The Mongol Conquest of Tibet: Steppe Warriors and the Snow Lion

Mongol Invasion of Baghdad 1258 Siege of the Abbasid Caliphate

In 1258, the Mongol army under Hulagu Khan besieged Baghdad, the heart of the Abbasid Caliphate and one of the world's greatest cities. This episode explores the siege itself, the internal divisions that left Baghdad vulnerable, and the fate of Caliph al-Musta'sim. We discuss the role of the vizier Ibn al-Alqami, whose alleged betrayal remains controversial, and the impact of the destruction on Islamic scholarship, including the loss of the House of Wisdom. We also examine the siege's aftermath: the establishment of the Ilkhanate and the broader shift in power across the Middle East. Drawing on sources like Rashid al-Din and Ibn al-Athir, we separate legend from historical fact. A fresh angle on Mongol conquests that moves beyond the steppe into the heart of medieval Islam. #MongolInvasions #Baghdad1258 #AbbasidCaliphate #HulaguKhan #SiegeOfBaghdad #HouseOfWisdom #Ilkhanate #AlMustasim #IbnAlAlqami #RashidAlDin #IbnAlAthir #MongolSiege #MedievalMiddleEast #History #MilitaryHistory #FexingoHistory #Podcast #CentralAsia Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Mongol Logistics: How the Steppe Army Stayed Fed

In this episode of The Mongol Invasions, Lucas and Luna delve into the unsung backbone of Mongol conquest: logistics. How did tens of thousands of riders and horses sustain themselves across vast distances, from the Gobi to the Danube? They explore the yam relay system, the mobile livestock herds that served as living commissaries, the use of dried curds (aaruul) and airag, and the strategic timing of campaigns to align with grass growth. The conversation covers the organizational genius of the orda system, the role of the nerge hunting technique in training and provisioning, and how the Mongols turned food supply into a weapon of speed. Specific examples include the 1221 sweep through Khorasan and the 1241 invasion of Hungary, where Subutai's timing was everything. Lucas and Luna also touch on the environmental awareness that made it all possible, contrasting Mongol methods with sedentary empires' heavy supply trains. A fresh angle that complements prior episodes on military tactics and conquests. #MongolLogistics #YamSystem #Aaruul #Airag #Orda #Nerge #Subutai #Khorasan #Hungary1241 #SteppeWarfare #MilitaryHistory #GenghisKhan #HorseArchers #MobileArmy #CentralAsia #History #FexingoHistory #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Mongol Siege of Merv 1221: Genghis Khan's Deadliest Conquest

In 1221, the ancient city of Merv in Khorasan faced the full fury of the Mongol war machine. Genghis Khan dispatched his youngest son Tolui to subdue the city, which had rebelled after an initial surrender. What followed was one of the most devastating sieges in history. Persian historian Juvayni, writing decades later, claimed that 1.3 million people perished. While modern scholars debate the exact numbers, the scale of destruction is undisputed. Tolui's forces used psychological warfare, feigned retreats, and systematic slaughter to break Merv's defenses. This episode explores the siege tactics, the fate of Merv's governor Mujir al-Mulk, the role of the Khwarezmian prince Muhammad II in the city's fall, and the long-term cultural and demographic impact on Khorasan. We also examine the controversial historiography: how Persian sources shaped our understanding of Mongol atrocities, and whether Merv's decline was as absolute as the chronicles suggest. A gripping look at urban destruction in the medieval world. #MongolSiegeofMerv #Tolui #GenghisKhan #Khwarezm #Juvayni #MujirAlMulk #Khorasan #MedievalSiege #PersianHistoriography #CentralAsia #MongolEmpire #SiegeWarfare #13thCentury #Merv #History #FexingoHistory #MongolInvasions #UrbanDestruction Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

The Mongol Conquest of Korea 1231–1259 A Brutal Six-Decade War

In this episode, Lucas and Luna explore the Mongol invasions of Korea (Goryeo) from 1231 to 1259 — a six-decade war that shattered the peninsula. They cover the Mongol commander Saritai's initial campaign, the Goryeo court's desperate flight to Ganghwa Island, the civilian resistance at Cheoinseong, and the eventual peace brokered by the future king Wonjong. The discussion highlights the Mongols' demand for tributes and princes as hostages, Goryeo's unique status as a 'son-in-law kingdom' after a royal marriage to Khubilai Khan's family, and how the war reshaped Korean society, including the creation of the Tripitaka Koreana as a prayer for deliverance. The hosts also touch on the role of the Sambyeolcho rebels who fought on after the surrender. #MongolEmpire #Goryeo #Korea #Saritai #Wonjong #KhubilaiKhan #GanghwaIsland #TripitakaKoreana #Cheoinseong #Sambyeolcho #13thCentury #EastAsianHistory #MilitaryHistory #SiegeWarfare #Diplomacy #History #FexingoHistory #MongolInvasions Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

Mongol Women: Power, Politics, and the Steppe Queens

This episode of The Mongol Invasions turns away from the battlefields to examine the women who shaped the Mongol Empire from within. Hosts Lucas and Luna explore the political power of the khatuns — empresses like Töregene and Oghul Qaimish, who ruled the empire as regents and manipulated succession. They discuss the legendary Alaqa of the Onggirat, the diplomatic influence of Sorghaghtani Beki, and the military role of women like Khutulun. The episode also covers the legal protections for women in the Yassa code, the economic independence of Mongol wives, and the cultural practice of levirate marriage. Drawing on sources like The Secret History of the Mongols, Rashid al-Din, and Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, the conversation reveals the surprising agency of women in a society often remembered for its male conquerors. Listeners will learn how royal women managed vast estates, commanded troops, and even influenced the adoption of religions across the empire. #MongolWomen #Khatun #Töregene #OghulQaimish #SorghaghtaniBeki #Khutulun #MongolEmpire #SteppeQueens #Yassa #LevirateMarriage #SecretHistoryoftheMongols #RashidalDin #GiovannidaPianodelCarpine #GenghisKhan #MongolSociety #WomenInHistory #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]