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Mohi Heath April 11, 1241
Strategic Context
Subedei leads a small Mongol army on a reconnaissance in force through the Caucasus , gaining valuable information about European nations and armies. In 1236, Khan Ogedei appoints Subedei and Batu head of a massive Mongol army 150,000-strong to conquer Europe, a task expected to take years. The Mongols defeat the Bulgars in 1237 and cross the Volga River to attack the Russian principalities, culminating in the sack of Kiev in In January 1241, Subedei sends Kaidu with 30,000 troops to distract Poland from Subedei’s main effort against Hungary with 50,000 troops. Subedei reaches Buda and Pest almost before Hungarian King Bela IV can call a council of war. Bela assembles his army and attacks but the Mongols retreat back across the snowy steppes for ten days until they halt behind the Sajo River. On April 9, Kaidu crushes the Polish army at the Battle of Leignitz, meaning only Bela’s Hungarian army stands between the Mongols and the rest of Europe.
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Stakes
+ A Mongol victory would exterminate the last organized resistance in Eastern Europe, thus opening up Western Europe to invasion.
+ A Hungarian victory would delay further Mongol conquest, hopefully until more armies could be raised to resist them.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009

2. Mohi Heath, 1241 Strength Mongols Well Hungarians Well Subedei
King Bela IV
50,000
70,000
By Jonathan Webb, 2009

3. Europe c. 1240

4. Mongols (Subedei) Hungarians (Bela)
The battlefield consists of a relatively flat, snowy steppe. It is divided by the swift, swollen Sajo River running north-south. The primary crossing is a single stone bridge near the small town of Mohi on the west side. There are narrow fords to the north and south of the bridge but these are difficult to find and traverse. The key terrain consists of these crossing sites as it is the only means of striking the enemy or denying his freedom of movement.
Mongols
(Subedei)
Sajo River
Mohi
Hungarians
(Bela)

5. Hungarians Mongols Infantry Cavalry Cavalry Catapult Camp Camp Wagons
The Mongols camp undetected by the Hungarians. Subedei leaves a token force to hold the bridge in an attempt to entice Bela to rush across into an ambush by the main Mongol force. However, Bela is cautious and fortifies his camp by chaining wagons together; he judges that the only way Subedei can attack him is over the single stone bridge.
Batu’s assault on the bridge is initially repulsed until he brings up catapults. The catapults launch cast flash pots which explode, frightening the Hungarians, who are unaccustomed to their sound and sight. They flee, allowing the Mongols to sweep across the bridge. Bela correctly believes this to be only a minor raid but his subordinates disagree and convince him to send his entire force against the bridge. He slugglishly does so but this indecision gives Sejban and Subedei valuable time to ford the river.
Bela sends a small infantry detachment to clear the bridge and watch the far bank. This plays right into Subedei’s hands, except the Hungarians venture no further. The bait fails so Subedei quickly changes his plans: he sends Sejban north with a force and personally leads another south, both to ford the river and outflank the Hungarians while Batu holds their attention.
Landmarks
Mongols
(Subedei)
Sejban
Symbol guide
Sajo River
Hungarians Mongols
Infantry Cavalry
Cavalry Catapult
Camp Camp
Wagons
Mohi
Batu
Hungarians
(King Bela IV)
70,000
Mongols
(Subedei)
50,000
Subedei
Hungarians
(Bela)

6. Hungarians Mongols Infantry Cavalry Cavalry Catapult Camp Camp Wagons
Subedei purposely leaves a conspicuous gap in their encirclement, what the Mongols call a “golden bridge.” A few desperate Hungarians cautiously escape out of this gap without incident. The rest of the army, seeing this, try to do the same. The Hungarians begin to flee in disarray but the Mongols now move to cut down any who attempt to escape and chase down those who already have. They use bows, lances, and sabers in a slaughter that lasts for days. Bela somehow escapes while a few dedicated cavalry units remain in camp, which the Mongols attack and destroy.
Subedei knows that it is impractical to storm a fortified camp held by such a heavy force so the Mongols assail the camp by other means. They terrorize the Hungarians by catapulting boulders, tar, cast flash, and smoke pots while archers shower the camp with a rain of arrows. Fire and smoke spread throughout the camp, making it difficult to remain.
Batu’s assault on the bridge is initially repulsed until he brings up catapults. The catapults launch cast flash pots which explode frightening, the Hungarians, who are unaccustomed to their sound and sight. They flee, allowing the Mongols to sweep across the bridge. Bela correctly believes this to be only a minor raid but his subordinates disagree and convince him to send his entire force against the bridge. He sluggishly does so but this indecision gives Sejban and Subedei valuable time to ford the river.
Batu makes some progress against the entire Hungarian force by focusing on its left wing but a Hungarian cavalry charge staggers the Mongol horse-archers as they have little room to maneuver. The two Mongol flanking parties finish their crossings and suddenly appear in the Hungarian rear and flanks; Bela orders a withdrawal to his fortified camp, which is quickly and completely surrounded.
Landmarks
Mongols
(Subedei)
Sejban
Symbol guide
Sajo River
Hungarians Mongols
Infantry Cavalry
Cavalry Catapult
Camp Camp
Wagons
Mohi
Batu
Hungarians
(King Bela IV)
70,000
Mongols
(Subedei)
50,000
Subedei
Hungarians
(Bela)

7. Mohi Heath, 1241 Casualties & Aftermath
Mongols:
Hungarians:
≈4,000 or 8%
65,000 or
93%
The Mongol victory assured control over the majority of Eastern Europe while Bela was chased and eventually cornered on a Mediterranean island. The following year, Subedei planned the invasions of Italy, Austria, and Germany. Just as Mongol spearheads crossed the Alps into Italy and approached Vienna, the Khan Ogedei died, requiring all royal offspring return to Mongolia to name a new successor. The Mongols retreat through Serbia and Bulgaria, laying waste to European lands for the last time before vanishing forever across the Danube River.
By Jonathan Webb, 2009

8. The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps
By Jonathan Webb, 2009