A few kilometers from the small town of Damghan in northern Iran, the ruins of the Girdkuh fortress in the Elburz mountain system attract attention.
The place of erection was well chosen: Girdkuh (translated from Persian — round mountain) stands on the top of a 300-meter high isolated rocky hill, it is problematic, almost impossible to take by storm.
AI visualization of Girdkuh Fortress
Girdkuh withstood the Mongol siege for 17 years (from May 1253 to December 1270). By comparison, Troy was taken in 10 years. How did the defenders manage to withstand such a long siege? Why the “all-powerful” Mongols could not capture the generally small defensive structure? You will learn about it from our story.
A fortress on the Great Silk Road
There is no reliable date of foundation of Girdkuh. Most likely, the fortress was built in the X century (in the pre-Islamic era). Initially the construction did not look too thorough. Such a conclusion can be drawn from chronicles.
The castle often changed hands during the wars of local rulers. Since the XI century the Seljuks ruled here.
However, the location of the fortress was very favorable, one could say, strategic.
Girdkuh stood on a section of the Great Silk Road, close to the caravan road linking Western Iran and Khorasan. Travelers and trade caravans passed through the customs post and duties were levied on them. Accordingly, the revenues were decent.
Girdkuh became impregnable under Rais Muzaffar. The walls were strengthened so that the fortress could withstand a long siege. Transformations touched the internal constructions of the castle. In particular, a complex system of water and food storage was created.
Ruins of Girdkuh Fortress
Even now, in a severely destroyed form, the power and thoughtfulness of the fortifications impresses. A perfect system of fortifications was created — the thickness of walls reached 3 meters, the height of walls in vulnerable places exceeded 10 meters. There were underground tunnels.
There was a legend how they tried to break a well in the rock. They made a deepening, but the water did not flow. Later there was a strong earthquake in these places, and a stream of water gushed out of the well.
Chronicle of the siege
In May 1253 Mongolian detachments of 5,000 foot and horse soldiers approached the fortress. They were led by the commander Hulagu. The invaders had quite definite intentions (and there was such an order) — to destroy all Ismaili fortresses. However, it was not possible to destroy Girdkuh with one attack.
In general, the goal of the Mongols was to conquer territories up to Egypt. It was conquest, and not the usual for that time daring raid with the subsequent departure.
Therefore, the main forces of the Mongols went further, and near the fortress they left one detachment headed by the commander of Buri. The defenders of Girdkuh and other castles hoped to stay in their eagle’s nests until the stormy steppe floods subsided.
The fortress could hold out for a long time, for its solid walls, strong garrison, and large supplies of food and water made it possible to hope so. They were sure that impregnable walls could stop any army.
But not the Mongols. They did not leave, they zealously began to carry out siege measures: they surrounded the fortress with a moat and a rampart, so that not even a mouse could get through. The invaders had not only a large army, but also experience in storming. The Mongols besieged many fortresses at once, depriving the Ismailis of the possibility of maneuvering. In general, they confused the maps of the defenders.
Siege of Girdkuh fortress according to AI version
Month after month flew by, the Mongols lost their vigilance. It would seem that they have nothing to fear, the moat and ramparts reliably protect them from the forays of the fortress defenders. And they paid for their overconfidence. In December, the besieged took the invaders by surprise, destroyed almost half of the detachment, died and Buri.
In general, even among other defenders of Ismaili fortresses, the garrison of Girdkuh was distinguished by successful breakthroughs of the blockade, daring sorties.
The siege was continued by other Mongols. Most likely, it was not a complete blockade. Otherwise, how the rulers of the Nizarites once learned that cholera was rampant in the fortress. A small number of troops were sent to help.
They were able to ravage the camp of the Mongols and drove them away for a while. It is noteworthy what the liberators were carrying.
Among the large luggage was henna, which then tried to cure cholera. They also carried a lot of salt, because the fortress did not have time to stock this product in the necessary quantity.
Seventeen years of relatively peaceful “standing” were sometimes replaced by raids on each other. In the illustrations of Spanish chronicles you can see — the fights were sometimes serious, there are wall-breaking guns and catapults.
The Mongols did not leave, because no one canceled the siege order. The defenders of the fortress did not surrender, because there were still forces, sometimes came help. But the year 1270 came, which became the last for Girdkuh.
A sad ending
The ruler of the state negotiated with the Mongols. As a result, in 1256, all castles were ordered to stop resisting. But several castles did not fulfill the order, including Alamut, Girdkuh. Most likely, because they did not believe the order, they thought — the ruler is forced to act under duress.
In December, 1270 exhausted, left without water and food defenders of a fortress capitulated already at son Hulagu. The victors did not spare anyone, apparently they were too angry for not surrendering for so long.
The castle was luckier. Despite the fact that there was an order to destroy all the fortresses of the Nizarites, Girdkuh was not wiped off the face of the earth. The surviving buildings were used as a prison. According to literary sources, one of the heroes of “Shahnameh” was imprisoned here. The fortress was used at least until 1384.
Time, earthquakes were able to destroy what the Mongols could not cope with. Now Girdkuh is a majestic ruin that is still waiting for its researchers.
The ruins of Girdkuh fortress
Among the Nizarite fortresses this one is the worst studied. Girdkuh is not as famous as Alamut. In addition to the main buildings, the residential quarters of the Mongols nearby have been well preserved, because they settled under the walls thoroughly, they did not just put up tents.
Now archeological works have begun in the area of Girdkuh. Perhaps, scientists and history lovers are waiting for extraordinary discoveries.