Battle of Parwan
Parwan, north of Kabul, Afghanistan
What happened
The Khwarazmian prince Jalal al-Din Mangburni fought a Mongol army sent by Genghis Khan under Shigi Qutuqu. As the Mongols conquered his father's empire, Jalal al-Din gathered loyal forces in the mountains of Afghanistan. Genghis Khan sent Shigi Qutuqu against him, and the armies met in a narrow valley that did not suit the Mongol horsemen. After two or three days of fighting, the Mongols lost over half their army and were driven off.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the first Mongol defeat in a pitched battle against a Muslim opponent. It broke the idea that the Mongols could not be beaten, and several cities rose against them.
What came next
Genghis Khan pursued Jalal al-Din himself and defeated him at the Indus later that year. Jalal al-Din escaped by riding into the river and swimming across.
Did you know?
On the second day, Shigi Qutuqu put straw figures on spare horses to make his army look bigger, but Jalal al-Din was not fooled.
Timeline
- September 1221Jalal al-Din wins at Parwan.
- 1221Genghis Khan defeats him at the Indus.
- 15 August 1231Jalal al-Din dies in the Silvan mountains.