomb of Genghis Khan in the Enkh River valley in eastern Mongolia. Preliminary exploration of the tombs confirmed that one of the tombs was most likely identified as Genghis Khan himself.
This discovery undoubtedly provides a new clue to solve the mystery of Genghis Khan. Archaeologists have found a large number of burial goods in the burial chamber, the most striking of which are some animal bones and human bones. Genetic testing has revealed that the human bones most likely belonged to Genghis Khan's relatives, and the animal bones may have come from sacrificial livestock.
These discoveries opened the eyes of the outside world to Genghis Khan's funeral customs. It turned out that when the Mongolian nobles were buried, they used to bury their family members and sacrifices in the mausoleum, so as to "serve" the deceased in the underworld. This custom may have been common at the time, but it is undoubtedly controversial today.
What is even more puzzling is that in the same mausoleum, archaeologists also unearthed some foreign currency and pottery, the origin of which pointed to West Asia and Central Asia. This makes experts can't help but have a conjecture: back then, was there a group of West Asians who accompanied Genghis Khan's army on an expedition and finally rested here with the monarch?
At the same time, some surprising discoveries have been made in the field of biotechnology. Some researchers have successfully decoded Genghis Khan's genome map using ancient DNA sequencing technology. Surprisingly, no rare disease-causing mutations were found in his genetic sequence. In other words, Genghis Khan did not die of a genetic defect or a genetic disease.
So, are the various causes of death speculated by the outside world, such as the wild horse accident and the poisoned arrow shooting, more credible? Or is there some top-secret history about Genghis Khan's death that is still to be unearthed?
In short, these new archaeological and scientific research results have undoubtedly added more possibilities and conjectures to the cause of Genghis Khan's death. They are like clues that reassemble the vague historical picture of the past, guiding us step by step to the truth.
Genghis Khan's funeral customs
There is speculation about the cause of Genghis Khan's death, but his funeral customs are well documented in the history books. In fact, as the founding lord of the Mongol Empire at that time, Genghis Khan's burial method was extremely ceremonious, reflecting the high esteem of the Mongolian aristocracy for the deceased.
First of all, according to historical records, the Mongolian royal family often followed a unique "secret burial" system when they were buried. A secret burial is the secret burial of the body of the deceased in a place known only to cronies, in order to prevent anyone from exhuming or desecrating the mausoleum.
This custom stems from the traditional ideas of nomadic peoples. They believe that the deceased has entered another world, and the wealth and status they possess during their lifetime are equally important on the other side. Therefore, aristocratic families often buried a large number of burial goods in the mausoleum, so as to "serve" the deceased under the Yellow Spring.
In order to prevent the tomb from being excavated, they had to hide the tomb in a top-secret location. There are some extreme practices that even allow all craftsmen and cronies who know about it to be buried with them, so as to completely eliminate the possibility of leaking secrets.
This custom was undoubtedly greatly practiced here by Genghis Khan. According to recent archaeological discoveries, when the Mongolian royal family buried Genghis Khan, they not only strictly implemented the secret burial system, but also carried out special burial ceremonies in the cemetery.
The most striking thing is the ritual of accompaniment. Next to Genghis Khan's mausoleum, a large number of human bones are buried, some of which are related to him. It can be seen that these may be the cronies and concubines who were buried with the emperor back then.
What is even more eye-popping is the burial of a large number of skeletons, including horses, sheep, cattle and other domestic animals, and even the bones of fierce beasts. According to expert analysis, these creatures were buried here shortly after their death, and it appears that they were used as sacrifices for companionship.
In addition, the overall structure of the cemetery also reflects a very high status. The mausoleum is surrounded by a majestic moat and low mounds, faintly exuding the atmosphere of military defense. Far from the mausoleum, there is also a vast remnant of the horse pen, which may be the stable used to welcome the heroic spirits.
It can be said that Genghis Khan's grand funeral was a demonstration of the power and majesty of the Mongolian aristocracy at that time. They held the dead in greater esteem than we could have imagined, and did everything in their power to ensure the Emperor's rest.
In stark contrast, historians still have different accounts of the origin and causes of this burial practice. Is it a primitive religious sacrifice or is it some unique idea of the Mongols? This is still a proposition to be explored.
Where does the Great Khan rest?
The cause of Genghis Khan's death remains a mystery to this day, as is his resting place. Where is the great emperor who pioneered the territory buried? From ancient times to the present day, scholars have searched endlessly for answers.
According to the Secret History of the Mongols, Genghis Khan was not buried immediately after his death. Instead, his body was wrapped in a specially made precious coffin and walked through the army for months until he reached the Sonet Left Banner in Mongolia itself.
This was a traditional practice of the Mongols at that time. They believe that the "procession" of the body of the deceased for a period of time can allow the soul to say goodbye to the place where it used to live, and pave the way for it to find another place to live in the underworld in the afterlife. When the time comes, the body will be buried in the predetermined place.
However, even Mongolian history books fail to reveal the exact clues of where Genghis Khan was buried. This undoubtedly deepens the mystery of this mystery. At one time, some scholars speculated that Genghis Khan's mausoleum may be in the Sunit area, because of the unique geographical environment in the area.
Sure enough, the archaeological discovery in 2004 initially confirmed this speculation. According to the analysis of archaeologists, the hundreds of ancient tomb mounds where the mausoleum is located may be the burial cemetery where Genghis Khan and his concubines were buried.
However, even if the approximate location of the mausoleum is found, the mystery of where Genghis Khan was laid to rest remains unsolved. The reason is that this cemetery is so vast that it is difficult to identify the main tomb alone. Archaeologists can only rely on the size of the burial chamber and the extravagance of the burial goods to determine which one might be the tomb of Genghis Khan himself.
The description of the specific structure of the mausoleum may require the help of another important historical clue - the records of Western travelers. According to Marco Polo, a Venetian merchant active in Asia in the 13th century, Genghis Khan's mausoleum was a "magnificent circular building" surrounded by a towering wooden wall.
Combined with archaeological finds, experts speculate that this "round building" should be the usual "white bag-style" mausoleum building of the Mongolian imperial tombs, that is, a giant vault built with white felt. This kind of building is not only magnificent and magnificent, but also effectively insulates the wind and sand and protects the safety of the inner mausoleum.
Despite this, the theory remains inconclusive as to which tomb Genghis Khan was buried in. Some scholars speculate that there may be a "general mausoleum" in the middle of the cemetery, and the other burial chambers are only burial tombs for worship. However, this claim is only speculation and lacks conclusive archaeological evidence.
In short, the burial place of Genghis Khan remains a fog to this day, and it will only become more difficult to unravel this mystery as time passes. This undoubtedly made the outside world more and more curious about this male lord, and looked forward to a convincing answer from the relevant parties.