Title:

Genghis: Birth of an Empire

Author:

Conn Iggulden

Category:

Literature

Rating:

Date Reviewed:

May 18, 2024

enghis: Birth of an Empire is historical fiction at it finest. It is the first of a four book series describing the life of Temujin, the mongol raider that we know as Genghis Kahn. This is first book by Conn Iggulden that I have read; I understand now why the front cover proclaims him to be a "#1 New York Times Bestselling Author". Genghis: Birth of an Empire is an exciting read. This first book covers Temujin's youth and rise to become a leader and uniter of Mongol clans.

For centuries, the Mongol tribes have warred amongst themselves across the frigid steppes. The book opens with Yesugei, chief of the Wolves clan, assaulting a party of Tartar raiders. The attack is successful, and all the Tartars are killed. This is just one battle in an endless cycle of attack and revenge. The leader of the Tartar raiders was a young prince, and his death must be avenged by the powerful Tartar tribe, one more atrocity in the continuing blood feuds.

Yesugei is proud of his five sons: Bekter, Temujin, Khasar, Kachuin and young Temuge. Bekter is the eldest, fourteen, and destined to lead the Wolves one day. Temujin is twelve at the start of the novel. All of the boys are excellent pony riders, and constantly practice archery. They are learning all the skills necessary to survive in such a harsh landscape.

Yesugei brings Temujin to live for a year amongst the nearby Olkhun'ut tribe. Temujin will spend a year in their company, learning their ways, and then he will be given a wife, Borte, and return to the Wolves. Bekter had endured the same trial a year earlier, and upon his return to the Wolves he had been treated with greater respect. Temujin yearns to be seen as a man by the Wolves, and so resolves to survive anything that the Olkhun'ut unleash upon him. The Olkhun'ut will toughen Temujin, but they will not kill him; they greatly fear Yesugei and his Wolves.

After parting with Temujin, Yesugei rides alone back to the Wolves. A party of five Tartars ambushes him (how did they know Yesugei would be there? Treachery on the steppes!), and Yesugei suffers a mortal sword thrust to his midsection. He manages to return to the Wolves, but perishes soon after. Immediately upon his death, Yesugei's bondsman, Eeluk, claims that he is now chieftain of the Wolves. Clearly Bekter is too young to lead. Temujin is brought back from the Olkhun'ut. Despite their protestations, Eeluk decrees that the Yesugei entire family must be banished from the Wolves. Yesugei's wife, his five sons and infant daughter are abandoned on the frozen steppe, without a ger to shelter them, without a pony to ride, without a bow to hunt. If they somehow manage to survive until winter, they will surely perish in the cold and snow.

Of course, Temujin does not perish. Though much of this novel is fiction, what little we do know about Genghis Khan is that he was indeed outcast from his tribe, and yet managed to unite the Mongols of the steppe into the most fearsome fighting force that the world had known.

Temujin is a fearless and brutal man. He is prideful and vengeful. His oath is iron. He cares not for wealth or fame, instead, he has a vision of uniting the endlessly warring Mongols into single force. The Chin ambassador, Wen Chao was an interesting character. It eventually becomes clear that the Chin kingdom to the east has been sowing distrust amongst the tribes, inciting the wars between them, better to keep the barbarians at each others throats rather than threatening the Chin behind their Great Wall.

Other than the four Genghis books, I see Iggulden has also written other series about Julius Caesar and the Wars of the Roses, and is currently writing about the wars between Sparta and Athens. If all of his books are as good as this one, I have lots of enjoyable reading ahead of me.