What made the Mongols so good?
- Thread starter Phaedrus
- Start date
Aust Diamondew
First Post
The mongol peoples were all united under one leader, Ghengis Khan Temujin. Mongols were very skilled with the bow and with riding. They were said to learn to ride before they could walk and could shoot skillfully at a very young age. Mongols were also tough because they lived a very harsh life on the steppes. Genghis Khan was also a very good strategist and most of his foes weren't use to the fast mongol cavalry archers who could just hit and run.
Mongolian horses don't need as much care and are more endurant than most other horses despite their smaller size.
The mongols rarely outnumbered an opponent but because of their speed could seem to be everywhere at once. During Ghengis Khans life time the mongolian army was numbered around 100,000 men.
Mongolian horses don't need as much care and are more endurant than most other horses despite their smaller size.
The mongols rarely outnumbered an opponent but because of their speed could seem to be everywhere at once. During Ghengis Khans life time the mongolian army was numbered around 100,000 men.
Evilhalfling
Adventurer
I just finished reading "The Crusades Through Arab Eyes " and there were some remaining mongol forces involved in those wars as well. They actually had great difficulties in fighting heavily armoured knights, and lost several pitched battles. These battles only happened if they were backed into a corner, against a city or ocean for example. In most cases they did more hit and runs or ambushes (while knights were unarmored) and the knights took heavy losses. If a leader died unexpectly or moral beame a problem then the army would ride off - dispersing until it could be reorganized.
Phaedrus said:
Some good points. Others:
Discipline/Command Control: The Mongols were able to handle very large armies over very large distances. They formulated good battle plans, but had the ability to modify them once the battle was joined. Their generals were some of the best in the world.
Mobility: The Mongols were the premiere light cavalry in history. Yes, they had difficulty defeating heavy cavalry in a head-on clash, but their speed and discipline allowed them to avoid such melees most of the time. Armed with their composite bows (and numerous other weapons), Mongols could wear down pretty much any enemy force.
Technology: The Mongols didn't just dominate a mobile battle, but were masters of siege warfare. They knew how to use experts (usually non-Mongols) very effectively.
Ruthlessness: Pity the city that chose to oppose the Mongols. They were quite willing to slaughter entire populations in an effort to terrorize their neighbors.
Moderation: As ruthless as the Mongols were toward their enemies, they could be remarkably moderate in their treatment of populations which surrendered to them before battle was joined. Oftentimes, the taxes paid by the subjugated peoples were lower when the Mongols took over.
Desdichado
Hero
U R TEH IDOIT!!!!1111 nINJAES R000L CUZ THEY HAVE L33T KATANAS!!!!!!11 TEYH PWNZ MONGELS AND SAMURAIS AND KNITES!!!!!1
Errr... I mean tactics and brilliant generals. They never fought a battle that wasn't on their terms, for one thing.
Errr... I mean tactics and brilliant generals. They never fought a battle that wasn't on their terms, for one thing.
Gomez
First Post
An example of Mongol tactics from the Battle of Kalka River (1223)
While Genghis Khan was consolidating his conquests in Persia and Afghanistan, a force of 40,000 Mongol horsemen pushed through Azerbaijan and Armenia. They defeated Georgian crusaders, captured a Genoese trade-fortress in the Crimea and spent the winter along the coast of the Black Sea. As they were headed back home they met 80,000 warriors led by Prince Mstitslav of Kiev. The battle of Kalka River (1223) commenced. Staying out of range of the crude weapons of peasant infantry, and with better bows than opposing archers, they devastated the prince's standing army. Facing the prince's cavalry, they faked a retreat, drawing the armored cavalry forward, taking advantage of the vanity and over-confidence of the mounted aristocrats. Lighter and more mobile, they strung out and tired the pursuers and then attacked, killed and routed them
While Genghis Khan was consolidating his conquests in Persia and Afghanistan, a force of 40,000 Mongol horsemen pushed through Azerbaijan and Armenia. They defeated Georgian crusaders, captured a Genoese trade-fortress in the Crimea and spent the winter along the coast of the Black Sea. As they were headed back home they met 80,000 warriors led by Prince Mstitslav of Kiev. The battle of Kalka River (1223) commenced. Staying out of range of the crude weapons of peasant infantry, and with better bows than opposing archers, they devastated the prince's standing army. Facing the prince's cavalry, they faked a retreat, drawing the armored cavalry forward, taking advantage of the vanity and over-confidence of the mounted aristocrats. Lighter and more mobile, they strung out and tired the pursuers and then attacked, killed and routed them
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Romnipotent
First Post
"Hello, I am Genghis Khan. Welcome to my world. You will kill who I kill. Eat who I eat."
to paraphrase/quote the Simpsons
to paraphrase/quote the Simpsons
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