As every historical fiction author will tell you, you only get to use about 10% of your research and another fifty per cent of that disappears in the second draft. You just hate to see some of it go, but go it must.
Like the research I found on Genghis Khan when I was researching Silk Road.
Here was the man who made Alexander the Great look like Alexander the Underachiever. His empire was twice the size of Rome’s and included large parts of modern day China, Mongolia, Russia, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Iraq, Iran, Turkey, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, Moldova, South Korea, North Korea and Kuwait. All the Stans and then some.
His real name was Temujin; Genghis Khan is an honorific meaning ‘Universal Ruler’ and he took that on when he united the fractious Mongolian tribes at his coronation in 1206. Other titles included Lord of the Four Colors and Five Tongues, Lord of Life and Emperor of all Men.
He was also known as Mighty Manslayer and Scourge of God. And that was on a good day.
And I quote: “The greatest pleasure in life is to vanquish your enemies and chase them before you, to rob them of their wealth and see those dear to them bathed in tears, to ride their horses and clasp to your bosom their wives and daughters.’ Continue reading
