Mongols in the Levant and Beyond
Printed From: History Community ~ All Empires
Category: Regional History or Period History
Forum Name: Steppe Nomads and Central Asia
Forum Discription: Nomads such as the Scythians, Huns, Turks & Mongols, and kingdoms of Central Asia
URL: http://www.allempires.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=4750
Printed Date: 23-Apr-2024 at 19:06
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.56a - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Mongols in the Levant and Beyond
Posted By: Belisarius
Subject: Mongols in the Levant and Beyond
Date Posted: 01-Aug-2005 at 11:43
| While invading India and Southeast Asia were extremely difficult ventures because of the terrain, the vast open lands of the Levant were perfect for cavalry-heavy armies. My question is then why did the Mongol send sufficient forces to take the Levant and move into Egypt? Were the Mamelukes simply too strong for the Mongols? |
Replies:
Posted By: Imperator Invictus
Date Posted: 02-Aug-2005 at 12:28
Did you mean why didn't they send sufficient forces?  The main reason was that when their Great Mongke Khan died, Hulagu had to consolidate his conquest of Persia and Mesopotamia (which became the Il-khanate), So he pulled out most of his men that were heading toward the Mameluks. The small force that remained, along with allied auxillary units, were destroyed by the much larger Mameluk force. So it was all about politics, basicaly... The Golden Horde Khan in the north disapproved of Hulagu's treatment of the Muslims. After Mongke died, civil war erupted over the entire Mongol Empire. Hulegu went to war with Berke Khan of the Golden Horde's Khan, so military campaigns elsewhere were out of question. When peace resumed and Kublai became Great Khan, some of Hulagu's veterans were moved to campaigns in China. In 1281, 20 years after Ain Jalut, the Il-Khanate finally sent a large army against the Mameluks but was deated at Homs. It wasn't until Tamerlane that a "nomadic cavalry army" from Persia was able to crush the mameluks. ------------- |
Posted By: Belisarius
Date Posted: 02-Aug-2005 at 13:33
Hehe  . This is why you are a moderator and I am not. Yes, that is exactly what I meant.------------- |