Siege of Baghdad

Quick Facts: Who was Siege of Baghdad?

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Siege of Baghdad

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The Mongol conquest of the Abbasid Caliphate, marking a pivotal end to the Islamic Golden Age.

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Origins & Early Life

The Siege of Baghdad, also known as the Sack of Baghdad, took place in early 1258. A large army commanded by Hulegu, a prince of the Mongol Empire, attacked the historic capital of the Abbasid Caliphate after a series of provocations from its ruler, caliph al-Musta'sim. Within a few weeks, Baghdad fell and was sacked by the Mongol army—al-Musta'sim was killed alongside hundreds of thousands of his subjects. The city's fall has traditionally been seen as marking the end of the Islamic Golden Age; in reality, its ramifications are uncertain. After the accession of his brother Möngke Khan to the Mongol throne in 1251, Hulegu, a grandson of Genghis Khan, was dispatched westwards to Persia to secure the region.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

His massive army of over 138,000 men took years to reach the region but then quickly attacked and overpowered the Nizari Ismaili Assassins in 1256. The Mongols had expected al-Musta'sim to provide reinforcements for their army—the Caliph's failure to do so, combined with his arrogance in negotiations, convinced Hulegu to overthrow him in late 1257. Invading Mesopotamia from all sides, the Mongol army soon approached Baghdad, routing a sortie on 17 January 1258 by flooding their opponents' camp. They then invested Baghdad, which was left with around 30,000 troops. The assault began at the end of January.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Mongol siege engines breached Baghdad's fortifications within a couple of days, and Hulegu's highly-trained troops controlled the eastern wall by 4 February. The increasingly desperate al-Musta'sim frantically tried to negotiate, but Hulegu was intent on total victory, even killing soldiers who attempted to surrender. The Caliph eventually surrendered the city on 10 February, and the Mongols began looting three days later. The total number of people who died is unknown, as it was likely increased by subsequent epidemics; Hulegu later estimated the total at around 200,000. After calling an amnesty for the pillaging on 20 February, Hulegu executed the caliph.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1251: 1251 Milestone — After the accession of his brother Möngke Khan to the Mongol throne in 1251, Hulegu, a grandson of Genghis Khan, was dispatched westwards to Persia to secure the region.
2. 1256: 1256 Milestone — His massive army of over 138,000 men took years to reach the region but then quickly attacked and overpowered the Nizari Ismaili Assassins in 1256.
3. 1257: 1257 Milestone — The Mongols had expected al-Musta'sim to provide reinforcements for their army—the Caliph's failure to do so, combined with his arrogance in negotiations, convinced Hulegu to overthrow him in late 1257.
4. 1258: 1258 Milestone — The Siege of Baghdad, also known as the Sack of Baghdad, took place in early 1258.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Siege of Baghdad

True or False: “The fall of Baghdad in 1258 immediately ended all intellectual and scientific pursuits within the Islamic world.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While devastating, the text notes that Baghdad later prospered under Hulegu's Ilkhanate, even if it declined compared to Tabriz.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Osman I — Historical peer (Born in 1258) (1258): Founder of the Ottoman Empire, establishing a powerful Turkish principality.
• Hōjō Tokimune — Historical peer (Born in 1251) (1251): Eighth Shikken of the Kamakura Shogunate, pivotal in resisting Mongol invasion.
• Kujō Yoritsugu — Historical peer (Died in 1256) (1256): Fifth Shōgun of the Kamakura Shogunate, ruling during a period of transition.
• Kujō Yoritsune — Historical peer (Died in 1256) (1256): Fourth Shogun of the Kamakura shogunate, a key political figure in medieval Japan.

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