The capital of the Caliphate, the City of Peace, the pearl of the Abbasid state, the cultural and political center of Islamic society, built in an amazing way in the shape of a circle on the Tigris River. Such was medieval Baghdad until the army of steppe conquerors came to its walls, destroying everything in its path.
Of course, by the time the Genghisid Hulagu Khan arrived, Baghdad had lost the influence in the Islamic world that it had before. Nevertheless, it still remained one of the largest cities in the world, with authentic architecture and layout, scientific achievements and impressive libraries, the flowering gardens of the caliphs and an advanced irrigation system.
A view of Baghdad under the Abbasids. Artist: Joseph Feely
Palace of the Caliph. Artist: Joseph Feely
The House of Wisdom, an academy in Baghdad with a solid library. Artist: Joseph Feely
Only, the Mongols were not very impressed with the historical and cultural significance of Baghdad. And at the end of 1256, immediately after the destruction of the mountain fortress of Alamut, which became the stronghold of the famous assassins, the army of Hulagu moved to the capital of the Abbasids. This alarmed the Baghdad caliph Abdullah al-Mustasim, who hoped for the help of all Muslims. In his mind, perhaps the fragments of the once united and strong Caliphate should have united against a common threat. But, to his regret, this did not happen.
Meanwhile, at the end of 1257, approaching the cherished city, the Mongols sent a message to al-Mustasim. In it directly, without overture, Hulagu demanded that the Baghdad authorities surrender the fortifications if they did not want bloodshed. At the council of war (as if at the suggestion of his vizier), the Caliph decided to stand to the last, firmly believing in the impregnability of Baghdad. And even ordered a small number of troops, if compared to the Mongol horde, to give battle to the enemy in the open field.
The army of the Abbasid state. Artist: Joseph Feely
Mongols beat the enemy. Artist: Joseph Feely
A view from the wall on the Mongol hordes. Artist: Joseph Feely
Al-Mustasim put up to 20,000 men in total against the Mongols. They fought, of course, bravely, but they could not oppose the most experienced horsemen from the steppes. Moreover, the latter were superior not only qualitatively, but also quantitatively. And here it is worth noting that Hulagu led not only steppe warriors: under his command were detachments of Georgians, Armenians, Persians and even crusaders from the Principality of Antioch! But much more important is the fact of the presence of about 1000 Chinese engineers in his army.
It can be said that the siege expertise of the Chinese took over Baghdad. A huge number of siege machines were built according to their designs. Wood was brought from cities that stood tens of kilometers or three days’ journey from the camp. The whole process was perfectly fine-tuned. The laborers, who were most likely recruited from the surrounding area and forced to dig, quickly surrounded the city with a countervallation line and prepared positions for the stone throwers. The latter used, among other things, incendiary shells.
A city on fire. Artist: Joseph Feely
January 30, 1258 the walls of Baghdad began to test the strength, which, alas, was enough for two days. On February 1, flamethrowers breached a gap in one of the southeastern towers. There was an attempted assault, but the defenders stabilized the situation. However, in the next two days the eastern wall “surrendered” to the enemy. Hulagu’s units rushed into the numerous breaches and took key positions on the towers. Panic arose in the city as the outcome of the siege became clear.
The next days al-Mustasim was at the bargaining stage (depression and acceptance were ahead): representatives of the Caliph came to Hulagu Khan’s tent one by one, trying to reach an agreement. The vizier and the head of the Nestorian Church of the East were also there. All attempts were in vain — the Mongol commander insisted on complete surrender. And by February 7, a number of residents of the city, as well as part of the garrison went to the besiegers without weapons in the hope that they would be spared. But they were executed.
The Mongols are entering Baghdad. Artist: Joseph Feely
On February 10, the Caliph and his family, surrounded by 3000 dignitaries, surrendered to Hulagu’s mercy. Baghdad fell and plunged into chaos. Nomads and their allies began to plunder and kill. True, this devastation can be called organized, because their leader immediately identified protected groups of people whose houses were strictly forbidden to break into (the houses were recognized by special marks). For example, scientists and traders who cooperated with the Mongols were not touched. Christians were also bypassed — their defender was Hulagu’s wife, who had earlier converted to Christianity.
Scientists were not touched, but libraries and the above-mentioned House of Wisdom were burned. Before that, all the books were thrown into the Tigris. It is said that a horse could walk on them like on a gachened path. For a whole week there were atrocities in Baghdad. The city was burning, groaning with pain and screaming with hopelessness. The number of casualties reached 200,000. The bodies of the dead, like books, were taken by the same Tigris. They died mostly of disease and hunger. Later Arab authors even wrote about 800000 losses, apparently wishing to show the scale of the catastrophe.
Wrapped Caliph. Artist: Joseph Feely
The fate of Caliph al-Mustasim was unenviable. On February 15, he was forced to escort Hulagu into the treasury. The Mongols loaded the Abbasid riches onto wagons and sent them to different parts of their empire. On February 20, when the looting stopped and the victors went into camp, the last Abbasid ruler was executed. In order not to shed blood, he was wrapped in a carpet and trampled to death by horses. The same fate befell his family and officials.
Baghdad fell and the Abbasid Caliphate ceased to exist. However, its destruction did not have a significant impact on the balance of power in the Middle East. As already mentioned, the former power of the dynasty no longer possessed. Neither did a single city. Which, by the way, Hulagu ordered to restore. From the ashes revived libraries and academies. Baghdad revived, but remained an unassuming city with a rich history. Later it would be finally destroyed by the conqueror Timur and the Ottoman Turks.