In which month of 1227 did Genghis Khan die?

Genghis Khan died in August 1227. The precise day is disputed: sources commonly give either 18 or 25 August. He died during his campaign against Western Xia, also called the Tangut kingdom, while the Mongol army was besieging its capital, Zhongxing.

Genghis had reportedly fallen from his horse while hunting in the winter of 1226–1227 and became increasingly ill. Despite warnings from his sons and commanders, he continued the campaign. Later accounts suggest illnesses such as malaria, typhus or bubonic plague, while other traditions proposed injuries or assassination; no explanation is universally accepted.

His death was concealed from the defenders of Zhongxing so the siege could continue without weakening Mongol morale or alerting the enemy. The city fell the following month and was subjected to devastating reprisals. Because the exact day and cause remain uncertain, some references state only “August 1227.” That uncertainty does not make the month ambiguous: August is the standard answer accepted by historians and quizmasters.