Genghis Khan’s Warriors Had To Live By These Wild Rules

Genghis Khan’s Mongol hordes created one of the greatest empires the world has ever seen – but it came at a price. The warlord didn’t shy away from brutal cruelty, and so it was a very good idea for his army to follow his strict rules both on and off the battlefield. Here’s what it was really like to be one of Genghis Khan’s warriors – from the strategies they employed in war to the beliefs they had to hold in private.

40. Keep the secret of Genghis Khan’s tomb

Genghis Khan died on a summer’s day in 1227. And you’d assume that the great man – who, let’s not forget, had become the ruler of all he surveyed – was buried in a flashy, spectacular tomb. But this was very far from the truth. In fact, the emperor himself supposedly demanded the complete opposite.

The mystery lives on

Apparently, Genghis Khan ordered that he should be buried with great secrecy – and that absolutely nothing should mark his grave. So, when he passed away, grief-stricken soldiers carried his body to a secret location. They even went so far as to repeatedly ride 1,000 horses across his grave to obliterate any sign of its existence! And it seems to have worked. After nearly 800 years, still no one knows where Genghis Khan’s remains lie.

39. Become a master archer

One of the main reasons why Genghis Khan was so successful? His soldiers had incredible archery skills. But the art of marksmanship didn’t just spring out of nowhere. No, Genghis Khan ensured that the Mongol people were taught from childhood. Competitions were even held to test children – boys and girls – in various martial skills. These included wrestling, horse riding, and athletics as well as archery.

Multitasking

And Genghis Khan didn’t just need a high level of bowmanship in his men. Mongol warriors were also expected to be experts at firing arrows while they rode their horses at a gallop. But the dictator did make sure his soldiers had the best bows available at the time. They were state-of-the-art weapons with wooden cores. In the right hands, these were deadly.