Genghis Khan was born Temujin between 1155 and 1167 as the eldest child of Yesugei, a Mongol chieftain of the Borjigin clan, and his wife Ho’elun. When Temujin was eight, his father died and his family was abandoned by its tribe. Reduced to near-poverty, Temujin killed his older half-brother Behter to secure his familial position. His charismatic personality helped to attract his first followers and to form alliances with two prominent steppe leaders named Jamukha and Toghrul; they worked together to retrieve Temujin’s newlywed wife Borte, who had been kidnapped by raiders. As his reputation grew, his relationship with Jamukha deteriorated into open warfare. After defeating the Naiman tribe and executing Jamukha, he was left as the sole ruler on the Mongolian steppe. (Date of death: 1227)

Borte (c. 1161–1230) was the first wife of Temujin. Börte became the head of the first Court of Genghis Khan, and Grand Empress of his Empire. She was betrothed to Genghis at a young age, married at seventeen, and then kidnapped by a rival tribe. Her husband's rescue of her is considered one of the key events that started him on his path to becoming a conqueror. (Date of death: 1230)

a military and political leader of the Jadaran tribe who was proclaimed Gur Khan ('Universal Ruler') in 1201, Jamukha was born into the Jadaran tribe, a sub-tribe within the Khamag Mongol confederation. He was also an anda, a sworn brother, to Temujin.(and later a rival) Following the Thirteen Sides, Jamukha was betrayed and captured by his own men, who submitted him to the victorious Temujin. Citing one of the laws Temujin had established (often associated with the later Yassa code), which forbade the betrayal of one's Khan, Temujin had Jamukha's betrayers immediately executed. Jamukha himself was subsequently interrogated. Offered the choice to live and join Temujin, he requested instead to die honorably at the hands of his anda. Temujin granted this request, and Jamukha was executed according to noble tradition, "without spilling blood". (Date of death: 1206)

Toqto'a Beki was the 12th-century leader of the Merkit, a prominent nomadic tribal confederation on the Mongolian Plateau. Toqto'a Beki played a central role in the long-running feud with Temujin (Genghis Khan), which included the retaliatory raid on Temujin’s camp around 1181 after earlier mutual abductions (such as the kidnapping of Börte). He was slain around 1208–1209 at the Battle of the Irtysh River, where a combined Mongol force under Jochi and Qutuqa Beki shattered the Merkit-Naiman alliance.

Dayir Usun was a historical leader of the Uvas branch of the Merkits and the father of Khulan Khatun. One group of Merkit submitted, however, under the leadership of Dayir Usun, who offered his daughter Khulan in marriage to Temujin(Genghis Khan). Many of these Merkit later rebelled, but the Mongols defeated them. Any survivors were then dispersed among the Mongol regiments. Though Temujin had agreed to keep this faction of the Merkit intact under the leadership of Khulan's father, he did not tolerate betrayal or rebellion. In Jaadugar, he's also depicted as a shaman who is capable of communicating with spirits. (Date of death: 1204, killed by Genghis Khan’s third son, Ogedei Khan.)

A bright and innocent girl whose proud and strong spirit allows her to protect everyone when her tribe is in danger. Like most of Genghis Khan’s wives, Khulan was characterized by multiple loyalties, but could rarely act on them. Khulan gained power likely because she "demonstrated an overt commitment to her husband and his empire," though we cannot say if she still kept her first loyalties underneath. Daughter of Dayir Usun

A boy known by many for his aptitude with the bow. Close friends with Khulan and Toregene, he carries a childlike innocence and vulnerability that shows his age. Even so, he chooses to fight with his allies against the Mongol threat. Son of Toqto'a Beki.(Date of death: 1216, Executed by Jochi after Kultukan's failed assassination attempt on Batu)

She was originally a girl from Naiman, who was married off to Dayir Usun, the chieftain of the Merkit Uhas clan, in a political alliance. Despite the large age gap between her and Dayir, she gradually warms up to him thanks to his daughter, Khulan(who was given to Genghis Khan as a wife). She hates Ogedei and sees him as an enemy.