Mongol Invasion of Hungary 1241, Part 1 – The Invasion

[Aldarion]

Mongol Invasion of Hungary 1241, Part 1 – The Invasion

Mongols had invaded Hungary and Croatia in 1241 – 1242 period. Contemporaries described the invasion in the apocalyptic terms. While in the long run far less damaging than the later Ottoman wars, e…

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Mongols had invaded Hungary and Croatia in 1241 – 1242 period. Contemporaries described the invasion in the apocalyptic terms. While in the long run far less damaging than the later Ottoman wars, effects were much more immediately obvious and pronounced in the short term. Lowland areas, especially in Hungary, were basically depopulated and overall population losses were significant. Hungary was no a stranger to periodic nomadic invasions: Hungarian Alfod was after all an ideal area for nomads to establish a holding close to numerous settled states they could plunder. But these invasions were easily stopped by border defenses or elsehow contained, and never presented a major threat to the kingdom itself. In fact, Under Andrew II Hungary had been expanding its influence in the Cuman steppe, especially after Andrew’s son, prince Bela, got appointed to the newly created office of the Duke of Transylvania.

This effort proved especially successful following the Kalka battle (1224) which caused a major disarray in the Cuman world. Bortz/Burch’s Cuman tribe adopted Christianity in 1227, and consequently also Pontificial Siege’s political protectorate and Hungarian military protectorate. Cumans could not become Hungary’s political protectorate due to political conflict between Hungary and the Teutonic Order at the itme. During 1230s, Hungary and Russia clashed over the Kuman issue, but the Mongols were increasingly a presence in the area from 1229 onwards.

Hungarian involvement in the steppe naturally captured Mongol interest. While Mongols were always going to attack Europe and Hungary due to their ideology of world conquest (discussed later in the article / series), it is likely that Hungarian involvement with the Cumans turned Hungary into the primary target during the 1241/2 campaign. The great kuriltai of 1235 which had taken the decision to attack the Cuman steppe had explicitly concluded Hungary as one of potential opponents. Batu had in fact been trying to establish diplomatic relations with Hungary from the very beginnings of the military operations in Volga. Bela IV however was aware that the Mongol threat could not be turned away through diplomacy and refused Mongol terms.

 

[Aldarion]

Mongol Invasion of Hungary 1241, Part 2 – Why Did Mongols Withdraw

Mongols had arrived almost out of nowhere, and laid waste to territory from Poland to the Balkans, defeating several armies in the process. Then they equally suddenly left. Mongol invasion of Hunga…

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Mongols had arrived almost out of nowhere, and laid waste to territory from Poland to the Balkans, defeating several armies in the process. Then they equally suddenly left. Mongol invasion of Hungary, and Europe in general, was a defeat. All the areas which the Mongols had invaded from 1236 to 1242 were absorbed into the Mongol empire, with the exception of those in Europe.

Mongol withdrawal was sudden, and at first most people expected it to have been a ruse. Rogerius describes staying with other refugees on a defensible mountaintop for at least a month after making his escape from the withdrawing Mongol column.

Numerous theories exist as of why Europe alone had escaped subjugation, but most of these are not convincing.