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Frustrating mystery: Genghis Khan’s death remains unsolved after 800 years, here are the theories
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It seems that the founders of the great Eastern empires took great care to ensure that no one—centuries after their deaths—would be able to locate their final resting places. This is true for historical figures such as Attila the Hun, who plays a significant role in Hungarian historical myth, as well as Genghis Khan, the Great Khan of the Mongols. Even Árpád, the legendary Hungarian leader, falls into this group; without him, Hungarians likely would not inhabit the Carpathian Basin today.
Genghis Khan: A singular yet brutal life
Of these leaders, we know the most about the death of Genghis Khan. Remarkably, we know where and when he died—an impressive feat considering it happened nearly 800 years ago. The first Great Khan of the Mongols died on 18 August 1227, at the age of 65. He was campaigning against the Western Xia Dynasty at the time, in what is now northwestern China, west of today’s Pingliang.
Genghis Khan led an extraordinary life. According to historical accounts, his talent for state-building and military leadership was unparalleled—leaders like him are born perhaps a few times each century, and only a select few reach his level of achievement. Though he spent his entire life at war, by the time of his death, he ruled the largest empire the world had ever seen, stretching from the Pacific Ocean in the east to the Caucasus in the west. His successors expanded the empire even further; his son Batu Khan would go on to crush the medieval Hungarian army in a fierce battle along the Sajó River.
Many theories surround his death
Despite extensive historical research, scholars still don’t know precisely how the 65-year-old ruler died in 1227, or where he was buried. In those days, a man of that age could easily succumb to a minor accident or an infected wound—especially one who lived a life of constant movement and less-than-healthy eating habits, even if he was the leader of the most powerful empire of the time.
At least, that’s what The Collector’s article claims, while outlining the most plausible causes of his death:
