Me and Atrocity

‘Jamuqa had witnessed, aged fifteen, his tribe strung up on trees. Perhaps you have to go one further.’ Jamuqa is mad, and commits an atrocity in challenge of Temujin.

His actions – that might have more to do with how he feels about his oath-brother – plunge the Mongols into intertribal war. Temujin’s lack of an election, too, has caused controversy and a split into camps. The anti-Tchingis set find his ideas newfangled, while his followers almost worship him. Even Temujin, sad in private, dedicated instead to his public self, fears Tchingis has gotten out of hand.

This isn’t what Galut Queen had in mind when she put an honest Mongol in government to save the Mongols’ traditions.