Mongol conquests
The Mongol conquests created the largest contiguous land empire in history.
At its height, it stretched from the Pacific to Central Europe. Mongols continued to rule China into the 14th century under the Yuan dynasty, while Mongol rule in Persia persisted into the 15th century under the Timurid Empire. In the Indian subcontinent, the later Mughal Empire survived into the 19th century.
- label
- Mongol conquests
- field
- Military history
- nationality
- Mongol
- known_for
- Creating the largest contiguous empire in history
- period
- 13th and 14th centuries
Lore & Background
The predecessors of the Mongol tribe were first recorded in the late tenth century, as they migrated from eastern Manchuria into the Mongolian Plateau, where they settled southeast of Lake Baikal near the mountain Burkhan Khaldun. During the twelfth century, the Mongols rose to prominence as its khans made allies and led raids on the Chinese Jin dynasty. The killing of the khans Qutula and Ambaghai in the 1160s ended this first confederation. The Mongols were reduced to comparative penury; other tribes, such as the Naimans in the west of the plateau and Kerait in the centre, became much more powerful, while the Mongols competed with smaller tribes like the Merkit and the Tatars, the allies of the Jin, in the east and north. One nephew of Qutula Khan, named Yesugei, had some success fighting against the Tatars, and was a great friend of Toghrul, the khan of the Kerait. With his wife Hö'elün, whom he had abducted from her previous Merkit husband, Yesugei had several children, including a boy named Temüjin (the future Genghis Khan) who was born c. Yesugei was poisoned by Tatars when Temüjin was still young and Hö'elün's family were abandoned by their tribe on the steppe. They survived the hostility of other tribes and the dangers of the steppe itself, while Temüjin killed his older half-brother to secure his familial position. As an adult, Temüjin formed alliances with Toghrul of the Kerait and an old friend named Jamukha who was now leader of his own tribe; they worked together to retrieve Temüjin's newlywed wife Börte, who had been kidnapped by Merkit raiders in retaliation for Hö'elün's abduction. The victory over the Merkit brought Temüjin prestige and a considerable following; although he and Jamuqa initially remained close, their individual ambitions soon conflicted and turned hostile. The Naimans were subjugated and Jamukha was executed in the next two years. With these victories, Temüjin became the undisputed ruler of a newly unified people—the Mongol Empire.
Reader's Guide
The Mongol military eliminated the traditional weaknesses of nomadic armies and built upon their tactical strengths to become one of the most formidable armed forces in history. Reforms initiated by Genghis Khan allowed the Mongol army to resolve weaknesses such as poor siege warfare, inability to occupy defeated enemies, and lack of military discipline. The army was organized using a decimal system, with strict discipline enforced across all ranks. The Mongols favored fighting in cold weather and planned campaigns at summer kurultai's. The legacy of the conquests includes the spread of Mongol influence across Eurasia and the establishment of long-lasting successor states.
Did You Know?
- A Mongol soldier took on campaign, on average, five or six horses to ride on alternate days.
- The Mongols favored fighting in cold weather, unlike their enemies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What were the Mongol conquests?
The Mongol conquests were a series of 13th- and 14th-century military campaigns that produced the largest contiguous land empire ever recorded in human history.
How large was the Mongol Empire at its peak?
At its height the territory stretched from the Pacific coast all the way to Central Europe, making it the most geographically extensive contiguous land-based empire in history.
What period did the Mongol conquests span?
The core campaigns unfolded across the 13th and 14th centuries, although Mongol political influence in several regions continued well into later centuries.
What long-term political legacies did the Mongol conquests leave behind?
Mongol rule in China persisted under the Yuan dynasty into the 14th century, influence in Persia carried into the 15th century via the Timurid Empire, and the Mughal Empire in the Indian subcontinent survived until the 19th century.
Why are the Mongol conquests considered a landmark in military history?
They stand as the defining case of a single nomadic power forging the largest contiguous empire in recorded history and permanently reshaping the political map of Eurasia.
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