The Mongols vs Europe: What Almost Changed Western History — Fexingo History

The Mongol Siege of Trondheim That Never Happened

6 min · 25. juni 2026
episode The Mongol Siege of Trondheim That Never Happened cover

Description

In 1241, as Mongol armies ravaged Hungary and Poland, a single letter reached King Haakon IV of Norway. It warned that the Mongols were planning a naval invasion of Scandinavia, targeting Trondheim. But was the threat real, or was it panic spread by refugees and papal envoys? This episode follows the journey of that letter, the response of the Norwegian court, and what archaeology and chronicles reveal about the Mongols' actual knowledge of the far north. We examine the Norse sources — including Hákonar saga and the Annals of Lund — and ask whether the Mongols ever seriously considered a fleet. Featuring the Mongol reconnaissance of the Baltic, the role of the Hanseatic League, and the curious case of a Norse mercenary who fought alongside Batu Khan. A story of fear, misinformation, and a coastline that never saw a single Mongol sail. #Mongols #Scandinavia #Norway #HaakonIV #MedievalHistory #MongolInvasion #NorseSaga #Baltic #HanseaticLeague #Trondheim #1241 #NavalHistory #DarkAges #Steppe #BatuKhan #Viking #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

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146 episodes

episode Mongol Siege of Kolomna 1238 Russia's Last Stand artwork

Mongol Siege of Kolomna 1238 Russia's Last Stand

In January 1238, the Mongol army under Batu Khan and Subutai reached the fortified town of Kolomna, the last major obstacle on the road to Vladimir. This episode zooms in on the fierce three-day battle that saw the death of Genghis Khan's grandson Köten, the capture of the young prince Vladimir Yuryevich, and the destruction of the remnants of organized resistance in northeastern Rus. We examine the tactical decisions, the role of siege engines, and the political chaos that left Kolomna isolated. Drawing on the Nikon Chronicle, the Laurentian Codex, and archaeological evidence from the Kolomna kremlin, we piece together why this battle mattered more than the fall of Vladimir itself. The episode also considers the fate of the city's defenders and the long shadow Kolomna cast over the Mongol advance into Europe. #Kolomna #MongolInvasion #BatuKhan #Subutai #VladimirYuryevich #Köten #NikonChronicle #LaurentianCodex #SiegeOfKolomna #KievanRus #1238 #MongolSiege #Kremlin #SiegeEngines #History #FexingoHistory #MedievalWarfare #EasternEurope Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

9. juli 20263 min
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The Mongol Siege of Syrmia: Why the Danube Stopped the Horde

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Yesterday6 min
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Yesterday8 min
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In 1241, Mongol general Subutai orchestrated one of history's most audacious military campaigns: a coordinated two-pronged invasion of Poland and Hungary, 500 kilometers apart, timed to the day. This episode unpacks how Subutai used the Yam messenger system, divided his forces into three speeding columns, and faked a retreat at the Sajo River to annihilate King Béla IV's army. We explore the logistics of moving 50,000 horsemen across the frozen Carpathians, the psychological impact of Mongol feigned retreats, and why modern historians like Timothy May call it a 'perfect campaign.' No siege gadgets, no succession drama — just pure operational genius on the steppe. #Subutai #MongolInvasion #BattleOfMuhi #YamSystem #Blitzkrieg #1241 #BatuKhan #BelaIV #SajoRiver #CentralAsia #MilitaryHistory #FeignedRetreat #MongolHorsemen #Carpathians #Kadan #History #FexingoHistory #MedievalWarfare Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

7. juli 20267 min
episode The Mongol Siege of Vladimir: Winter 1238 artwork

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In February 1238, the Mongol army under Batu Khan and Subutai surrounded the city of Vladimir, capital of the Grand Principality of Vladimir-Suzdal in northeastern Rus'. The siege lasted only a few days before the Mongols breached the walls and massacred the defenders, including the ruling family. This episode focuses on the Mongol winter campaign against the Rus' principalities, examining how the Mongols used frozen rivers as highways, the political fragmentation that doomed the Rus' defenders, and the aftermath that set the stage for two centuries of Tatar yoke. Historian Stephen Pow's recent research on Mongol logistics helps clarify how the army sustained itself in deep snow. We also discuss the controversial figure of Prince Yuri Vsevolodovich, who fled Vladimir to raise an army and died at the Battle of the Sit River. This is a story of cold, speed, and the brutal logic of steppe warfare. #Mongols #Vladimir #Siege1238 #BatuKhan #Subutai #Rus #YuriVsevolodovich #SitRiver #WinterCampaign #KievanRus #TatarYoke #MedievalWarfare #GoldenHorde #StephenPow #MongolInvasion #History #FexingoHistory #SteppeWarfare Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo [https://buymeacoffee.com/fexingo]

7. juli 20268 min