aconissa:

So while I was writing my essay on Chinggis Khan last night (aka Ghengis Khan, and yes, I did listen to the song while I wrote) I found this really tragic story that I realised would make an amazing unrequited-gay-love-turns-into-tragic-enemies plotline so I have to tell you all:

So Jamukha and Temüjin (Genghis Khan) were childhood friends and they pledged themselves to each other as blood brothers (‘anda’) when they were 11 years old, a pact by which they solemnly agreed to support and assist one another in any conflict for the rest of their lives. But 25 years later, whilst Temüjin was building up power, Jamukha turned against him and supported the Naiman people, who Temüjin then defeated in battle. Jamukha’s subordinates turned him over to Temüjin, who killed the subordinates for their betrayal of their master. In The Secret History of the Mongols there’s this beautiful speech by Jamukha in which he absolves Temüjin of any blame for what Jamukha did, saying he did nothing to give Jamukha reason to turn on him, and he ends it with ‘My anda, if you want to favour me, then let me die quickly and you’ll be at peace with your heart’. So when Temüjin had him executed, he ordered that it be done without shedding blood, which was a sacred privilege only granted to royalty. 

I was texting my girlfriend about this last night and it literally made me start to cry, probably because I was exhausted and had been writing the essay all day but anyway, imagine this as a tragic love story au, except with ruthless Mongol rulers