Thursday, September 26, 2024

Kurds vs Mongols: Mongols imitating Kurds

Following the uprising in the city, the Kurdish soldiers of Mosul resisted the Mongols for a considerable amount of time, according to the historian of the Ilkhanate from the 14th century, Fadlullah. The Mongols came up with a deceitful plan after their attempt to capture Mosul failed. The Mosulis were awaiting reinforcement from Kurdish forces coming from Syria. In order to entice some Mosulis to meet them, the Mongols dressed like Syrian Kurdish forces:

The Mongol troops arrived and camped in the environs of the city, throwing up a chapar [stockade]. On both sides catapults were constructed, and battle began. The citizens started fighting at Salih's word, and from both side catapult stones and arrows rained down. A troop of Kurds fought bravely, and for nearly a month the furnace of war blazed hot. One day eighty Mongol champions got up on the walls, but the Mosulis killed them all and, embold-ened by this victory, threw their heads from the ramparts into the midst of the Mongol army. Then they put on Syrian garments, let their hair down Kurdish style, and set out for Mosul. Sandaghu was informed that they would arrive the next morning with the booty they had taken in their victory.
The next day, when they were near, the people of the city, thinking they were Syrians coming to help them, went out to greet them rejoicing. The Mongol army surrounded them on all sides and left not a single one alive.






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