Kastagir was born in AD 1715 in Ethiopia, in Eastern Africa. Little is known about his first death or who his first teacher was, but he proved himself a skilled warrior who enjoyed adventure. In 1750, Kastagir encountered The Kurgan and survived.

In 1776, he traveled to America, and met Connor MacLeod. The two would become good friends. In 1777, MacLeod and Kastagir served in the Continental Army at Valley Forge. Kastagir once joked that he spent one winter looking for General Washington's dentures in the snow.

In 1985, the time of the Gathering had begun in New York. Kastagir, who was living in Chad at the time, left for New York. He would encounter Connor at the subway where they confronted a street gang and Connor suggested they meet the next day at the bridge in Central Park to talk. Kastagir said it wouldn't do any good, "there can be only one." Connor asked again and Kastagir finally agreed, since there was no sense in the two of them fighting until the Kurgan was defeated.