Descent from Genghis Khan

Descent from Genghis Khan (, meaning 'Golden lineage' or Tore) is traceable primarily in Central Asia. His four sons and other immediate descendants are famous by names and by deeds. Later Asian potentates attempted to claim descent from the House of Borjigin even on flimsy grounds. In the 14th century, valid sources (heavily dependent on Rashid al-Din and other Muslim historians) all but dried up. With the recent popularity of genealogical DNA testing, a wider circle of people started to claim descent from Genghis Khan.

The paternity of Jochi

The first and foremost problem is the paternity of Genghis's eldest son, Jochi, whose recorded progeny is far more copious than that of Ögedei, Chagatai, and Tolui, taken together. The name of Jochi is translated as "(Unexpected) Guest". The Secret History of the Mongols relates that the boy was sent to Genghis by Chilger, who had kidnapped and raped his first wife, keeping her in captivity for about a year. According to the Secret History, the brothers of Jochi expressed doubts as to his paternity, but these were denied by Genghis himself.In one passage, Chagatai refers to Jochi as "bastard" (254, though the true meaning of the Mongol term is obscure). To this, Genghis Khan responds: "How dare you talk about Jochi like this? Is not he the eldest of my heirs? That I never heard such wicked words again!" (255). All in all, Genghis Khan pronounces the words "Jochi is my eldest...
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