Featured Article Summary #3

The Baljuna Covenant was an oath sworn by Temüjin, who later became known as Genghis Khan, and his companions in 1203 AD. Temüjin had gained power under the Kereit khan Toghrul, but Toghrul's son accused Temüjin of trying to take their power. Temüjin was defeated in battle but regrouped with his forces at Baljuna, a river or lake in Mongolia. There, Temüjin and his companions made a vow to support each other and share both good and bad times. Temüjin eventually defeated the Kereit army and declared himself Genghis Khan in 1206. Some historians have questioned the historical accuracy of this event. Temüjin, the future Genghis Khan, was born into a Mongol tribe and after his father's death, he formed a group of companions. He proposed a marriage alliance to the powerful Kereit tribe, but his proposal was rejected, leading to a conflict where Temüjin was outnumbered and forced to flee. Despite receiving some defectors, he was ultimately defeated in battle but managed to escape. After suffering losses in battle, Temüjin waited for his surviving troops to gather at the Baljuna location. His forces were small, but he was able to recruit warriors from various tribes, creating a diverse group of oath-takers. The Baljuna Covenant symbolized social equality and personal asceticism, serving as a way for Temüjin to emphasize his cause and gain the loyalty of potential recruits. After defeating the Kereit and uniting the Mongol steppe, Genghis Khan held a great assembly in 1206 where he took the title of Genghis Khan and rewarded those who had helped him come to power. The men who swore the Baljuna Covenant were honored with the highest titles and went on to hold prominent positions in Genghis Khan's Mongol Empire. The incident of the Baljuna Covenant is not mentioned in the Secret History, leading some to doubt its historicity for many years. However, Cleaves published an essay in 1955 disputing this assumption, and his theory has now become widely accepted among historians. It is believed that the incident may have been omitted from the Secret History because the author was suspicious of non-Mongols being elevated to Temüjin's inner circle.