How Mongol Siege Warfare Crushed Fortresses from China to Syria

How Mongol Siege Warfare Crushed Fortresses from China to Syria

Ever wonder how the Mongols, a nomadic steppe army, became history's most devastating siege force? This episode unpacks the Mongol playbook for taking walled cities — from siege engines like the mangonel and trebuchet, to cutting rivers, building ramparts, and deploying terror as a weapon. We focus on the siege of Nishapur in 1221 and the fall of Xiangyang in 1273, showing how Mongol engineers adapted Chinese and Persian technology. Genghis Khan's son Tolui led the assault on Nishapur; Khubilai Khan's Chinese artillery corps, including the trebuchet designer Guo Kan, broke Xiangyang. We also explore the role of conscripted engineers, the use of biological warfare at Caffa, and the psychological impact of Mongol reprisals. Specific terms include mangonel, trebuchet, huo yao (gunpowder), naphtha, and the Mongol siege of Baghdad (1258). This is episode 164 of How the Mongols Changed Trade, War, and Globalization. #MongolSiegeWarfare #Nishapur #Xiangyang #Tolui #KhubilaiKhan #GuoKan #Trebuchet #Mangonel #Gunpowder #HuoYao #Baghdad1258 #Caffa #PaxMongolica #YuanDynasty #History #FexingoHistory #CentralAsia #SiegeTactics Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Mongol Conquest of Korea A Forgotten Campaign

In this episode of Fexingo History, Lucas and Luna explore the Mongol invasions of Korea—a brutal yet often overlooked campaign that reshaped East Asia. From the first assault in 1231 under Ögedei Khan to the final subjugation in 1273, the Mongols faced fierce resistance from the Goryeo dynasty, led by figures like Choe U and Kim Yun-hu. The podcast delves into key battles such as the siege of Cheoin-seong, where Korean forces used advanced gunpowder weapons like the janggun hwatong. It also covers the tragic Sambyeolcho Rebellion, where elite troops made a last stand on Jeju Island. The episode highlights how Korea became a crucial base for Khubilai Khan's failed invasions of Japan, with the Mongols conscripting Korean shipbuilders and sailors. Listeners will learn about the diplomatic dance, including terms like 'sadae' (serving the greater) and the 'Mongol-Yuan-Korean alliance' that followed. Packed with specific details and human stories, this conversation reveals how the Mongol conquest of Korea transformed the region's politics, warfare, and culture. A must-listen for anyone fascinated by the Mongol Empire's global impact. #MongolEmpire #Goryeo #Korea #MongolInvasions #Ögedei #Khubilai #Sambyeolcho #Cheoinseong #Jeju #Japan #Gunpowder #JanggunHwatong #Sadae #ChoeU #KimYunhu #EastAsianHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Mongol Siege of Baghdad 1258: The Fall of the Abbasid Caliphate

In February 1258, Mongol forces under Hulagu Khan besieged and sacked Baghdad, ending the Abbasid Caliphate that had ruled for over 500 years. This episode explores the political intrigue that weakened Baghdad—including the role of the vizier Ibn al-Alqami, who may have colluded with the Mongols. We examine the military tactics, the destruction of the House of Wisdom, and the demographic catastrophe that followed, drawing on eyewitness accounts from Ibn al-Athir and later historians like Rashid al-Din. The fall of Baghdad shifted the center of Islamic power eastward to the Ilkhanate, and its legacy remains controversial. Listen as we unpack the myths and realities of a turning point in world history. #Mongols #Baghdad #AbbasidCaliphate #HulaguKhan #SiegeOfBaghdad1258 #IbnAlAlqami #RashidAlDin #JamiAltawarikh #HouseOfWisdom #Ilkhanate #IbnAlAthir #MedievalHistory #IslamicHistory #MongolSiege #CentralAsia #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Mongol Siege of Baghdad: The Fall That Shattered the Islamic World

In 1258, the Mongol army under Hulagu Khan laid siege to Baghdad, the heart of the Abbasid Caliphate. This episode unpacks the siege itself — the engineering, the betrayal, the sack — and its aftermath: the destruction of the House of Wisdom, the end of the caliphate, and the shift of Islamic power eastward. We draw on primary sources like Jami' al-tawarikh, Ibn Kathir, and the controversial role of Ibn al-Alqami, the caliph's vizier. Did he really open the gates? We also explore the myth of the Tigris running black with ink from drowned books. A turning point in world history, told with nuance. #MongolSiegeOfBaghdad #HulaguKhan #AbbasidCaliphate #FallOfBaghdad #1258 #HouseOfWisdom #IbnAlAlqami #JamiAlTawarikh #RashidAlDin #IslamicGoldenAge #Ilkhanate #AynJalut #MongolEmpire #History #FexingoHistory #MedievalHistory #SiegeWarfare #CentralAsia Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Mongol Siege of Baghdad: The Fall of the Abbasid Caliphate

In 1258, the Mongol army under Hulagu Khan besieged and sacked Baghdad, ending the 500-year-old Abbasid Caliphate. This episode explores the political and military factors that led to the city's fall, including the role of the vizier Ibn al-Alqami, the siege techniques used, and the immediate aftermath. We discuss the destruction of the House of Wisdom, the fate of Caliph al-Musta'sim, and how the event reshaped the Islamic world. Lucas and Luna also examine the historical debate over the scale of destruction and whether later accounts exaggerated the death toll. Based on primary sources like the Jami' al-tawarikh and works by ibn Kathir and ibn al-Athir, this episode offers a nuanced look at a pivotal moment in Mongol and world history. #Mongols #SiegeOfBaghdad #Hulagu #AbbasidCaliphate #1258 #IbnAlAlqami #AlMustasim #HouseOfWisdom #JamiAlTawarikh #RashidAlDin #Ilkhanate #MongolInvasion #IslamicHistory #Baghdad #MongolWarfare #MedievalHistory #History #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]