Genghis Khan Descendants: How Many People Are Related to the Former Khagan of the Mongol Empire?

Gengis Khan is one of the most revered leaders of all time. The Mongolian conqueror established the largest land empire in history, but that's not his only legacy because he also has millions of descendants.

How Many People Are Related To Genghis Khan?

About 8% of the men in the area of the former Mongol empire have identical Y chromosomes to the late leader, according to a global team of geneticists analyzing Y-chromosome data. That amounts to about 16 million descendants, or 0.5 percent of all males worldwide.

The blood samples from around 40 populations living in and around the erstwhile Mongol kingdom were examined in the 10-year study.

Because the Y chromosome doesn't recombine like other portions of the genome, geneticists use it in population studies like this one. Each parent donates half of a child's DNA, which combines to create a new genetic combination that determines traits like height, tolerance to certain diseases, or eye color.

Except for sporadic changes, the Y chromosome is passed down as a piece of DNA from father to son, virtually unchanged across the generations.

According to geneticist Spencer Wells, one of the 23 co-authors of the papers, it's the first known instance of a single genetic lineage growing to such a great degree in only a few hundred years due to human culture. It was reportedly an obvious illustration of how culture affects genetic diversity and variation patterns in human populations.

Markers are these haphazard mutations that occur naturally and are often benign. Geneticists can define a distinct lineage of descent by tracking the markers back in time to their original occurrence after they have been identified.

In this case, the ancestry dates back a thousand years. Although Khan was born in or around 1162, the authors are not claiming that the genetic mutations characterizing the lineage began with him; instead, they suggest that Khan inherited them from a great, great grandfather.

Tushi, Khan's eldest son, is said to have fathered 40 sons. According to documents written during or shortly after Khan's reign, all warriors shared in the spoils of battle following a conquest, including rape, pillaging, and looting. Still, Khan had the first choice over the attractive women. In addition to having 22 legitimate sons, his grandson Kublai Khan, who founded the Yuan Dynasty in China, was rumored to have added 30 virgins annually to his harem.

Only one population in Pakistan was determined to carry the ancestry outside of the erstwhile Mongolian kingdom - the Hazaras of Pakistan. They reportedly have a long oral tradition claiming they are Genghis Khan's descendants, which seems to be the case.

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Genghis Khan's Mysterious Tomb

Even if Genghis Khan has millions of descendants, his tomb has remained a secret. No one knows where the Mongolian conqueror was laid to rest.

There are rumors that his tomb is hidden in Mongolia's forbidden zone. However, some believed it was just a cunning ploy to keep the attention away from his resting place. His cause of death is still unknown.

Genghis Khan reportedly asked to be buried secretly, and finding his tomb would mean violating his last wishes. The locals seem faithful to him because they aren't cooperative with those trying to locate his grave.

A young Mongolian with a degree in international relations from Buryat State University in Ulan-Ude, Russia, who isn't superstitious, believes the tomb has remained a secret for over a century because Genghis Khan wanted it that way and the people respect his wishes.