Mongol invasion of Europe, 1236–1242

Mongol invasion of Europe

The great western campaign of the united Mongol forces under Batu and Subutai: the defeat of Volga Bulgaria and the Cumans, the devastation of northeastern and southern Rus’, and the invasion of Poland and Hungary.

Date

1236–1242year known · duration: ≈ 6 years

Place

Eastern Europeapproximate locationEastern Europe

Route

Bilyar → Ryazan (Staraya Ryazan) → Kolomna → Moscow → Vladimir → Torzhok → Kozelsk → Pereiaslav → Chernihiv → Kyiv → Volodymyr-Volynskyi → Verecke Pass → Mohi → Pest → Esztergom → Tarnovo → Lower Danube → Batu’s camp on the lower Volga

Participants

Mongol Empire, Batu Khan, Subutai, Burundai (Boroldai)

Threads

Mongol conquests

Also known as

Кипчакский поход; Нашествие Батыя; Батыево нашествие

The campaign was decided on by the kurultai of 1235, and troops from all the Mongol uluses took part in it. In 1236–1237 Volga Bulgaria and the peoples of the Volga region were subjugated; in the winter of 1237–1238 the principality of Vladimir-Suzdal was crushed; in 1239–1240 Pereiaslav, Chernihiv and Kyiv fell. In the spring of 1241 the Mongol armies defeated the Poles at Legnica and the Hungarians at Mohi.

In 1242 the Mongols turned back through the Balkans (news of the death of the great khan Ögedei is among the reasons suggested) and withdrew to the lower Volga, where Batu set up his headquarters — the future center of the Golden Horde. The years of the campaign follow Russian historiography; some sources also include the 1223 raid to the Kalka. The line on the map is a simplified route of the main forces; the corps that fought at Legnica took a more northerly route, through Poland.

Connections

Causes and preconditions

Karakorum becomes the Mongol capital1235 · Central and Northern AsiaThe kurultai of 1235 decided on the great western campaign

Consequences

Yaroslav II receives a yarlyk from Batu1243 · Eastern Europe

Coronation of Daniel of Galicia1253 · Eastern EuropeAfter the devastation of Rus’ and his forced journey to Batu in 1245, Daniel began to look for allies against the Horde in the West

Includes

Siege of Ryazan16–21 December 1237 · Eastern Europe

Siege of Vladimir3 February – between 7 February and 8 February 1238 · Eastern Europe

Battle of the Sit Riverbetween 25 February and 4 March 1238 · Eastern Europe

Siege of KozelskMarch–May 1238 · Eastern Europe

Siege of Kyiv5 September – between 19 November and 6 December 1240 · Eastern Europe

Battle of Legnica9 April 1241 · Western and Central Europe

Battle of Mohi11 April 1241 · Western and Central Europe

Related events

Battle of the Kalka River31 May 1223 · Eastern EuropeThirteen years later the Mongols returned with the great western campaign

Great Stand on the Ugra River8 October – 11 November 1480 · Eastern EuropeBatu’s invasion began the dependence of Rus’ on the Horde; the Great Stand on the Ugra River is regarded as its end

Meanwhile in the world

Other regions, within a year of this event

Mongol invasion of Europe

Connections

Causes and preconditions

Consequences

Includes

Related events

Meanwhile in the world

Western and Central Europe

Balkans and Anatolia

Africa

Central and Northern Asia

South Asia

The same period

Sources