If one were to look at a map of Asia, they would notice that Mongolia; a small country in the center of Asia, is bordered by two great countries, Russia and China.
One would then wonder how this small country of Mongolia invaded a country of such a great landmass; China.
A significant question that can be asked is; why did the Mongolians invade China, and what weaponry was used in the battle?
In order to answer this question a primary source by Friar John of Plano Carpini, has been used which describes the war in his own account; along with information from many different websites.
In 1211 Genghis Khan and his Mongolian army attacked the Jin Empire in China.
Genghis Khan was the military ruler of his army. The cause of the war between China and Mongolia in 1211 was caused over the fight for political and military power.
The Mongols were already known to have a strong military power, as they had already overturned countries in Eurasia. They were known for the powerful weaponry in which they used to slaughter any enemy that came their way.
According to historians, the actual size of the Mongolian army of 50, 000 was not the cause for all of their wins, but in actual fact it was the design of weapons that they used that made them have the dominating power.
In 1211 Genghis Khan and his Mongolian army attacked the Jin Empire in China.
Genghis Khan was the military ruler of his army. The cause of the war between China and Mongolia in 1211 was caused over the fight for political and military power.
The Mongols were already known to have a strong military power, as they had already overturned countries in Eurasia. They were known for the powerful weaponry in which they used to slaughter any enemy that came their way.
According to historians, the actual size of the Mongolian army of 50, 000 was not the cause for all of their wins, but in actual fact it was the design of weapons that they used that made them have the dominating power.
IMAGE - Mongolian battle axe
IMAGE - Mongolian swordThe warrior would wear protective knee plates which were made from iron. These were sewn into the boots that the warrior wore.
Physical weapons that the Mongolian warrior would carry was a battle axe, a scimitar (a type of curved sword) and two bows. One of which was very heavy in weight and could only be used when off horseback. The other was a very light weight and could be used whilst riding on horseback.
Apart from having a variety of personal weapons, the Mongol's also had a type of tool kit that consisted of tools used to fix items. It included items such as a kettle and items to fix weapons and/or clothing items.
Food was rationed for the warriors - if it was entirely necessary, the warrior would drink the blood from his horses vein. It would mean killing the horse - although each warrior and a reserved amount of horses.
Each warrior did not just have their own personal items; they also had a variety of weapons such as catpults; which were folded and carried by the horses. The catapults were used for long distance aim.
Friar John of Plano Carpini has his own account of the types of weapons used in the Mongolian war against China; he also makes a mention of how some of the weapons were made. This account was written in 1245:
Moreover they are required to have these weapons: two long bows or one good one at least, three quivers full of arrows, and one axe, and ropes to draw engines of war. But the richer have single-edged swords, with sharp points, and somewhat crooked. They have also armed horses, with their shoulders and breasts protected; they have helmets and coats of mail. Some of them have jackets for their horses, made of leather artificially doubled or trebled, shaped upon their bodies. The upper part of their helmet is of iron or steel, but that part which circles about the neck and the throat is of leather. Some of them have all their armour of iron made in the following manner: They beat out many thin plates a finger broad, and a hand long, and making in every one of them eight little holes, they lace through three strong and straight leather thongs. So they join the plates one to another, as it were, ascending by de–grees. Then they tie the plates to the thongs, with other small and slender thongs, drawn through the holes, and in the upper part, on each side, they fasten one small doubled thong, that the plates may firmly be knit together. These they make, as well for their horses as for the armour of their men; and they scour them so bright that a man may hold his face in them. Some of them upon the neck of their lance have a hook, with which they attempt to pull men out of their saddles. The heads of their arrows are exceedingly sharp, cutting both ways like a two-edged sword, and they always carry a file in their quivers to sharpen their arrowheads.
This source would be a reliable source for a historian finding out about the weapons used in the Mongolian war.
From writing this essay; it can be concluded that the Mongolian's used an extensive array of interesting weapons that helped each warrior fight in the Mongolian war in 1211.
