Khan of Khans!

Leadership is a nebulous trait, difficult to learn and even more difficult to practice.In various areas, we have seen leaders who have stamped their undeniable mark, for posterity. One such leader surely was Chengiz Khan.

At his death Chengiz Khan, ruled an empire four times the size of Alexander the 'Greats' and twice the size of the Roman Empire at its peak.

A close look at the Khan would tell you why he was such a great leader.......

#1 : Domain Knowledge: A brilliant military strategist & warrior, he reorganized his army and tactics.He learnt his fighting on the battle ground!

#2: Vision: Mongols ruling the world, with Karakorum its political & cultural capital.

#3: Mission: To achieve his vision within his span of life.

#4: Goals: To conquer, every major civilizations or get them to accept his kinship.

#5: Strategy: A brilliant force, utilizing every natural strength of the Mongols, he was utterly ruthless. Invading China, he laid siege to Beijing & starved the city. On Beijing being taken his troops are said to have burnt, looted, raped & mercilessly killed the citizens, of this great city. European ambassadors, who visited the Chinese capital a month later, recorded that the roads in Beijing were slippery with human fat........and just outside the city, was a mountain of bones.Ghastly!

The Chinese were protected by the awesome Great Wall, impregnable, or so they thought. The Mongols solved the problem, by going around it! Many years later, one Adolf Hitler did that to the French & their Maginot Line. History repeats itself.

#6: People's man: He was close to his troops and believed only in merit. A carpenter's son was one of his foremost generals! Chengiz Khan , is said to have provided each of his soldiers, with a silk shirt ( silk was very, very expensive )Why? Arrows did not break through silk, so when a soldier was pierced by an arrow, the shaft could be easily extracted! Such care, for the common soldier! In dangerous campaigns he got captured enemy soldiers to lead from the front, protecting his troops.

#7: Careful:Though powerful, he was always protected by an elite, handpicked, guard of 10000 Mongol warriors, who were his personal body guard.

Did Chengiz Khan, have faults? Yes he did..........his empire unravelled & disappeared a mere 100 years post his death. He did not believe too much in succession planning!

Chengiz Khan, also comes across as a vain man, who spent a great deal of time, trying to get immortal, in vain of course!

He also comes across as a crass, bloodthirsty monarch and pales in comparison to Asoka, Alexander or the Cesar's.

An enduring mystery is why, the Khan did not invade India! Chengiz Khan, gave India one of its finest rulers, in Akbar, three centuries later....................& what of the Mongols today? They continue to be simple sheep rearing folk, with faint echoes of the great Khan, who once lead them!