An elderly Temüjin (Genghis Khan), depicted in a 14th-century Yuan era album
The Baljuna Covenant was an oath sworn in mid-1203 AD by Temüjin—the khan of the Mongol tribe and the future Genghis Khan—and a small group of companions, subsequently known as the Baljunatu. Temüjin had risen in power in the service of the Kereit khan Toghrul during the late 12th century. In early 1203, Toghrul was convinced by his son Senggum that Temüjin's proposal of a marriage alliance between his and their families was an attempt to usurp their power. After escaping two successive Kereit ambushes, Temüjin was cornered and comprehensively defeated at the Battle of Qalaqaljid Sands.
Temüjin regrouped the scattered remnants of his forces and retreated to Baljuna, an unidentified river or lake in south-eastern Mongolia. There, he and his closest companions swore an oath of mutual fidelity, promising to share hardships and glories. Having spent the summer recruiting warriors attracted by the ideals of his campaign, Temüjin amassed enough of a force to defeat the Kereit in battle that autumn. Three years later in 1206, having defeated all enemies on the steppe, Temüjin entitled himself Genghis Khan at a kurultai and honoured the Baljunatu with the highest distinctions of his new Mongol Empire. Nineteenth-century historians doubted the episode's historicity because of its omission (probably on account of the heterogeneity of the oath-swearers) from the Secret History of the Mongols, a 13th-century epic poem recounting Temüjin's rise.
The BaljunaCovenant was an oath sworn in mid-1203 AD by Temüjin—the khan of the Mongol tribe and the future Genghis Khan—and a small group of companions...
known as the BaljunaCovenant, to his faithful followers, which would later grant them exclusivity and prestige. The oath-takers of Baljuna were a very...
of people– swore an oath of brotherhood which became known as the BaljunaCovenant. Meanwhile, Jamukha and a large portion of Toghrul's allies decided...
historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong. The BaljunaCovenant, an oath sworn by Genghis Khan and a small group of companions Law...
campaigns Early life Rise to power Dalan Baljut Khalakhaljid Sands BaljunaCovenant Chakirmaut Invasions and conquests Western Xia Jin dynasty Qara Khitai...
campaigns Early life Rise to power Dalan Baljut Khalakhaljid Sands BaljunaCovenant Chakirmaut Invasions and conquests Western Xia Jin dynasty Qara Khitai...
Temüjin's 17-year-old son Ögedei was severely wounded, Temüjin swore the BaljunaCovenant with his companions. Powers, J.; Templeman, D. (2012). Historical Dictionary...
campaigns Early life Rise to power Dalan Baljut Khalakhaljid Sands BaljunaCovenant Chakirmaut Invasions and conquests Western Xia Jin dynasty Qara Khitai...
Christian Crusades by Pope Urban II at the Council of Clermont. 1203: The BaljunaCovenant, an oath sworn by Temüjin, the future Genghis Khan, at his lowest point...
campaigns Early life Rise to power Dalan Baljut Khalakhaljid Sands BaljunaCovenant Chakirmaut Invasions and conquests Western Xia Jin dynasty Qara Khitai...
campaigns Early life Rise to power Dalan Baljut Khalakhaljid Sands BaljunaCovenant Chakirmaut Invasions and conquests Western Xia Jin dynasty Qara Khitai...
When, as the young Temüjin, he swore allegiance with his men at the BaljunaCovenant in 1203, there were representatives of nine tribes among the 20 men...
defeated by the forces of Toghrul, khan of the Kereit. Midyear – The BaljunaCovenant, an oath of mutual fidelity, is sworn by Temüjin and a small group...
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