Draft:Siege of Nishapur
{{Short description|1221 military conflict led by Genghis Khan}}
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The siege of Nishapur ({{lang|fa|محاصره نیشابور}}) took place in 1221 during the Mongol invasion of the Khwarazmian Empire. The siege was led by Tolui Khan, son of Genghis Khan, following the death of Genghis Khan's son-in-law Toquchar during an earlier battle at Nishapur. The fall of the city resulted in a large-scale massacre and the near-total destruction of Nishapur.
{{Infobox military conflict
| conflict = Siege of Nishapur
| partof = the Mongol invasion of the Khwarazmian Empire
| image =
| date = April, 1221
| place = Nishapur, Khwarazmian Empire (present-day Iran)
| result = Mongol victory
| territory = Nishapur and surrounding regions
| combatant1 = Mongol Empire
| combatant2 = Khwarazmian Empire and city defenders
| commander1 = Genghis Khan
Tolui
| commander2 = Kaikhusraw{{KIA}}
| strength1 = Unknown
| strength2 = Unknown
}}
Background
In the early 13th century, the Khwarazmian Empire was a powerful state that controlled a vast territory in Central Asia, including present-day Iran, Afghanistan, and parts of Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. {{cite book |last=Jackson |first=Peter |title=The Mongols and the West, 1221-1410 |year=2005 |publisher=Longman |location=Harlow |isbn=978-0-582-36896-5 |page=45 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7FLUMVIqIvwC |access-date=2023-02-20 |language=en}}{{Not in citation|date=December 2024}}
However, the empire was weakened by internal strife and external threats, making it vulnerable to the Mongol invasion.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
Siege
In 1221, Genghis Khan led a Mongol army to Nishapur, a strategic and highly-fortified location on the Silk Road{{Cite book |last=Mann |first=John |title=Genghis Khan: Life, Death and Resurrection. |publisher=Bantam Press |year=2004 |isbn=978-0-593-05044-6 |page=156 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=reak1EUA57sC |location=London}}{{Not in citation}}, and therefore well-defended by a large garrison of Khwarazmian troops.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}} After a prolonged battle, the Mongols used siege weaponry to breach the walls and capture the city, eventually massacring the Khwarazmian defenders.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
Aftermath
The fall of Nishapur was a significant blow to the Khwarazmian Empire, contributing towards its downfall under constant Mongol onslaught.{{cite book |last=Biran |first=Michel |title=The Empire of the Qara Khitai in Eurasian History: Between China and the Islamic World |year=2005 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=978-0-521-84226-6 |page=64}}{{Not in citation|date=December 2024}}
The Mongols incorporated the conquered territories into their empire, with Nishapur becoming an important center for trade and commerce in the Mongol Empire.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}
References
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