Don’t mess with Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan was looking to establish trading relations along the Silk Road with the Khwarazmian Empire, and sent a trade caravan of 500 men to its city of Otra. But its governor, Inalchuq—uncle of the Khwarazmian Shah—was suspicious and with the Shah’s permission executed the Mongols.
When Khan found out, he gave them another chance and sent three ambassadors to meet with the Shah and explain his trade intent and demand that Inalchuq be punished.
The Shah unwisely shaved the beards of two of the ambassadors and beheaded the third, sending the beards and head back to Khan. His response? He conquered the city of Otra, executed Inalchuq by reportedly pouring molten silver into his eyes and ears, then wiped the entire Khwarazmian empire off the map.
It’s rumored Khan even had a river diverted around the Shah’s birthplace to make it uninhabitable.
