Hulagu Khan Scourge of Islam: A Grandson of Genghis Khan Struck Fear into the Hearts of Moslems.

A magnificent tradition of splendor and glory, lust and blood surrounded the grandson of Genghis Khan when he was born to Tolui and Princess Sorghaghtani Beki in the sprawling tent city of Karaforum, then capital of the Mongol world. He was named Hulagu and he was destined to strike fear into the hearts of all followers of the Prophet.

Batu and Ogodai, the heirs of the mighty Genghis, overran southern Russia, Armenia and Persia, leaving a wide path of death and destruction in their wake. The Mongol army of Subotai swept into Europe, smashing the power of Hungary at the battle of the Sajó River and then advancing on Vienna.

In 1241, Ogodai died. The people recognized Mangu as Great Khan. Kublai turned his eyes to China and Manchuria. Hulagu glanced covertly at the Middle East and went west to reap the harvest of the decaying caliphs of Baghdad at the head of 100,000 mounted troops.

War Against The Assassins

The Assassins of Persia had long been a thorn in the side of the Great Khan and it was with instructions to destroy this power once and for all that Hulagu Khan marched into the lands south of the Caspian. Full fifty Assassin fortresses bared his route, manned by fanatical Moslem heretics who ravaged the caravan routes to the city of the Great Khan. Fearful of these dagger-wielding, hashish doped murderers, even the great caliphs paid tribute to them.

Rukn ud-Din Khurshah II, chief of the Assassins, watched in fearful awe as the horde descended on him. His offers of submission to Hulagu went unheeded for the Mongols had little love for and no trust in the Moslems.

For 18 months the Mongols ravaged the strongholds of the Assassins, rooting them from their mountain fortresses, slaughtering every post to the last man, woman and child.

Finally, in 1256, the capital, Alamut, fell before the assault of the Mongols, crushing the last vestige of Assassin power. When the victors departed Khurshah II hung from the battlements.

On To Baghdad

Hulagu regrouped his army and led them against the Kurdish outlaws of Kurd-i-kuh who had harassed the horde during the war with the Assassins. This campaign proved disastrous for Hulagu for 20,000 Mongols were massacred by the Kurds at Arbil in 1257. Depleted in force but undaunted in objective, the Mongols arrived at the Tigris.

Hastily sent envoys greeted the great Mongol leader before he crossed the river and warned him of the dangers ahead of him. A dreadful fate would overtake them if they dared violate the sacred city of Baghdad. Hulagu's astrologers warned him that 'six great calamities' would overcome him if he did not give up his plans of conquest. Hulagu showed his faith in their prophecies of doom by hanging the envoys and the astrologer. The new astrologers were certain of victory and the next day the horde crossed into Persia.

The first month of 1258 arrived to find the Mongols surrounding the city. For three weeks they laid siege. Al-Mustasim, in a desperate bid to save himself and his family, went to the camp of the Mongols and surrendered. Hulagu ordered the Caliph's family hacked to pieces and Al-Mustasim was subjected to indescribable tortures.Without a leader, Baghdad was helpless when Hulagu ordered the walls stormed. The horde swept across the plain and within two days the city fell.

For six days Hulagu permitted his men to run amok. When the Mongols rode out of Baghdad, 750,000 lay dead in its streets or engulfed in the flames that destroyed the city's palaces, mosques and libraries. The fear of plague had called an end to the rapine and the plunder-laden train that snaked out of Baghdad was over five miles long. The "bright lamp of Islamic civilization" had been extinguished.

March West

Palestine, Syria and the Mediterranean, lay waiting in fear for the arrival of the horde. Hulagu marched, destroying all in his path. Damascus surrendered and opened wide its gates when the horde approached, saving itself from certain destruction. Aleppo resisted and 50,000 men, women and children lay dead in the blackened remains when the Mongols passed by.

Harrem offered conditions to Hulagu, saying that they would surrender to the Mongol if he swore on the Koran to treat they fairly. Hulagu swore the oath then massacred the entire city for having offended him by doubting his word.

Now Hulagu turned his eyes towards Egypt and started his horde towards that goal. Fate intervened. Word came from China that Mangu, the Great Khan, was dead, and by law of ancient custom, Hulagu found in necessary to return to Karakorum to assist in the choosing of a successor.

Return to Kamkorum

Ket Buka, Hulagu's most able general, was left in command in Syria and the Mongol leader set out for Karnkorum. While he was gone his army clashed with a Mameluke army out of Egypt at Ain Jalut, near Jerusalem in September 1260. The fighting was fierce and bloody but in the end Ket Ruka lay dead and the Mongols were in retreat. As soon as word of the Mameluke’s victory spread, all of the Syrian cities rose in revolt against their Mongol overlords driving them into Armenia.

When Hulagu returned he must have realized that what was left of his army was no match for the magnificent Mamelukes for he made no effort to reconquer Syria.

He established his capitol at Maragheh and from there ruled an empire that reached from Armenia to Samarkand. Hulagu Khan died in February of 1265, his dreams of conquest unfulfilled but the memory of his scourge deep in the minds of the Syrians. Even after his death echoes of "Weep, for the Mongols come", rang through Saracen cities.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

J J Saunders - History of the Mongol Conquest - University of Pennsylvania Press - 2001

Oct 14, 2008 7:56 PM

Guest :

Hulagu was a horrible person and i like Genghis better, he at least respected us Afghans

Aug 28, 2009 11:05 PM

Guest :

Its very shameful that Hulagu even did not respected civilians, women & children, which is against principles of wars.

As far, fear in Muslims is concerned, it is also important to note that these were cowardly Crusaders that refused to join Muslims in battle of Ayn Jalut against Mongols and Mulsims alone defeated Hulagu's army. The Turkish Mamluks achieved a decisive victory and Kitbuqa, General of Hulagu was executed, and the location established a highwater mark for the Mongol conquest.

Mongols had always returned later to re-take the territory, but they were never able to avenge the loss at Ayn Jalut. For the rest of the century, the Mongols would attempt other invasions of Syria, but never be able to hold territory for more than a few months. The border of the Mongol Ilkhanate remained at the Tigris River for the duration of Hulagu's dynasty.

Aug 28, 2009 11:28 PM

Guest :

Fear & Faith cannot co-exist in a Muslim's heart. The writer has not mentioned what happened next....

Turkish Mamluks achieved a decisive victory in Ayn Jalut and Kitbuqa, the general of Hulagu, was executed, and the location established a highwater mark for the Mongol conquest. In previous defeats, the Mongols had always returned later to re-take the territory, but they were never able to avenge the loss at Ayn Jalut. For the rest of the century, the Mongols would attempt other invasions of Syria, but never be able to hold territory for more than a few months. The border of the Mongol Ilkhanate remained at the Tigris River for the duration of Hulagu's dynasty.

Another grandson of Genghis Khan, Berke Khan, a Muslim convert, had promised retribution in his rage after Hulagu's sack of Baghdad, and allied himself with the Mamluks. He initiated a series of raids on Hulagu's territories, led by Nogai Khan. Hulagu suffered a severe defeat in an attempted invasion north of the Caucasus in 1263. Hulagu's forces were crushed at the Terek river by Berke's nephew Nogai, forcing Hulagu into retreat; he died in 1265. Also Chagatai khan Alghu invaded Khwarizm and annexed Golden Horde lands. Jochid army tried to halt his advance unsuccessfully.

Nogai, another general and de facto ruler of the Golden Horde and a great-great-grandson of Genghis Khan also accepted Islam and ultimately victory remained with the Muslims.

Aug 31, 2009 8:24 PM

Guest :

It’s very shameful that Hulagu even did not respected women & children, which is against principles of wars.

As far, fear in Muslims is concerned, it is also worth mentioning that cowardly Crusaders refused to join Muslims in battle of Ayn Jalut and Muslims alone defeated Hulagu's army. The Turkish Mamluks achieved a decisive victory and Kitbuqa, General of Hulagu was executed.

Mongols had always returned later to re-take the territory, but they were never able to avenge the loss at Ayn Jalut. For the rest of the century, the Mongols would attempt other invasions of Syria, but never be able to hold territory for more than a few months. The border of the Mongol Ilkhanate remained at the Tigris River for the duration of Hulagu's dynasty. The final victory remained with the Muslims.