Mongol WarfareMongol Warfare

Asia Before Genghis KhanAsia Before Genghis Khan

Genghis Khan / Chinggis KhaanGenghis Khan / Chinggis Khaan(birthname Temujin) (1162-1227)(birthname Temujin) (1162-1227)

created Mongol confederation and empirecreated Mongol confederation and empire

Chingghis and his sons Chingghis and his sons JochiJochi (1185– (1185–1226), 1226), ChagataiChagatai (1187—1241), (1187—1241), ÖgedeiÖgedei (1189—1241), and (1189—1241), and ToluiTolui (1190–1232). (1190–1232).

Conquests of Genghis KahnConquests of Genghis Kahn

From Nicholas Hooper and Matthew Bennett, From Nicholas Hooper and Matthew Bennett, Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare: The Middle Cambridge Illustrated Atlas of Warfare: The Middle Ages 768-1487Ages 768-1487

Horsemen and grasslandsHorsemen and grasslands

Mongolian horses: 12-14 Mongolian horses: 12-14 hands (cf thoroughbreds: 15-hands (cf thoroughbreds: 15-17 hands). 17 hands).

The Mongolian-Manchurian grassland The Mongolian-Manchurian grassland covers an area of 887,300 square covers an area of 887,300 square kilometers (342,600 square miles).kilometers (342,600 square miles).

Mongol ArmiesMongol Armies All males between the ages of 15 to All males between the ages of 15 to

around 60 who were capable of around 60 who were capable of bearing arms were eligible for bearing arms were eligible for military service. Mongol armies were military service. Mongol armies were based around a core group of light based around a core group of light and heavy cavalry organised on the and heavy cavalry organised on the decimal system. The largest tactical decimal system. The largest tactical formation was the ‘tuman’ consisting formation was the ‘tuman’ consisting of 10,000 warriors. Three tumans of 10,000 warriors. Three tumans usually constituted a Mongol army. usually constituted a Mongol army. The tuman was made up of ten The tuman was made up of ten regiments (‘minghans’) of 1,000 regiments (‘minghans’) of 1,000 men. Each regiment contained ten men. Each regiment contained ten squadrons ‘jagun’. The jagun was squadrons ‘jagun’. The jagun was subdivided into ten troops called subdivided into ten troops called arbans. … The typical Mongol army arbans. … The typical Mongol army was largely cavalry based, consisting was largely cavalry based, consisting of about 60 percent light cavalry and of about 60 percent light cavalry and 40 percent heavy cavalry. Both units 40 percent heavy cavalry. Both units were crucial to Mongol strategy. were crucial to Mongol strategy. Mongol light cavalry performed Mongol light cavalry performed reconnaissance roles and acted as a reconnaissance roles and acted as a screen for the heavy cavalry. These screen for the heavy cavalry. These light horseman were armed with two light horseman were armed with two composite bows, (one for long composite bows, (one for long distance, the other for short), two or distance, the other for short), two or three javelins and a lasso. The heavy three javelins and a lasso. The heavy cavalry were equipped with a 12ft cavalry were equipped with a 12ft lance along with sabre for hand to lance along with sabre for hand to hand combat.hand combat.From http://historyofwarfare.blogspot.com/2008/04/mongol-invasion-of-From http://historyofwarfare.blogspot.com/2008/04/mongol-invasion-of-europe-battles-of.htmleurope-battles-of.html

Mongol HorsemenMongol Horsemen

Mongol Battle TacticsMongol Battle Tactics The Mongol army was a people's army, that The Mongol army was a people's army, that

is, all Mongol adult males were enlisted. … is, all Mongol adult males were enlisted. … The majority of Mongol troops were armed The majority of Mongol troops were armed with mediocre, homemade weapons, and with mediocre, homemade weapons, and most carried only bows and arrows, along most carried only bows and arrows, along with axes and clubs. Because of this lack of with axes and clubs. Because of this lack of weapons appropriate for hand-to-hand weapons appropriate for hand-to-hand combat and their inferior training, the combat and their inferior training, the Mongols were hesitant to engage in frontal Mongols were hesitant to engage in frontal attacks, preferring instead to depend on attacks, preferring instead to depend on their archery and mobility. The Mongols ... their archery and mobility. The Mongols ... sent unit after unit galloping at the enemy sent unit after unit galloping at the enemy as fast as could be with each man shooting as fast as could be with each man shooting one heavy arrow from as close as possible; one heavy arrow from as close as possible; each unit would then turn away and out of each unit would then turn away and out of the path and line of fire of the next unit, the path and line of fire of the next unit, which could follow almost on its heels. Thus which could follow almost on its heels. Thus the enemy would be repeatedly pounded by the enemy would be repeatedly pounded by the Mongols' best shots, delivered by a quick the Mongols' best shots, delivered by a quick and confusing succession of attacking units, and confusing succession of attacking units, each concealing the next until the last each concealing the next until the last moment. The aim of such tactics, together moment. The aim of such tactics, together with efforts at outflanking, was to wear down with efforts at outflanking, was to wear down the enemy. If the Mongols faced cavalry, it the enemy. If the Mongols faced cavalry, it was hoped that they could provoke a was hoped that they could provoke a pursuit, with the Mongols shooting to the pursuit, with the Mongols shooting to the rear as they rode off. This would lead to the rear as they rode off. This would lead to the exhaustion of the opponents' horses. At exhaustion of the opponents' horses. At some point, the Mongols, either on fresh some point, the Mongols, either on fresh horses or reinforced by additional troops, horses or reinforced by additional troops, would turn against their pursuers, dealing would turn against their pursuers, dealing them a crushing blow or harassing them as them a crushing blow or harassing them as they withdrew. In general, the Mongols tried they withdrew. In general, the Mongols tried to avoid hand to-hand combat, because of to avoid hand to-hand combat, because of their lack of personal arms and armor. their lack of personal arms and armor.

Reuven Amitai-PreissReuven Amitai-Preiss

Mongol archers and recursive composite bow Mongol archers and recursive composite bow

Materials: birch wood frame; layers of Materials: birch wood frame; layers of birch bark, horn (facing archer), sinew birch bark, horn (facing archer), sinew (on back), attached with fish glue; (on back), attached with fish glue; animal hide string.animal hide string.

Arrows: 80-100 cmArrows: 80-100 cm Draw weight: 166 poundsDraw weight: 166 pounds Range: 80-100 m (aimed), 300-350 m Range: 80-100 m (aimed), 300-350 m

(maximum)(maximum)

Mongol armor and weaponsMongol armor and weapons

Like the seventh-century Arabs, Like the seventh-century Arabs, the Mongol elite adopted the the Mongol elite adopted the weapons and armor of the peoples weapons and armor of the peoples they conquered. Most Mongolian they conquered. Most Mongolian armor was of scale and lamellar armor was of scale and lamellar variety. Most armor was made of variety. Most armor was made of hardened leather and iron, lanced hardened leather and iron, lanced together onto a fabric backing, together onto a fabric backing, sometimes silk. Mail armor was sometimes silk. Mail armor was also sometimes used, but was also sometimes used, but was rare, probably due to its weight rare, probably due to its weight and difficulty to repair. Mongol and difficulty to repair. Mongol archers demanded the armor to be archers demanded the armor to be light enough so that when riding, it light enough so that when riding, it did not interfere with their did not interfere with their mobility.mobility.

The composite bow was the The composite bow was the favored weapon of the Mongols, favored weapon of the Mongols, but troops also carried a single-but troops also carried a single-handed, curved blade of Turkic handed, curved blade of Turkic origin, a mace, and helmets. origin, a mace, and helmets. Mongols adopted weapons of Mongols adopted weapons of peoples they conqueredpeoples they conquered

Mongols besiege a cityMongols besiege a city

Mongol TerrorMongol Terror

Hulagu Khan (1217-1265), grandson of Genghis, founder of Hulagu Khan (1217-1265), grandson of Genghis, founder of the Ilkhanate of Persia. Besieged and destroyed Baghdad in the Ilkhanate of Persia. Besieged and destroyed Baghdad in 1258 (on right), invaded Syria in 1259, destroying power of 1258 (on right), invaded Syria in 1259, destroying power of

the Ayyubid sultanate of Damascusthe Ayyubid sultanate of Damascus

Mongol Invasion of Europe: 1241-1242Mongol Invasion of Europe: 1241-1242

Battle of Legnica/Leignitz (9 April). MongolBattle of Legnica/Leignitz (9 April). Mongol

army consisting of two tumen (about army consisting of two tumen (about 15,000) 15,000)

defeated an army of Poles and Germans defeated an army of Poles and Germans (2000-(2000-

25,000) under Duke Henry II the Pious25,000) under Duke Henry II the Pious

Mohi (11 April). The Hungarians led by King Mohi (11 April). The Hungarians led by King Bela Bela

IV were defeated by the main Mongol force IV were defeated by the main Mongol force

(approx. 30,000) under the command of (approx. 30,000) under the command of BatuBatu

Khan and his general SubutaiKhan and his general Subutai