India, March 8 -- The popular belief that one in 200 men is related to Genghis Khan, first Khagan of the Mongol Empire, is not true, a study by the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has claimed.

Rather, the genetic legacy of the empire, the largest contiguous land-based empire in human history, is far more complicated than has been assumed till now.

Khagan of the Mongols

Genghis, born Temujin in 1162, assumed the name he is now known globally by in 1206. He united the Mongol tribes and soon conquered large parts of the Eurasian landmass.

Genghis died in 1227. In 1294, the empire split into four 'Khanates', each ruled by a 'Khagan' or 'Khan'. These were: The Yuan Dynasty (the Chinese part of the empire), the Chagatai Khanate (Central As...