SECRETS OF POWER: Masters of War, Politics & Strategy

RISE OF GENGHIS KHAN - 7. Flight and Death of Mohammed - Jeremiah Curtin


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THE RISE OF TEMUDJIN "GENGHIS KHAN" - Chapter 7: Flight and Death of Mohammed.

THE MONGOLS HISTORY - by Jeremiah Curtin - HQ Full Book.

Chapter 7: Flight and Death of Mohammed in The Mongols – A History by Jeremiah Curtin presents a harrowing and fast-paced chronicle of the disintegration of Shah Mohammed’s empire in the face of the Mongol onslaught, the brutal vengeance of Genghis Khan, and the emergence of Jelal ud Din as a last hope of resistance. This chapter is one of relentless pursuit, desperate flight, and grim consequences, illustrating how the calculated and fearsome Mongol military campaigns broke the back of the Khwarezmian Empire. The chapter opens with the indecision of Shah Mohammed, which sets the tone for his eventual downfall. Faced with the overwhelming might of Genghis Khan’s forces, the Shah is paralyzed by uncertainty. Despite the mounting threat and the urgent need to mount a defense or seek negotiation, he fails to act decisively. This hesitation proves fatal, both to him and to the cities under his command.

With the Mongols closing in, Mohammed flees to Nishapur, one of the key cities in Khorasan. His retreat is not a calculated strategic withdrawal but rather a sign of crumbling morale. In his absence, cities like Balkh submit peacefully to the Mongols, unwilling to endure destruction for a ruler who has abandoned them. Balkh’s surrender shows the persuasive terror of the Mongol reputation and the political vacuum left by Mohammed’s absence. From Nishapur, the Shah issues a proclamation attempting to rally support, yet it falls on deaf ears. The people, already disillusioned by his flight and failures, offer little in the way of assistance. Meanwhile, the Mongols continue their pursuit, methodically tracking him and crushing any resistance along the way. Sensing the growing danger, Mohammed again withdraws from Nishapur, leaving the city to its fate. The Mongols, upon arrival, exact terrible retribution in the sack of Nishapur. The city, once vibrant, is reduced to ruins. The massacre that follows is not only a punishment for resistance but a message to other cities: submission or annihilation. After this, Mohammed’s flight becomes increasingly desperate. He seeks refuge in an island in the Caspian Sea, hoping the isolation will grant him safety. It does, but only temporarily—he dies there on January 10, 1221, sick, defeated, and alone.

His consort, Turkan Khatun, attempts to evade capture by fleeing to the mountains, but with no structured leadership or safe haven, her position becomes increasingly tenuous. The death of Mohammed leaves a power vacuum, and his son, Jelal ud Din, steps forward to claim succession. Unlike his father, Jelal is bold, charismatic, and capable of military leadership, but he inherits a shattered kingdom and faces an implacable enemy. The remnants of the Khwarezmian royal family soon face the inevitable. Both Ilak and Turkan Khatun surrender as Mongol pressure mounts. One by one, the strongholds of the Khwarezmian Empire fall. The Mongols lay siege to and capture the capital, further solidifying their grip on the region and dealing a psychological blow to any lingering resistance. Genghis Khan’s campaign continues with his attack on the Talekan district, sweeping through with brutal efficiency. The siege of Ghazni, once a center of Islamic culture and power, follows soon after. In 1220, Genghis sends his son Tului to lead a devastating campaign against Khorasan, launching assaults on cities and fortresses with methodical cruelty. Cities like Nessa and Merv are targeted, their populations subjected to the Mongols’ ruthless military doctrine.

One poignant tale during this rampage is the revenge taken by the widow of Togachar, a Mongol commander who had fallen in battle. Her vengeance leads to particularly brutal reprisals, symbolizing the personal nature of Mongol retribution and the blood-debt mentality that fueled their campaigns. The Mongols then turn toward Herat, another prominent city in the region. Though it initially resists, the city eventually falls under siege. During this time, Turkman tribes near Merv manage to escape, retreating westward. These fleeing groups are noted by Curtin as forming the early nucleus of the Ottoman Empire, showing how Mongol devastation inadvertently shaped the future political map. In 1221, Jelal ud Din appears at Ghazni, attempting to organize resistance and reestablish authority. However, tragedy strikes when a grandson of Genghis Khan is killed, prompting Genghis to unleash a wave of revenge so fierce that it shocks even the hardened Mongol commanders. This act exemplifies the personal vendettas that could drive Mongol campaigns into further extremes of violence.

Realizing he cannot hold his position, Jelal retreats from Ghazni, but Genghis, unwilling to let any opposition survive, pursues him personally. The chase culminates in a dramatic battle at the Indus River, where Jelal, though outnumbered and nearly surrounded, fights valiantly. In a stunning moment of desperation and bravery, he leaps into the Indus River, escaping capture by swimming to the other side. Though defeated, his bold escape becomes legendary. The chapter ends with a return to Herat, where the Mongol army lays siege to the city in 1222 once again. This second siege serves to break any last remnants of resistance in the region. The Mongol war machine, unstoppable and unforgiving, rolls on toward the west, leaving shattered cities and broken empires in its wake.   Analysis Curtin's narrative in this chapter is relentless, matching the pace of the Mongol advance. He vividly portrays the fall of the Khwarezmian Empire not just as a series of military defeats but as the result of deep flaws in leadership and unity. Shah Mohammed’s inability to lead, contrasted with Genghis Khan’s precision and fury, makes the Shah’s fate seem tragically inevitable. The emergence of Jelal ud Din as a final glimmer of resistance adds a human dimension, offering a figure who refuses to surrender to fear.

This chapter also underscores the scale of Mongol ambition and their commitment to complete conquest. Cities are not merely conquered; they are annihilated when they resist. The Mongol approach is one of total warfare, and Curtin does not shy away from the grim details of massacres, sieges, and scorched-earth tactics. By the end of the chapter, the reader is left with the image of an empire annihilated and a world forever changed by the Mongol tide. The tragedy of Shah Mohammed, the resistance of Jelal ud Din, and the rise of Mongol supremacy are woven into a chilling yet fascinating account of medieval history’s most devastating military campaigns.    

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