The Mongols’ Deadliest Siege: Baghdad 1258

In 1258, the Mongol army under Hülegü Khan besieged and sacked Baghdad, ending the Abbasid Caliphate and shocking the Islamic world. This episode explores the siege’s logistics, the Caliph al-Musta’sim’s fatal miscalculations, and whether the city’s famous canals were used as weapons. Lucas and Luna discuss the role of the Assassins’ surrender, the surrender of the fortress of Alamut, and the Mongol demand for submission. They also examine the aftermath: the destruction of the House of Wisdom, the execution of the caliph, and the long-term consequences for the Ilkhanate. The episode draws on primary sources like Rashid al-Din and Ibn al-Athir, and touches on the divisions within the Mongol family that shaped Hülegü’s campaign. #SiegeOfBaghdad1258 #HLeg #AbbasidCaliphate #AlMustaSim #MongolSiege #Ilkhanate #Alamut #Assassins #RashidAlDin #IbnAlAthir #HouseOfWisdom #MongolWarfare #CentralAsia #FexingoHistory #History #MedievalHistory #MongolEmpire #Baghdad #GenghisKhan #KublaiKhan Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo