THE FINAL MEETING OF TEMUJIN AND JAMUKHA, 1205/1206
The Mongolian warlord Temujin, known later as Chinggis Khan, had a long and troubled career before he was able to unify the Mongol tribes in 1206 and declare the Mongol Empire. Perhaps his most noteworthy opponent of this long career was his blood brother (anda) turned enemy, Jamukha, a fellow Mongol (of different clan). Becoming sworn friends in their childhoods, Jamukha assisted in the rescue of Temujin's wife Borte from the Merkit tribe (ca. 1180) and for a year and a half Temujin spent a blissful time in his friend's entourage. What exactly broke them apart is not quite clear. The main source, the Secret History of the Mongols, has Borte urge Temujin to flee Jamukha when the latter deliver a riddle seemingly hiding an insult to Temujin, or at least to his followers. Telling Temujin that Jamukha soon tired of his friends, it was best to leave while they still could. While that did not lead to war between them, a number of Jamukha's followers abandoned him for Temujin in the aftermath, and elected him Khan of the Borjigon Mongols, which may have stressed the relationship. What pushed things over the edge was the death of Jamukha's younger brother (or cousin) Taichar at the hands of one of Temujin's herders while trying to steal horses, which Jamukha saw as a declaration of war. Thus he mobilized the forces at his command and attacked, routing Temujin at the battle of Dalan Baljut (ca. 1186/7).
The two struggled for the remainder of the 12th century, and in 1201 a coalition of tribes even elected Jamukha Gur-Khan, 'universal ruler,' to combat Temujin's rising power. Temujin narrowly avoided utter ruin in 1203 when Jamukha and his allied forces overcame him, but Temujin bounced back and in the next three years effectively overran the opposition: the battle of Naqu Cliffs in 1204 essentially destroyed the final chance they had to defeat Temujin and determined Mongolia's future. Jamukha abandoned the coalition just before the battle, and spent the next year on the run, his followers steadily deserting him for Temujin until his final companions betrayed him, and handed him over.
For their treachery, Temujin had them executed, and sat down with Jamukha for the final time. In an emotional, dramatic scene from the Secret History of the Mongols, Temujin pleads Jamukha to rejoin him once more, but Jamukha declines.
"You have pacified all our peoples
you have unified all other peoples,
and the qan's throne has been assigned to you. Now that the world is at your disposal, of what use would I be as a companion to you? On the contrary, O my sworn friend,
I would intrude into your dreams in the dark night,
I would trouble your heart in the bright day,
I would be a louse in your collar,
I would be a thorn in the inner lapel of your coat.
I had many paternal grandmothers. When I became disloyal to my sworn friend I made a mistake. Now, in this life - that of the sworn friend and me- my fame has indeed passed from sunrise to sunset. You, sworn friend, had a wise mother. You were born a hero, and you had younger brothers, valiant companions and seventy-three geldings, you, my sworn friend, excelled me. As for me, I lost my parents when I was small and had no younger brothers. My wife is a prattler, my companions untrustworthy. because of this I was excelled by my sworn friend, whose destiny was ordained by Heaven. If you want to show favour to me, let me die swiftly and your heart will be at rest. And if you condescend to have me put to death, let them kill me without shedding blood. When I lie dead, my bones buried in a high place, for ever and ever I shall protect you and be a blessing to the offspring of your offspring."
-The Secret History of the Mongols, de Rachewiltz translation, section 201, page 124
Temujin followed his friend's wishes, and the next year (1206) declared the Mongol Empire, taking a new title: Chinggis Khan.
For more on Temujin's rise to power, check out my video on the subject: https://youtu.be/mYe5uYXb5PI