FReeper Canteen ~ Part II of The Mongols ~ November 16, 2004

www.coldsiberia.org ^ | November 16, 2004 | LaDivaLoca

[LaDivaLoca]

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Part II of The Mongols

Mongol Military Might

Mediaeval historians used to assert that the Mongol military superiority was due to their overwhelming numbers. As we are now aware of, this is incorrect, and assertions of Mongol numerical superiority must be interpreted as partly a specious excuse for European inferiority when fighting against the Mongols in the battlefield. Even though they never fought against the most powerful warriors who ever existed in the West, the Celts, there is no doubt that the Mongols proved superior to all those whom they met in battle.

Quality, not quantity, was the key to the incredible unbroken line of Mongolian military successes. Since the spiritual aspects of this phenomenon has been covered elsewhere on these pages, what will be elucidated here is the technical details of their military performance, their equipment and their use of it.

Organization

Although supreme command lay in the hands of the Supreme Khan, the high Mongol principle of promotion to posts of leadership and authority on the basis of ability alone, introduced and enforced by Chingis Khan, resulted in an unmatched quality of troops from the ordinary soldiers to the top command. Each Mongol warrior was simply incomparably superior to their Western counterparts. This exceedingly high quality ensured the competence and integrity of the commanding leaders. Thus, leaders at every level could always be entrusted with a high degree of independence in the decisions and in the execution of the different moves and operations.

After the death of Chingis Khan in 1227, none of his successors inherited his genius. For this reason, the real command of the large armies rested with the generals he picked when he was still alive, although the princes of the blood held the nominal command. The diamond among all the generals of Chingis Khan was Subedei, whose mastery of every aspect of warfare, such as intelligence, psychological warfare, military tactics and strategy and logistics, won him a place in history as the mastermind of the great Mongol campaign in Russia and Europe during 1236-1242. Subedei as a man personified the best characteristics of the Mongol forces: caution, high intuition, great intelligence and understanding, mobility, alertness, speed and power. Other eminent Mongol generals worthy of note are Chepe and Muqali, the latter did much to secure Mongol victories in China.

The organization of the army was based on the decimal system. The largest unit was the tjumen, which was made up of 10.000 troops. A large army used to consist of three tjumens (Plural form t'ma in Mongolian), one consisting of infantry troops who were to perform close combat, the two others were meant to encircle the opponent from both sides. Each tjumen consisted of ten regiments, each of 1.000 troops. The 1.000 strong unit was called a mingghan. Each of these regiments consisted of ten squadrons of 100 troops, called jaghun, each of which was divided into ten units of ten, called arban. There was also an elite tjumen, an imperial guard which was composed of specially trained and selected troops. As for the command structure, the ten soldiers of each arban elected their commander by majority vote, and all of the ten commanders of the ten arbans of a tjumen elected the commander of a jaghunby the same procedure. Above that level, the khan personally appointed the commanders of each tjumen and mingghan. This appointment was made on criteria of ability, not age or social origin.

The commanders of tjumens and mingghans had the military title of noyon. A commander of a whole army, which as mentioned typically consisted of three tjumens or more of light cavalry and in addition several mingghans of artillery, carried the title of orlok. In other words, the orlok was the commanding general.

source: http://www.coldsiberia.org/monmight.htm

Next Tuesday, Part III of The Mongols

[tomkow6]

 Hi, Middie!

Welcome to the Canteen!

Wanna buy a burka?

 

 

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Tuesday!

Have a cup while you Freep !

For those who prefer hot chocolate.....

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

USPS Introduces Priority Mail Flat-Rate Boxes (Starting Nov. 20)

http://www.melissadata.com/enews/articles/1104/6.htm


News

USPS Introduces Priority Mail Flat-Rate Boxes

The U.S. Postal Service will soon provide customers with more shipping options just in time for the holiday mailing season. Using Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes, customers will be able to mail packages — regardless of the parcels' weight or destination — for just $7.70 each.

The Governors of the Postal Service approved this new Priority Mail option as a two-year test, and it will be available Nov. 20, 2004 at most Post Offices and online at USPS.com. The new boxes don't have to be weighed, and there are no zone chart and rate calculations required.

Customers can get the value of Priority Mail in two convenient shapes at one consistent price. “Services that are easy to access and simple to use provide real value for our customers,” said Stephen M. Kearney, Vice President of Pricing and Classification for the U.S. Postal Service.

“We look forward to testing the convenience of flat-rate pricing for Priority Mail packages, especially among small businesses and consumers.”

The Priority Mail Flat-Rate boxes are available in two shapes: 11-7/8 inches x 3-3/8 inches x 13-5/8 inches (ideal for garments, board games, books and other relatively thin items) and 11 inches x 8-1/2 inches x 5-1/2 inches.

Kearney said knowing the $7.70 price in advance should help customers ship packages quickly and easily, making the boxes very convenient for the upcoming holiday season.

He noted that paying the flat-rate Priority Mail box postage also is simple and convenient. The price is $7.70 regardless of the weight or destination. For the ultimate convenience, customers can use Click-N-Ship, offered online though USPS.com, to print a shipping label and pay the $7.70 postage, and use Carrier Pickup online notification to let their Post Office know they have a package to be collected when their letter carrier delivers their mail the following day.

Customers can also affix two $3.85 Jefferson Memorial stamps, use a postage meter indicia or any combination of U.S. postage stamps.

DoD Announces Recommended Holiday Mail Dates

http://www.defenselink.mil/releases/2004/nr20041028-1450.html

[tomkow6]

 Hi, Chieftain!

Welcome to the Canteen!

Wanna buy a burka?

 

 

[AZamericonnie]

I really like that pic Luv W!

[tomkow6]

So, if I can cram MoJo in a box, I can send her ANYWHERE????

[PzLdr]

While the article was great, I really must disagree with your claim that the Celts were the greatest warriors in ancient Europe. I can think of at least several Legions of Roman Infantry, including the Second, Tenth and Fourteenth (to name three) who would disagree with,and disprove that statement. From the time of Brennus until the disappearance of the Ninth Hispania, I can't think of a single instance (excepting service with Hannibal) where Celtic troops defeated a major Roman military formation in open battle.

[Severa]

Move update:

Navy's packing up our stuff and moving it out Nov 30th/Dec 1st. We got housing in NAS Brunswick's Topsham Annex housing, it's about 5 miles from the base. Commissary is practically walking distance from the housing complex.

Anyone here on the Canteen that can give us advice on cell service there (note we have crappy credit) would be greatly appreciated, as we'll have to dump Sprint (no service) and from the looks of it, Alltel too (no stores in ME).

Kids are doing fine, busy as ever. They're ready for Christmas, having pored through the pages of the Toys R Us big book so many times it's practically ripped to shreds.

That's all for now, I'm off to get a few hrs shuteye and continue the cleanup prior to Thursday's prelim move out inspection with a housing manager I can't stand (gah) wish me luck!

[Smartass]

God Bless and Protect Our POW

[tomkow6]

 Hi, PzLdr!

Welcome to the Canteen!

Wanna buy a burka?

 

 

[laurenmarlowe]

Hello Tom, thank you.

[Radix]

"I can't think of a single instance (excepting service with Hannibal) where Celtic troops defeated a major Roman military formation in open battle."

Battle of Gergovia

 

http://www.unrv.com/fall-republic/battle-of-gergovia.php

The Romans did not win every battle against the Celts. Ultimately they conquered Gaul and more, but not without paying a price.

Are you just being contentious? For some reason the Tuesday Canteen threads seem to bring out persons who hold a peculiar animosity. I find that curious.

 

[AZamericonnie]

Thank you for your service....

[PzLdr]

Thank you much, Tom

[AZamericonnie]

Good evening SA, I hope you are well this evening!

[rmlew]

Thanks for the welcome.

Tomkow, I would not like a Burka. I don't really understand the reference. Temujin, the Chingis Khan, was a Tengrist (the traditional Shamanist religion of the step, that was influenced by Manicheanism and Zoroastrianism after the 4th century.)
However, a good composite bow, short shield, and saber would be nice. I have some steppe Turkic ancestry, the Khazars. The Khazars stopped the Muslim invasion of the Caucuses and Urals in a series of battles from 730-737.

[SevenofNine]

Well well there is report off World Tribune reporting that Mommand Abba the new PLO Leader want the French release Arafat medical record and prove to the point on what Arafat really died of does he really want do that everybody know on FR he died of AIDS

HELLO

Also UK Telegraph reporting that Budweiser may move its brewing plant out of Germany because of anti business enviormentlist there to Austriala according to report

NICE GOIN GERMANS

[SevenofNine]

Wow Fox news was reporting on their webpage that they think Saddam may kick back MOREEEE Money to bribe French and German in tune of 25 to 50 million jack

DAMNNNN

[68-69TonkinGulfYachtClub]

Welcome to the Canteen!

[SevenofNine]

I see Tomkow selling holiday burkas for HOLIDAYS

Hey Tomkow have anything in Red????