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First Mongol invasion of Poland

The Mongol Invasion of Poland from late 1240 to 1241 culminated in the Battle of Legnica, where the Mongols defeated an alliance which included forces from fragmented Poland and their allies, led by Henry II the Pious, the Duke of Silesia. The first invasion's intention was to secure the flank of the main Mongolian army attacking the Kingdom of Hungary. The Mongols neutralized any potential help to King Béla IV being provided by the Poles or any military orders.

Background[edit]

The Mongols invaded Europe with three armies. One of the three armies was tasked with distracting Poland, before joining the main Mongol force invading Hungary. The Mongol general in charge, Subutai, did not want the Polish forces to be able to threaten his flank during the primary invasion of Hungary. Thus, the Mongol goal was to use a small detachment to prevent the Poles from assisting Hungary until the Hungarians were defeated. That army, under Baidar, Kadan and Orda Khan, began scouting operations in late 1240.[1] Though the Mongols may have entered with relatively modest goals and forces, they almost completely annihilated all Polish forces and influenced the Bohemian army to defend its homeland instead of assisting beleaguered Hungary.

Legend[edit]

A contingent of Teutonic Knights of indeterminate number is traditionally believed to have joined the allied army. However, recent analysis of the 15th-century Annals of Jan Długosz by Labuda suggests that the German crusaders may have been added to the text after chronicler Długosz had completed the work. A legend that the Prussian Landmeister of the Teutonic Knights, Poppo von Osterna, was killed during the battle is false, as he died at Legnica years later while visiting his wife's nunnery.[7] The Hospitallers have also been said to have participated in this battle, but this too seems to be a fabrication added in later accounts; neither Jan Długosz's accounts nor the letter sent to the King of France (then Saint Louis) from the Templar Grand Master Ponce d'Aubon mention them.[8] Peter Jackson further points out that the only military order that fought at Legnica was the Templars.[9] The Templar contribution was very small, estimated around 68–88 well-trained, well-armed soldiers;[10] their letter to the King of France gives their losses as nine brother knights, three sergeants and 500 'men'—according to their use of the term, laity men at arms from the local secular dioceses.

Aftermath[edit]

The Mongols avoided the Bohemian forces, who were too frightened to advance and assist the Hungarians, and defeated the Hungarians in the Battle of Mohi.[6] But news that the Grand Khagan Ögedei had died the previous year along with disagreements between the Mongol princes Batu, Guyuk, and Buri caused the descendants of the Grand Khagan to return to the Mongol capital of Karakorum for the kurultai which would elect the next Khagan and probably saved the Polish lands from being completely overrun by the Mongols.[6]


The death of Duke Henry, who was close to unifying the Polish lands and reversing their fragmentation, set back the unification of Poland. It took place in the 14th century, and also meant the loss of Silesia, which would drift outside the Polish sphere of influence (and gradually become a part of the Bohemian Crown[11]).


A number of military settlements such as Sutiejsk were never rebuilt after having been destroyed by the Mongols. This ancient Slavic gord was one of the most important administrative centers of the so-called Land of the Red Gords (“Grody Czerwienskie”), a historic region between Poland and Rus’. Likely founded by Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise, this Polish village has a population of 500 today.

(12 August 2006). "Bitwa pod Legnicą, Chwała Oręża Polskiego". Mówią Wieki (in Polish) (3).

Jaworski, Rafał

Urban, William (2003). The Teutonic Knights: A Military History. London: Greenhill Books.  1-85367-535-0.

ISBN

Jackson, Peter (2005). The Mongols and the West. Routledge.

Zdan, Michael (June 1957). "The Dependence of Halych-Volyn' Rus' on the Golden Horde". Slavonic and East European Review. 35 (85).  4204855.

JSTOR

Gerard Labuda, Wojna z tatarami w roku 1241, Prz. Hist. — T. 50 (1959), z. 2, pp. 189–224

Wacław Zatorski, Pierwszy najazd Mongołów na Polskę w roku 1240–1241, Prz. Hist.-Wojsk. — T. 9 (1937), pp. 175–237