The Mongolian Empire left almost nothing behind. The horde pillaged and plundered, but created little material culture to remind the world of history’s most feared warriors. Yet the memory of Chinggis (Genghis) Khan burns in the hearts and minds of modern-day Mongolians. In downtown Ulaanbaatar, reminders of the first ‘Khan of Khans’ are inescapable. Visitors land at Chinggis Khan Airport, stay at the Chinggis Hotel, and later enjoy a good measure of Chinggis Vodka at the Chinggis Pub. It seems everything in the city is named Chinggis except his descendants – the name is too revered.
Mongolia’s nomadic people believe that Chinggis Khan will return, messiah-like, to lead his people. A moral guide as well as a political and military leader, the great Khan prophesied that he would return 800 years after his death in 1227. Today, many Mongolians believe that only his return would restore national stability and strength after 20 years of political upheaval and cultural change.
