Why did Genghis Khan and his brother kill the eldest brother?

According to Mongolian Secret History, Genghis Khan’s mother, Ha Nguyet Luan, after marrying her first husband, Chiledu, was kidnapped by Da Toc Cai and forced to be his second wife. After Ha Nguyet Luan gave birth to her first child, Da Toc Cai named him Thiet Moc Chan. Their two other sons and daughters are also given names that begin with the two words Tietmu, the Mongolian word for the verb “temul”, which means to hurry, to be inspired, to think creatively…

After Da Toc Cai died, leaving behind two wives and seven children, Thiet Moc Chan endured the bullying of his half-brother, Biet Khac Thiep Nhi.

In Mongolian families from the past to the present, the hierarchy is always very tight and plays a decisive role. In the family, when the father is absent, even for a short time, the eldest son takes over the role. The eldest brother has the right to control all activities, assign the rest of the members any task, and get whatever he wants.

The Mongolian Secret History says that Thiet Moc Chan’s anger at his brother exploded because of fleeting events that could have been petty. Biet Khac Thiep Nhi took away the nightingale that Thiet Moc Chan shot down. Later, when Thiet Moc Chan and his brother and mother, Cap Tat Nhi, caught fish, Biet Khac Thiep Nhi and his younger brother and mother, Biet Lac Co Dai, stole the fish. When Thiet Moc Chan told her mother, Ha Nguyet Luan also defended her brother, the new owner of the family.

Anger burned more and more, Thiet Moc Chan and Cap Ta Nhi left the house and saw Biet Khac Thiep Nhi sitting alone on a small stone mound looking down on the steppe. Thiet Moc Chan immediately told Cap Tat Nhi – the best archer in the family – to go around the front of the mound, while he climbed up from behind. When they were close enough to shoot their arrows, the two suddenly stood up and drew their bows.

However, Biet Khac Thiep Nhi was not afraid to run away or intend to fight. After rebuking his younger brothers, knowing that his fate was inevitable, he only asked them to spare the life of his younger brother – Old Lac Co Dai.

Two arrows were fired, Biet Khac Thiep Nhi was hit by the arrow and fell. The two brothers let the enemy die there and went home.

According to Secret History of Mongolia, when Ha Nguyet Luan saw the expressions on the two children’s faces, he understood immediately and scolded them severely. Historians have analyzed that her screaming rage at Tie Mocchan was one of the longest monologues in the Secret History, and she repeatedly compared her children to animals.

According to Mongolian history books, this event happened about before 1178, the year Tietmu Chan turned 16 years old. After that, he lived in peace with the Old Lec Dai Dai and brought them together to participate in his skirmishes and conquests.

According to Professor Jack Mciver Weatherford, author of “Genghis Khan and the Formation of the Modern World” (Social Science Publishing House, 2018, Translated by Vo Phuong Linh), Thiet Moc Chan has been interested in playing games since childhood. playing life and death like that, and always ready to find a way to win. The assassination of his brother was organized by him with the same tactics as in the hunt, and later, in battle, he proved to be a genius at converting hunting skills into war strategies. .

Author Weatherford assessed, Thiet Moc Chan is like a horse who always has to lead every race and always resolutely identifies himself in the commanding position, unable to listen to anyone’s orders. And the fact that he was willing to violate the customs of the nation, oppose his mother, and kill anyone who stood in his way even his brother, proved it. With a fierce personality, Thiet Moc Chan continuously achieved achievements in battle, then became the Great Khan of the Mongol tribes, and then progressed to the title of the great conqueror in world history.