Mongols: Fall of Khwarezm - Battles of Parwan and Indus DOCUMENTARY

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After creating their empire, and subjugating Western Xia (Xi Xia) and the northern part of the Jin domain, the Mongols of Genghis Khan started looking towards the west. The actions of the ruler of the Western Liao (Qara Khitai) Kuchlug and the shah of the Khwarezmian empire Ala ad-Din Muhammad II gave the great khan a reason to attack Central Asia and Eastern Iran. Prosperous cities were turned to rubble and the population was massacred during a three-year campaign led by Genghis, Ogedei, Jochi, Chagatai, Tolui, Jebe, and Subutai. The son of Muhammad II - Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu was able to resist the invaders in the battles of Parwan and Indus river... The Mongol invasions were just starting...

We are grateful to our patrons, who made this video possible: Matthew Levy, Rene Malmgren, Ibrahim Rahman, Koopinator, Daisho, Łukasz Maliszewski, William Fluit, Juan Camilo Rodriguez, Murray Dubs, Félix Gagné-Dion, Fahri Dashwali, Kyle Hooton, Dan Mullen, Mohamed Thair, Pablo Aparicio Martínez, Iulian Margeloiu, Chet, Nick Nasad, Jeyares, Amir Eppel, Thomas Bloch, Uri Sternfeld, Georgi Kirilov, Mohammad Mian, Daniel Yifrach, Brian Crane, Muramasa, Gerald Tnay, Hassan Ali, Richie Thierry, David O'Hare, Christopher Commins, Chris Glantzis, William Pugh, Stefan Dt, indy, Bashir Hammour, Mario Nickel, R.G. Ferrick, Moritz Pohlmann, Russell Breckenridge, Jared R. Parker, Kassem Omar Kassem, AmericanPatriot, Robert Arnaud, Christopher Issariotis, John Wang, Joakim Airas, Nathanial Eriksen, Joakim Airas, Chuan Kit Kee, John Padalis, Raphaël Dordeins, Donovan Moore, Howie Truong, Chuan Kit Kee, Håvard Siegel Haukeberg, ccplz, Tepes Obrejac, Jon, Emil Johansson, Patrick Riordan, Marc Kuiper, Qamil Lita, Jack Roelofs, Fernando Henrique, iMattyz, Rbj, Frat, The Noob Game Developer, Jacob Filmer, Travis Tiffany, Andreas Ekström, Zachary Marhal, Tomás Cortés Benjumea, Mensur Hamzic, Maxwell Gaughran, Kristofer Eriksson, Dave Ormsby, Aaron Snakenberg, Razen Alsuwaihel, Scott Buster, Erik W Thurnher, Tim Taylor, Aldo Schepis, Umar Farooq, Shaduf, Thijs van den Brink, Jeff Sweetin, Elias Macias and Mark Daly.

The script was developed by our friend George Kolev. His help with the research was essential for this documentary.

Inspired by: BazBattles, Invicta (THFE), Epic History TV, Historia Civilis and Time Commanders

Machinimas made on the Total War Attila, using Machinimas made on the Total War: Attila engine using the great Medieval Kingdoms mod.

Songs used:
Civilization V OST - Genghis Khan War Theme
Total War Attila OST - Roman Battle Theme
Rannar Sillard - Death Match 3
Johannes Bornlof - Barbarians
Crusader Kings 2 OST - Steppes of the Nomads

[KingsandGenerals]

Just don't kill the envoys, how hard can it be...

[Jeroen]

Jalals escape across the Indus deserves a lot more attention. The battle was one the toughest Genghis had fought against a foreign foe in his career and victory came only when the flanking movement of Jebe ( across a mountain) succeeded. As a last attempt to turn the tide, Jalal charged the mongol centre with his heavy horse and nearly split the army. When it failed with Jalal fighting in the frontline, he turned his horse and jumped of a cliff 30 meters below into the river. It is said that Genghis ordered his men not pursue him for he was awestruck by Jalal's bravery in battle as well in the matter of his escape. He said: "How can such a weak ruler produce such a brilliant son! "

[miikkakarjalainen]

When Genghis Khan wants to trade and chill, you trade and chill.

[vguyver]

Killing over 90% of an entire empires population is pretty damn cruel.

[Saikhnaaaaa]

There's a story here in Mongolia that after the envoys were killed, Genghis Khan spent 3 days and 3 nights alone at Burkhan Khaldun, the most sacred mountain in Mongolia and the mountain that blessed his family with the mandate to rule, to commune with the Eternal Sky and ask him for guidance on what to do with the Khwarezmians. He then supposedly descended the mountain and proclaimed Tenger (the sky) himself demanded the end of Khwarezm. Also the reason molten gold and silver was poured into Inalchuk's orifices was because it was widely believed by the Mongols that he captured the merchants to quickly increase his own coffers thus it was a punishment for his greed. This was also confirmed to be the inspiration for GRRM and Khal Drogo's "crowning" of Viserys in ASOIAF.

[HarduntheRanger]

"...deserves its own episode, and will be covered soon"

Heck yes!

[Achillez]

"The massacres were committed without religious or cultural reasons"
Mongols being non-discriminatory during a time of religious and cultural conflict in Europe, so ahead of their time, yay?

[MartinT]

While the Khwarezmian army was in total larger than the Mongol army they never managed to concentrate their forces properly at other places than Parwan, thus allowing the Mongols to consentrate against them and defeat them in detail. It doesn't matter that you have 400.000 men to the enemy's 100.000 if you're only able to muster 60.000 of them while the enemy can bring all their 100.000 to bear.

[jonharper]

I'm a simple person, I see Mongols I Run away fearing for my life!!!

[kamilszadkowski]

And that's just the beginning of one of the bloodiest conquests in history. The conquest that will lead them as far as to Eastern Europe... I just can't wait for the next episodes of this series. The narrative and editig of this videos is so immersive.

[JackRackam]

Is it just me or are the maps on this video extra cool? Especially the one of the area around Khorasan, it reminds me of Tolkein for some reason.

[Themultiroleman]

"I killed an envoy."

"So? Why are you panicking now?"

"The envoys are from Genghis Khan."

"Oh..."

[nikolacukovic]

Take a shot every time a city gets sacked

[MalayArcher]

and wait for it.. the Mongols.

*MONGOL MONTAGE*
We are exception!

[Update: For Malaysians, Indonesians, Bruneians and other Malay speaking countries, this video has Malay subtitle made by myself and I will do Malay subtitle for K&G future videos.

[globalcombattv]

And they could've just traded with the Mongols and live happily ever after... BUT

[barrymccociner]

I’ve been waiting for this episode ever since I listened to Wrath of the Khans by Dan Carlin. You guys finally did it and absolutely nailed it! Amazing episode!

[Uzbekistanian]

Jalaliddin counted as a national hero in Uzbekistan. We have his sculptures in Khwarazm region. Even if he was defeated, still he did his best to save our region. Still many people give the name of Jalaliddin to their children. Uzbek people have high level of respect to him, because he is our ancesstor!

[georgekolev]

Head writer here :)　 I hope you enjoyed the episode. If you have any questions/feedback I will be hanging out in the comments for a while so feel free to share your thoughts

[dasman]

The mongol destruction of khwarezm is painful to hear no matter how many times I've read into it. BTW the video was great, thanks for uploading such quality historical content.

[AykrKafa]

I really love how you guys telling the actual cases how they happened with a catchy way instead of commenting about them. I wish some history teachers show these videos to their classes.