The Mongol army was organized along a decimal system that was introduced by Genghis Khan at the kurultai of 1206 and refined by his successors. The decimal system divided the army into units of ten (arban), a hundred (zuun), a thousand (mingghan), and ten thousand (tümen), each with its own commander and its own identity. The system gave the Mongol army a flexibility and a responsiveness that was unmatched by any of its enemies, and it was one of the keys to the success of the Mongol military.
The decimal system was not merely a way of counting soldiers. It was a way of organizing society, a way of building loyalty, and a way of ensuring that the army could be deployed with maximum flexibility. The system was, in effect, a revolution in military organization, and it has been studied by military commanders for centuries.
The Arban
The arban was the basic unit of the decimal system, a unit of ten warriors. The arban was the basic tactical unit of the Mongol army, and the warriors of an arban were expected to fight together, to camp together, and to support each other in the field. The warriors of an arban were typically drawn from a single clan or a single region, and they were bound together by personal loyalty to their commander, called the arbanchi.
The arban was a flexible and effective tactical unit, and it was the model for the other units of the Mongol army. The arban could operate independently, or it could be combined with other arbans to form larger units. The arban was, in effect, the building block of the Mongol army, and it was one of the keys to the success of the Mongol military.
The Zuun
The zuun was a unit of a hundred warriors, composed of ten arbans. The zuun was commanded by a zuunachi, who was responsible for the conduct of the warriors under his command. The zuunachi was a more senior officer than the arbanchi, and he was typically a member of the Mongol nobility or a trusted follower of the khan.
The zuun was the basic operational unit of the Mongol army, and it was the unit that was typically used for independent operations. The zuun could be detached from the main army and sent on a mission, or it could be combined with other zuuns to form larger units. The zuun was, in effect, the building block of the larger units of the Mongol army.
The Mingghan
The mingghan was a unit of a thousand warriors, composed of ten zuuns. The mingghan was commanded by a mingghanishi, who was responsible for the conduct of the zuuns under his command. The mingghanishi was a senior officer, and he was typically a member of the imperial family or a trusted adviser of the khan.
The mingghan was the basic tactical unit of the Mongol army at the operational level, and it was the unit that was typically used for major operations. The mingghan could be combined with other mingghans to form a tümen, or it could be detached for independent operations. The mingghan was, in effect, the building block of the larger units of the Mongol army, and it was the unit that was typically commanded by a member of the imperial family.
The Tümen
The tümen was a unit of ten thousand warriors, composed of ten mingghans. The tümen was commanded by a tümenchin, who was responsible for the conduct of the mingghans under his command. The tümenchin was one of the most senior officers in the Mongol army, and he was typically a member of the imperial family or a close relative of the khan.
The tümen was the basic strategic unit of the Mongol army, and it was the unit that was typically deployed on a major campaign. The tümen could be combined with other tümens to form a larger army, or it could operate independently. The tümen was, in effect, the building block of the larger armies of the Mongol Empire, and it was the unit that was typically commanded by a member of the imperial family.
The Keshig
The keshig was a special unit of the decimal system, a body of ten thousand men who served as the personal guard of the khan. The keshig was drawn from the most loyal and able of Genghis Khan’s followers, and it was the training ground for the future commanders of the Mongol army. Many of the most famous Mongol generals, including Subutai and Jebe, served in the keshig before being given field commands.
The keshig was also the center of the imperial administration. It was the keshig that kept the imperial records, communicated the khan’s orders, and served as the first line of defense against rebellion and assassination. The keshig was, in effect, the imperial headquarters, and it was the model for the imperial guards of the khanates that would follow.
Sources
- Timothy May, The Mongol Art of War (Barnsley, 2007).
- David Morgan, The Mongols (2nd ed., Oxford, 2007).
- Christopher I. Beckwith, Empires of the Silk Road (Princeton, 2009).