The exact number of Mongols who fought at the Battle of Mohi in 1241 is not known with certainty, and the estimates vary widely. The most commonly cited estimates range from 30,000 to 120,000 warriors, with the higher estimates being more common in the medieval sources and the lower estimates being more common in the modern scholarship.
The uncertainty about the number of warriors is partly the result of the difficulty of establishing the size of the Mongol army, which was operating on multiple fronts at the time of the battle. The Mongols were also engaged in campaigns in Russia, Poland, and other parts of Eastern Europe, and the army that fought at Mohi was only a part of the total Mongol force in the region.
The Medieval Sources
The medieval sources give a wide range of estimates of the Mongol army at Mohi. The most famous of the medieval sources is the account of the Hungarian chronicler Simon of Kéza, who reported that the Mongol army was about 30,000 warriors strong. The estimate of Simon of Kéza is widely cited, but it is probably an underestimate.
The other medieval sources give higher estimates. The Persian historian Rashid al-Din reported that the Mongol army was about 50,000 warriors strong. The European sources, including the chronicle of the Spalato archbishop, reported that the Mongol army was as large as 200,000 warriors. The higher estimates are probably exaggerated, but they are an indication of the fear that the Mongols inspired in their enemies.
The Modern Estimates
The modern estimates of the Mongol army at Mohi are generally lower than the medieval estimates, and they range from 30,000 to 80,000 warriors. The most commonly cited modern estimate is 50,000 warriors, which is based on a combination of the medieval sources and the modern demographic studies.
The modern estimates are based on a number of factors, including the size of the Mongol army at the time of the battle, the logistical constraints of operating in Hungary, and the size of the Hungarian army. The modern estimates are also based on a comparison with other Mongol armies of the time, including the armies that fought at the Battle of Legnica and the armies that fought in Russia.
The Significance of the Number
The exact number of Mongols at Mohi is less significant than the magnitude of the victory. The battle was a decisive victory for the Mongols, and the victory was a major event in the history of the thirteenth century. The battle established the Mongols as the dominant military power in Eastern Europe, and it opened the way for the Mongol invasion of Hungary.
The battle is also significant for what it tells us about the Mongol military tradition. The battle was a typical example of the Mongol use of the feigned retreat tactic, and it was a typical example of the Mongol use of combined arms. The battle was, in this sense, a major demonstration of the effectiveness of the Mongol military tradition, and it has been studied by military commanders for centuries.
The Hungarian Army
The Hungarian army at Mohi was reportedly much larger than the Mongol army. The medieval sources give estimates of the Hungarian army that range from 50,000 to 100,000 warriors, with the most commonly cited estimate being about 60,000 warriors. The Hungarian army was a medieval European army, and it was based on a system of heavy cavalry and infantry.
The Hungarian army was, however, not as well organized as the Mongol army, and the Hungarians were not as experienced in the use of the tactics that the Mongols used so effectively. The Hungarians were also hampered by internal divisions, and the alliance with the Cumans was a source of tension within the army.
The Outcome of the Battle
The outcome of the battle was a decisive victory for the Mongols. The Hungarian army was destroyed, and King Béla IV was forced to flee. The Mongols then swept through the undefended Hungarian countryside, pausing before the walls of Vienna, and withdrew to the Hungarian plain for the winter. The withdrawal was triggered by the death of Ögedei Khan, not by any European victory.
The battle was a major shock to the European political and military establishment, and it led to a number of important changes in the European military and political organization. The most important of these changes was the development of new military tactics, including the use of heavy cavalry and the use of fortifications.
Sources
- Peter Jackson, The Mongols and the West, 1221–1410 (London, 2005).
- James Chambers, The Devil’s Horsemen: The Mongol Invasion of Europe (London, 1979).
- David Morgan, The Mongols (2nd ed., Oxford, 2007).