Legend has it that Genghis Khan entered the world with a blood clot in his hand, a sign from the Mongolian gods that he was destined to be a great ruler and conqueror. Was this legend to become reality?
A Khan was normally a head chief or a tribal leader. To be a Khan brought great honor to you, your ancestors, and your future descendants. The term khan was often used as a "lastname", so if you were a Khan, you would distinguish yourself from peasants as nobility by simply adding the name "Khan" at the end of your name. Of course, you would have to be of nobility, superiority, and you would've had to earn the name Khan.
How did Temujin become Genghis Khan?
After the rescue of Temujin's lovely wife Borte, Temujin and Jamuka's ( Temujin's anda) relationship was tense. Jauka was a tribal leader and so was Temujin. Both were powerful and both were leaders. However, both Temujin and Jamuka could not help but wonder who was the best leader and the most noble Khan. Because of this competitiveness, both Jamuka and Temujin started trying to earn the alligence of each other's tribes; they were trying to have the biggest tribe to out do the other Khan. Though Jamuka was persuasive, Temujin had intellect, persuasion, and the people's best interest in mind. Once blood brothers, now enemies, Temujin and Jamuka's split, taking their most loyal and new warriors with them. Temujin became known as Genghis Khan when he managed to unite the Mongol Tribes.