“Unveiling the Crown: The Surprising Truth Behind a Medieval Monarch’s Real Power!”
Provincial governments enjoyed a certain degree of autonomy, as it respected the customs and religious practices of the subjects. Yet, they were still expected to enact a number of provisions mandated from Temujin’s court, relayed by an army of fast messengers on horseback. These messengers had access to supply stations placed at regular intervals along the many roads of the empire, and took less than one month to traverse the length of the Khaganate.
Temujin’s central court provided services similar to the European councils of magnates or the Caliphate’s officials. This body was organised over two main layers: an inner circle, composed of Temujin’s ‘urugh’, or ‘Golden Kin’. His family, in other words.
Before you scream: ‘hang on, what about meritocracy, then?’ – allow us to clarify. The second layer of central administration was entrusted to professional clerks and officials. At the start of Temujin’s rule, these were picked amongst hostages kidnapped from rival clans, but later the Khagan imported talent from China, Persia, and other subject territories.
While serving the vision of Temujin, these two layers also contributed to keeping him in check. The Khagan had to weigh in the contributions and goals of several disparate factions, and thus his government style was never autocratic.
Which brings us to the question of legitimacy. Temujin and his Golden Kin firmly believed that their right to rule had a divine origin, as the ‘Blue Eternal Heaven’ had bequeathed them the World, for them to conquer.
