Siege of Esztergom (1241): Difference between revisions
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==Background== |
==Background== |
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[[File:MongolsInHungary1241.jpg|thumb|left|200px|]] |
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Christmas on 1241,Eight months after the [[Mongols]] annihilated a whole Eastern European army at the [[Battle of Mohi]] in Europe, King [[Bela IV of Hungary]] abandoned his whole Kingdom to run away from the advancing Mongols. [[Kadan]] in charge of tracking King [[Bela IV]] doesn't want to proceed with a smaller force decides to come in contact with [[Batu]] who agreed to give half of his forces to [[Kadan]] and another half to target [[Esztergom]]. Kadan did not have the chance to accomplish his mission due to the [[kurultai]].<ref>"Genghis Khan: his conquest, his empire, his legacy"by Frank Lynn</ref><ref>"The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History: How Genghis Khan almost conquered the world"by Craughwell, Thomas</ref> |
Christmas on 1241,Eight months after the [[Mongols]] annihilated a whole Eastern European army at the [[Battle of Mohi]] in Europe, King [[Bela IV of Hungary]] abandoned his whole Kingdom to run away from the advancing Mongols. [[Kadan]] in charge of tracking King [[Bela IV]] doesn't want to proceed with a smaller force decides to come in contact with [[Batu]] who agreed to give half of his forces to [[Kadan]] and another half to target [[Esztergom]]. Kadan did not have the chance to accomplish his mission due to the [[kurultai]].<ref>"Genghis Khan: his conquest, his empire, his legacy"by Frank Lynn</ref><ref>"The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History: How Genghis Khan almost conquered the world"by Craughwell, Thomas</ref> |
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Revision as of 08:52, 1 January 2016
Esztergom is the capital and wealthiest city of the Kingdom of Hungary until its destruction. It was looted and destroyed by Batu Khan of the Mongol Empire.[1]
| Siege of Esztergom[2] | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of Mongol Invasion of Europe[3] | |||||
 Mongol invasion in the plains of Hungary | |||||
| |||||
| Belligerents | |||||
 Mongol Empire |
 Kingdom of Hungary | ||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||
|
Batu Khan[6] |
Burgrave Simeon (Spanish commander)[7] | ||||
| Units involved | |||||
|
Light Cavalry Catapults[8] | Esztergomians[9] | ||||
| Strength | |||||
|
Unknown 30 catapults[10] | 12000 inhabitants[11] | ||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||
| none[12] | Almost all killed[13] | ||||
Background
Christmas on 1241,Eight months after the Mongols annihilated a whole Eastern European army at the Battle of Mohi in Europe, King Bela IV of Hungary abandoned his whole Kingdom to run away from the advancing Mongols. Kadan in charge of tracking King Bela IV doesn't want to proceed with a smaller force decides to come in contact with Batu who agreed to give half of his forces to Kadan and another half to target Esztergom. Kadan did not have the chance to accomplish his mission due to the kurultai.[14][15]
Battle
Christmas day on 1241, 12,000 inhabitants resisted theMongol advance in Esztergom, so Batu Khan bring out the catapults to tear down the walls of the city. The Esztergomians realized it was hopeless so they set fire to all the house and buried all their gold and silver and any precious belongings. Batu was furious when he found out the buried loot, he massacred all the inhabitants except for the handful of people left in the citadel.[16][17]
Aftermath
Batu and his army crossed the frozen Danube river to prepare for the invasion of Western Europe. Batu send a reconnaissance party to check the defenses of Vienna, all of a sudden a courier was sent from Karakorum in Austria announced the death of his uncle Ogedei Khan and to participate in the Kurultai. Batu to uphold tradition broke camp and went back to the Far East steppes in Mongolia leaving Europe from further destruction.[18]
Footnotes
- ^ "The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History: How Genghis Khan almost conquered the world"by Craughwell, Thomas p.270-277
- ^ "Genghis Khan: his conquest, his empire, his legacy"by Frank Lynn
- ^ "Genghis Khan: his conquest, his empire, his legacy"by Frank Lynn
- ^ "The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History: How Genghis Khan almost conquered the world"by Craughwell, Thomas
- ^ "Genghis Khan: his conquest, his empire, his legacy"by Frank Lynn
- ^ "Genghis Khan: his conquest, his empire, his legacy"by Frank Lynn
- ^ "Genghis Khan: his conquest, his empire, his legacy"by Frank Lynn
- ^ "Genghis Khan: his conquest, his empire, his legacy"by Frank Lynn
- ^ "Genghis Khan: his conquest, his empire, his legacy"by Frank Lynn
- ^ "Genghis Khan: his conquest, his empire, his legacy"by Frank Lynn
- ^ "Genghis Khan: his conquest, his empire, his legacy"by Frank Lynn
- ^ "Genghis Khan: his conquest, his empire, his legacy"by Frank Lynn
- ^ "Genghis Khan: his conquest, his empire, his legacy"by Frank Lynn
- ^ "Genghis Khan: his conquest, his empire, his legacy"by Frank Lynn
- ^ "The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History: How Genghis Khan almost conquered the world"by Craughwell, Thomas
- ^ "Genghis Khan: his conquest, his empire, his legacy"by Frank Lynn
- ^ "The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History: How Genghis Khan almost conquered the world"by Craughwell, Thomas
- ^ "The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History: How Genghis Khan almost conquered the world"by Craughwell, Thomas
References
- McLynn, Frank. Genghis Khan: His conquest, his Empire, his legacy. Da Capo Press. ISBN 978-0-306-82396-1.
- Craughwell, Thomas J. The Rise and Fall of the Second Largest Empire in History: How Genghis Khan almost conquered the world. Fair Winds. ISBN 9781616738518.