The Mongol Raid on Baghdad: A Prelude to Ruin

In 1258, the Mongol army under Hulagu Khan sacked Baghdad, ending the Abbasid Caliphate and shocking the Islamic world. But the siege itself was preceded by a lesser-known Mongol raid on the city in 1245, during the reign of the caliph al-Mustansir. This episode explores that earlier incursion: why it happened, how the caliph prepared, and how it foreshadowed the coming catastrophe. Lucas and Luna discuss the role of the al-Mustansiriyya madrasa, the caliph's attempt to fortify Baghdad's walls, and the diplomatic mission of the Mongol general Baiju. They also examine the strategic miscalculations that left Baghdad vulnerable, and the devastating aftermath when Hulagu returned. Featuring details on the Tigris, the Round City, and the legendary library of the House of Wisdom, this episode offers a fresh look at a pivotal moment in world history. #MongolEmpire #Baghdad1258 #HulaguKhan #AbbasidCaliphate #AlMustansir #Baiju #MongolRaids #HouseOfWisdom #TigrisRiver #RoundCity #IslamicGoldenAge #SiegeOfBaghdad #MongolTactics #History #FexingoHistory #MedievalHistory #MiddleEastHistory #Globalization #GenghisKhan #KublaiKhan Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo