Mongol Decimal Military System

Timeline

1. 1221–1222Mongolian Plateau · Mongolian PlateauOn the eve of the western campaigns Genghis Khan perfected the mingghan and tümen organization, integrating nomadic peoples of the tribes through decimal tiers, with a commander at each level responsible for conscription, supply, and battle command.
2. 1223–1226Central Asia · Central AsiaIn the Khwarazm campaign the decimal system showed great flexibility: tümen could fight independently or combine into great armies, supporting long-range raids and multi-pronged converging attacks.
3. 1227–1230Mongol Empire · Eurasian SteppeAround the succession to the khanate, mingghan and tümen units were combined with ulus appanages, and the military household organization became the basic administrative-military unit of the princes' domains, as the system tended toward rigidity.
4. c. 1221–1230Mongol Empire · Mongolian PlateauThe arban (arrow band, ten households) was the lowest unit of the military system, responsible for raising one warrior and corresponding supplies, reporting upward through jaghun and mingghan, forming the basic grid of imperial military mobilization.