Battle of the Indus
Banks of the Indus River, Punjab / Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
What happened
Genghis Khan's Mongol army fought Jalal al-Din Mangburni, the last ruler of the Khwarazmian Empire. After the Mongols conquered most of the Khwarazmian Empire in Central Asia, its young ruler Jalal al-Din fled south with an army. Genghis Khan caught him on the banks of the Indus River. When the battle was lost, Jalal al-Din rode his horse off a cliff into the river and swam to the far bank.
Why it matters
Why it matters: It was the last battle of the Mongol conquest of the Khwarazmian Empire. Its lands in Central Asia and Khorasan became part of the Mongol Empire.
What came next
Jalal al-Din spent about three years in India, then returned to Persia and fought on against the Mongols until 1231.
Did you know?
Genghis Khan admired Jalal al-Din's daring escape, told his archers not to shoot, and said, 'Fortunate should be the father of such a son.'
Timeline
- 24 November 1221Genghis Khan wins at the Indus.
- 1223Jalal al-Din returns to Persia.
- 1231Jalal al-Din dies.