Genghis Khan and the Mongol Siege of Nishapur 1221

In 1221, the Mongol army under Tolui, Genghis Khan's youngest son, laid siege to the city of Nishapur in eastern Iran. The city had previously rebelled against Mongol rule, and Genghis Khan's son-in-law Tokuchar had been killed in an earlier assault. Tolui's siege was methodical and devastating: he deployed tens of thousands of troops, used siege engines including catapults and mangonels, and built a wall around the city to cut off supplies. After the walls were breached, the Mongols massacred the population, with Juvayni estimating over 1.7 million dead — though modern historians consider this exaggerated. The episode explores the siege's tactics, the role of Tolui, and the broader context of the Khwarezmian campaign. It also examines the legend of the 'white dogs' of Nishapur and how the city's fate became a cautionary tale across the Islamic world. The conversation draws on Juvayni's 'History of the World Conqueror' and other primary sources. #GenghisKhan #MongolEmpire #SiegeOfNishapur #Tolui #KhwarezmianEmpire #Juvayni #HistoryOfTheWorldConqueror #MongolSiegeTactics #CentralAsia #PersianHistory #13thCentury #MilitaryHistory #Massacre #Nishapur #Iran #SiegeWarfare #MongolConquests #FexingoHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo