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The Mongol invasion of eastern Europe of 1237-42 was the high water mark of their advance west into Europe, and is famous for their major battlefield victories at Liegnitz and Muhi (or the Sajo), their most westerly major battles. However there was more to this campaign that just these victories, and this book also goes on to look at the period after the battles, which saw the Mongols largely engaged in siege warfare, winning more than they lost, but also suffering their first significant setbacks in Europe at the sieges of Esztergom and Székesfehérvár.
Although this book is officially a look at the clash between the European Knights and Mongol Warriors, it actually works as a more general history of the Mongol invasion, with a focus on the knights on the Polish and Hungarian side, but not to the exclusion of other troops. We do get a good examination of the experience, equipment and fighting style of the Knights involved, as well as of their Mongol opponents, but the roll of other troops, and in particular crossbowmen, is given its full significance.
We get a good account of the overall campaign, including the aftermath of the two Mongol battlefield victories and the probably reasons for their retreat from Hungary in 1242. The two main battles get the most detail, and in both cases the image of the invincible Mongols is questioned, with the battle of Muhi in particular having spells where the Hungarians appeared to be on top (with at least one mention of this coming from a Mongol source). One theme that recurs in later clashes between European Knights and later invaders from the east (in particular the Ottomans) is the impatience of many of the Knights and the pressure they put on their more careful leaders, a pressure that often led to disaster.
We also get an examination of what the defeated King Bela IV of Hungary did after the Mongols left to prepare for their return, and how effective those plans were when the Mongols did indeed invade again in 1285-86, and were forced to withdraw after suffering a serious defeat.
Chapters
The Opposing Sides - Status, Recruitment And Motivation • Command, Control And Organization • Weapons And Equipment • Battle Tactics • Siege Warfare
Liegnitz 9 April 1241
Muhi 1241
Esztergom And Székesfehérvár 1242
Author: Stephen Turnbull
Edition: Paperback
Pages: 80
Publisher: Osprey
Year: 2023