Genghis Khan was born to a Mongol family in 1158, but no one knew that he would go on to become one of history’s most ruthless warriors and conquerors. The fighters of Genghis Khan’s army had to follow a number of severe laws, and the Mongol kingdom as a whole featured many intriguing facts.

The sheer number of soldiers that Genghis Khan had at his disposal was a significant factor in the establishment of the Mongol empire. It is no wonder his army achieved the greatness that it did. If sheer numbers were the only deciding factor, then the Mongols would have had everyone beaten, no matter what. 

All Mongol youngsters had to learn how to ride a horse at an early age since the horse was so crucial to the Mongol warrior. It was possibly even one’s most important possession. For success to be instilled in the next generation, it was crucial to start them young. 

The Mongol soldiers were not only proficient equestrians but also accomplished archers in addition to their other skills. Beginning at a young age, children were required to study archery, and tournaments were often organized to measure their abilities in the field.

It is likely not going to come as much of a surprise to you to learn that under an empire that was as prosperous and expansive as the Mongol kingdom, draconian penalties, including execution, were put into place to ensure conformity.

More than a few practices from Khan’s empire would raise concerned eyebrows if brought back today. The Nerge was a particularly violent military technique that was carried out by Mongol soldiers. During the nerge, Mongol warriors (often as many as 10,000 men) would pursue and enclose animals in a certain location.

Mongols were notorious for their taste for horse blood. This is something that does not sit well with most people, especially horse lovers. There is no need to be alarmed, though, as a warrior would not be complete without his or her horse. 

It was uncommon for people to resist the Mongols’ ruthless techniques for very long. When anyone managed this feat, the Mongols would simply up the ante. They were known for using prisoners as body shields, and in one case, they diverted a river and flooded a city, drowning all those who were still trying to fight.

Genghis Khan, in contrast to previous great monarchs, strictly forbade anybody inside his realm from drawing him or otherwise depicting his look in any manner. He truly was different from the crowd, and that was part of why he was so formidable. 

Legendary monarch that he was, Genghis Khan could have been laid to rest in the most ornate tomb imaginable, yet that couldn’t be farther from the reality. Before he passed, the Great Khan instructed his men to take his corpse and bury it in an unmarked grave in a remote place.

The Mongols had several brilliant strategies, one of which was that of splitting their foes. This meant that they would aim to heighten any tension that already existed among enemy tribes, which would ultimately make it easier to tear them apart.

The Mongol army was about more than just brute force, as you can surely tell by now. Using the Mongol method of the tactical retreat, they would assault with a small force, escape, and then reappear later when the adversary was unprepared to deal with them.

Genghis Khan held his generals in such high esteem that he would treat them almost as if they were members of his own family and defer to their judgment even while he was in the room with them. This was key to their military solidarity.

Mongol armies would take any military innovations they could find while conquering other territories. They started out with crude weapons, but over time, they acquired more sophisticated ones through this method. Eventually, they were always able to be one step ahead.

The Mongols, in contrast to previous major empires, allowed their citizens to practice any religion of their choosing. In fact, the Mongols were so tolerant of religion that they exempted clergy and houses of worship from paying taxes. This is a factor that made the Mongol Empire ahead of its time. 

People often wonder what a soldier was paid during these times. After an adversary was completely subdued, Genghis Khan did not provide his men with a consistent wage. Instead, he distributed the plunder that was taken from the defeated foe between them all.

Engineers were crucial to the Mongol army because they were able to support siege warfare by manufacturing catapults, gunpowder, and projectiles to tear down opposing fortifications. Engineers were able to achieve this because of the expertise they developed in their chosen trade.

Though the Mongols were known for their cruel methods of warfare, it is important to note that Genghis Khan did not permit the use of torture anywhere in his empire. This is considered to be rather progressive for the time in which he lived.

The use of the decimal system in military operations was important to the Mongols’ reputation for efficiency. Each squad consisted of ten soldiers, ten arbans, one hundred zuuns, one thousand Mingghans, and ten tumens (10,000). We have the Mongols to thank for this system.

Getting rid of an enemy’s commander was one of the most reliable ways to throw off their plans. Genghis Khan quickly realized that if he let the opponent commander survive, it would be too easy for him to flee and collect additional forces than if they took the enemy leader out of the equation first.

Not every battle is worth fighting, so to conserve precious energy, one should pick their battles wisely. It was common practice for Mongol warriors to avoid engaging in combat with opposing forces unless they were 100% convinced they had a fair chance of emerging victorious from the conflict.

Because they were such talented riders, the Mongols were able to cover a considerable deal of ground in a short amount of time, which allowed them to surprise their adversaries. Their enemies would never see them coming, meaning they had no time to prepare for an attack.

Genghis Khan would wait to take action against his adversaries until he had accumulated a sufficient amount of intelligence about them. A talented tactician, he understood that knowledge is power, and he would not gamble away his forces on something he could have prepared for. 

Khan was all for the establishment of an egalitarian society, characterized by the belief that all people are born equal and that all members of society have the right to equal opportunities. This was both impressive and aspirational, especially for the time. 

In comparison to their counterparts in other countries, women in Mongol society were granted a much greater number of privileges. They were able to function in positions of political influence, and some of them even advised Khan. 

The flanking plan was undoubtedly one of Genghis Khan’s many cunning military maneuvers, and it is certain that he had many more clever tricks up his sleeve. For the plan to work, some soldiers would have to skirt around the periphery of an enemy’s forces rather than heading into the fray.

In combat, the Mongols didn’t simply employ bows and arrows; they also utilized crossbows and enormous catapults that could fling boulders and spears a great distance. All of these terrifying weapons caused their opponents to cower in fear.

Even if it meant departing from more conventional Mongol techniques, Genghis Khan was not beyond adjusting his military strategy to accommodate whatever he believed to be appropriate in the moment. We think that he and Bruce Lee shared the same sentiment that a warrior should be like water.

The metal stirrup was a simple innovation that proved to be rather useful. It enabled a soldier to remain seated on his horse while having both hands available to draw and discharge his bow and arrows. The Mongols were effective with their arrows from horseback.

As if their expert marksmanship was not terrifying enough, Khan’s men were also experts in traversing rough terrain. Even during the icy winter months, when the rivers would be completely frozen over, or during the flooding of the spring season, the Mongols were adept at crossing rivers.

During the reign of Genghis Khan, the Mongols rarely engaged in naval combat. After he passed away, they engaged in naval operations against Japan but were ultimately unsuccessful in their endeavors. When picking fights, it’s essential to know your best traits, and unfortunately, naval warfare was not a strong suit for the Mongols.