Buzz
Surprisingly, the formidable Mongol army of Genghis Khan is halted in its tracks in Europe by this small creature.
Genghis Khan (1162 – 1227) stands as one of the most remarkable and influential military leaders in world history. He founded the powerful Mongol Empire after successfully unifying the tribes in northeast Asia in 1206.
Under the strategic leadership of Genghis Khan, the Mongol army, known for its fierceness, once dominated the world. The empire spanned from Asia to Europe during his reign. His formidable forces were not only skilled and ruthless but also gained a reputation for invincibility, haunting many nations of that era.
From the shocking childhood experiences to the rise of Genghis Khan
Genghis Khan, originally named Temüjin, faced a challenging childhood after his military leader father of the Dulo clan passed away abruptly, leaving his family abandoned on the steppe.
Why did the Mongol Empire decide to abandon the invasion of Europe? This topic sparks intense debate. According to historians, the Mongol Empire, though invincible in battle, was powerless against mosquito attacks. Disease-carrying mosquitoes targeted the army stationed in the Kavkaz region and along the Black Sea.
Furthermore, during this time, Genghis Khan himself suffered from recurring malaria. Substantial evidence suggests that Genghis Khan's death at the age of 65 (in 1227) was due to various illnesses as his immune system weakened after contracting malaria.
To this day, the burial place of Genghis Khan remains a mystery.
Tiny creatures thwart the advance of the Mongol Empire into Europe
After Genghis Khan's demise, his third son, Ogedei Khan, succeeded him and took control, launching a campaign to conquer Europe from 1236 to 1242. The Mongol Empire chose the route through the east of Russia, capturing Baltic states and advancing to Budapest, Hungary, and the Danube River in December 1241.
Subsequently, from Budapest, the Mongol Empire continued to push into Austria, moved southward, and eventually returned eastward in the Balkans by 1242.
On the flip side, the unusually high rainfall in Eastern Europe during the spring and summer of 1241 inadvertently robbed the essential grazing fields and pastures for the countless warhorses of the Mongol army. This, originally considered the key to the military might of the invincible Mongol army, was compromised.
Although the Mongol army achieved certain successes in the conquest of Europe, these formidable warriors were often forced to retreat when confronted with diseases such as malaria and other epidemics, along with the staunch defense of the European alliance.
Historian John Keegan, who devoted years to studying the Mongols, shares: 'The Mongol army failed to transfer military power from the semi-arid and desert regions to the vast rainy areas in Europe. They had to accept defeat.'
By 1368, alongside internal strife and civil wars, the rampant mosquito-borne malaria continued to be cited as one of the primary reasons for the collapse of the mighty Mongol Empire.
Reference sources: Ancientorigins, Daydaynews
