Marco Polo in Central Asia: 42: Genghis Khan

Now it happened that about 1187 the Tartars appointed Genghis as their Khan.  He was a man of great worth, sense and prowess.  All the Tartars in the world scattered in various parts of the world came together  under him as a single force.  He maintained his power with great vigour, and the multitudes who ranged under his standard were almost innumerable.  When he saw so numerous an army, he went conquering other countries, and made himself master of eight provinces.  He never robbed the people of anything, but placing them under the leaders in whom he could confide, led them on to other triumphs.  Thus he overthrew, as you have heard, a multitude of nations; and seeing his good command and mildness, they cheerfully followed him, upon which he formed the design of subduing a great part of the world.  In the year 1200 he sent a message to Prester John, asking his daughter to wife.  Here upon the monarch was very indignant and said - what impudence is this Genghis Khan.  Knows he not that he is my man and my vassal!  Return and tell him that I would burn my daughter sooner than give her to him, and that he deserves to be put to death as a traitor and disloyal to his lord."  He then desired the messengers to depart forthwith, and never return.  They presently went away, and coming to their master, told him in order all that the other had said.

End of the Section 



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