Firstly I'd like to say that Genghis Khan is one of the most hated figure in history, and rightly so it is estimated that his wars led to the deaths of about 10% of the world's population, while the title and the body of text will portray him as the hero that beat the odds. My apologies for that, but I'd like to point out that nearly all famous people from history are responsible for many deaths, if not quite in the Khan's scope.
Genghis Khan's early life
Born the son of a tribal leader his given name was Temujin. Son to a powerful man, not a bad start in life, but at 9 it all started to go wrong after being brought to his future wife's tribe to serve, until he was 12 and of marrying age, his father was killed on the return home by the Mongols long time enemy the Tatar's.
After hearing this the 9 year old Temujin returned home to claim the position of chief. The tribe, justifiable, rejected this, and the newly appointed chief fearing a rival had the would be khan and his family banished from the tribe.
Temujin, his 3 brothers, 1 sister and 2 half brothers (fathers side) would spend the next several years in poverty scavenging for wild fruits and hunting whatever small game they could find.
It is in this time that we have reports of the first of Temujin's many kills. His half brother Begter who was older than Temujin and beginning to exercise power over the family. It is not clear the motives around the killing, it may of been proactive defence, an argument over the spoils of a hunt or just something that he he would become famous for, removing a rival by eliminating them.
Enslavement
At around the age of 15 Temujin was captured in a raid by another tribe and enslaved. It is at this point that young Genghis showed that he was not just a fearsome warrior but must of had charisma and charm too, for he managed to befriend one of his captors who then helped him escape. Indeed that captor's son Chilaun would become one of Genghis Khan's 'four valiant warriors', who were four of his greatest generals.
This escape, as well as having the immediate benefit of no longer been enslaved, led to young Temujin's rise in status as cunning and resourceful and it is now that he began to gather followers and become a growing power. One of the first things he did was return to claim his promised bride Borte.
Another enslavement
Not long after marrying Borte she herself is captured. Through the help of his friend and later rival Jamukha he was able to raise a sizable force to attack the tribe responsible for his wife's kidnapping. After winning the ensuing battle they managed to rescue his wife, who as a side note may of been pregnant by her captors. Despite this Temujin would raise him as his own.
Like his own imprisonment and eventual escape this successful rescue of his wife would greatly enhance his reputation, this time as a great fighter, leader of men and skillful general. A reputation that he would continue to add to over the years. He went on to avenge his father's death by defeating the Tatars, unite Mongolia under his rule and conquer most of his known world.
References
http://www.biographyonline.net/military/genghis-khan.html
http://www.biography.com/people/genghis-khan-9308634#the-universal-ruler
http://www.zmescience.com/ecology/genghis-khan-environment-26052014/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genghis_Khan#cite_note-books.google.com-19
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