The Central Asian plateau (north of China) around the time of Temüjin was divided into several tribes or confederations in the early 1200s, including Naimani, Merkit, Uighurs , Tatars, Mongols, Kerait who were all important in their own right and often hostile towards each other, as evidenced by random raids, revenge and plunder. Temüjin began his slow rise to power by offering himself as an ally (or, according to other sources, vassal) to his father's anda (sworn brother or blood brother) Toghrul, who was Khan of the Kerait, and is better known by his Chinese title Ong Khan (or "Wang Khan"), which the Jin Empire granted to him in 1197. This relationship was first reinforced when Börte was captured by the Merkits; It was to Toghrul that Temüjin turned for support. In response, Toghrul offered his vassal 20,000 Kerait warriors and suggested also involving his childhood friend Jamuka, who had himself become Khan (ruler) of his own tribe, the Jadaran. Although the campaign was successful and led to the recapture of Börte and the total defeat of the Merkits, it also paved the way for division between childhood friends, Temüjin and Jamuka. Temüjin also became Jamuka's blood brother (anda), and they swore to remain eternally faithful before. The main opponents of the Mongol confederation (traditionally the "Mongols") around 1200 were the Naimans in the west, the Merkits in the north, the Tanguts in the south, the Jin and the Tatars in the east. In 1190, Temüjin, his followers and advisors united only the smallest Mongol confederation. In his rule and conquest of rival tribes, Temüjin broke with Mongol tradition in some crucial ways. He delegated authority based on merit and loyalty, rather than family... middle of paper... front lines in battles, but these may not be historically accurate. As a result, by 1206 Temüjin had succeeded in uniting or subduing the Merkits, Naimans, Mongols, Kerait, Tartars, Uyghurs, and other smaller tribes under his rule. It was a monumental feat for the "Mongols" (as they collectively became known). At a Kurultai, a council of Mongol leaders, he was recognized as "Khan" of the established tribes and took the new title of "Genghis Khan". The title Khagan was not bestowed on Genghis until after his death, when his son and successor, Ögedei, took the title for himself and extended it posthumously to his father (as he would also be posthumously declared the founder of the Yuan dynasty). This unification of all the confederations by Genghis Khan established peace between the previously warring tribes and a single political and military force under Genghis Khan.