Bo'orchu (, ''Boorchi'') was one of the first and most loyal of

Genghis Khan Genghis Khan (born Temüjin; August 1227), also known as Chinggis Khan, was the founder and first khan (title), khan of the Mongol Empire. After spending most of his life uniting the Mongols, Mongol tribes, he launched Mongol invasions and ...

's friends and allies. He first met Genghis Khan as a boy. At that time, Genghis Khan (then Temujin) was looking for his stolen horses. Bo'orchu helped him win back the horses, and returned with Temujin to his father, Nakhu Bayan, who scolded him, having feared he was dead. Later, Temujin sent Hasar to get Bo'orchu and bring him to Temujin's camp. Bo'orchu refused any reward for helping Temujin recover the stolen horses, but recognized his authority and attached to him as a '' nökör'' (i.e. "free companion"), leaving his own family. After Temujin's wife, Börte, was abducted by the Merkits and he was forced to flee, Bo'orchu was sent to spy on the Merkits with Belgutei and Jelme. After Temujin took the titles Genghis Khan and Great Khan of the Mongols, Bo'orchu was made head of the Khan's followers along with Jelme. When Genghis Khan was at Dalannemurges to fight the

Tatars Tatars ( )Tatar
in the Collins English Dictionary are a group of Turkic peoples across Eas ...

, heavy rain fell and Bo'orchu stood over the Khan with a felt sheet to shelter him. Genghis Khan later rewarded Bo'orchu for this deed, praising him for he only shifted his weight from one foot to the other once during the night. Bo'orchu was later shot off his horse during a battle against

Jamukha Jamukha (), a military and political leader of the Jadaran tribe who was proclaimed Gurkhan, ''Gur Khan'' ('Universal Ruler') in 1201 by opposing factions, was a principal rival to Genghis Khan, Temüjin (proclaimed Genghis Khan in 1206) during ...

in the Khalakhaljid Sands. He stole an enemy horse and returned the next day, helping to find the enemy position. Bo'orchu was one of the most trusted friends of Ögedei,

's son and the second ruler of the

Mongol Empire The Mongol Empire was the List of largest empires, largest contiguous empire in human history, history. Originating in present-day Mongolia in East Asia, the Mongol Empire at its height stretched from the Sea of Japan to parts of Eastern Euro ...

. In modern

Mongolia Mongolia is a landlocked country in East Asia, bordered by Russia to the north and China to the south and southeast. It covers an area of , with a population of 3.5 million, making it the world's List of countries and dependencies by po ...

, Bo'orchu is commemorated with a statue in front of the Government Palace in Sükhbaatar Square,

Ulaanbaatar Ulaanbaatar is the Capital (political), capital and List of cities in Mongolia, most populous city of Mongolia. It has a population of 1.6 million, and it is the coldest capital city in the world by average yearly temperature. The municipa ...

. His and Muqali's statues flank a larger statue of Genghis Khan.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Boorchu Generals of the Mongol Empire