FReeper Canteen ~ Part VIII of The Mongols ~ December 28, 2004

www.coldsiberia.org ^ | December 28, 2004 | LaDivaLoca

[LaDivaLoca]

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ANCIENT WARFARE





Part VIII of The Mongols

Military Innovation

The western expansion was a success for the empire until 1241 (see Wahlstatt). As they encountered the peoples of Europe, the Mongols with their advanced way of warfare were unstoppable. The Mongols used (and by doing so, introduced) several revolutionary military ideas to European combatants.

• Use of articulation. Mongols used a system of horns and flags, blown or raised-and-lowered by the field commander. This allowed them to move their troops to preplanned positions on the field of battle, or modes of attack or retreat (such as charge, withdraw, or flank). In addition, they utilized subcommanders that were empowered to make decisions on the spot.
• Mongols based their forces almost wholly on light cavalry. Light cavalry consists of primarily archers and light swordsman mounted on horseback. Mobile and numerous, light cavalry can choose its battles, retreating from forces it cannot handle, such as heavy cavalry. Heavy cavalry lacks archers (who can kill at range) and is designed mainly to provide shock - using weight, speed, and fear of their massed movement (no one wants to be trampled to death) to break enemy heavy infantry lines.

Thus, when light cavalry meets heavy cavalry, the lighter, more numerous, faster moving, bow using, well-articulated light cavalry will usually defeat mounted knights - the cream of European military power.

• Their conception of armor was markedly different. European knights used heavy plate armour (sheets of loops of chain and pieces of metal plate to protect the wearer, restricting his vision and movement). Mongols used silken clothes. The silk cloth allowed Mongol warriors greater ranges of movement, better vision and endurance. It still provided resistance to projectile weapons. It thus gave them a qualitative advantage over their opponents.

If a Mongol soldier was struck with an arrow, it penetrated the skin and sank into the flesh. However, the silk was not cut but pulled into the wound. Mongol doctors could easily pull an arrow from the wound, because it was wrapped in silken cloth. This reduced the chance of infection and made cleaning and dressing the wound easier, hopefully returning the skilled warrior to combat more quickly.

This simple procedure saved many lives. In a prolonged conflict, the Mongols retained more battlefield veterans than their opponents. This usually resulted in a situation where an army of veteran Mongols faced a conscript peasant army, with disastrous results for the Mongols' opponents.

• Mongols utilized doctrines never before seen. As nomads, Mongols carried all of their wealth and provisions with them on horseback. It was equivalent to placing an entire city on horseback. It was more mobile than many of their opponents' armed forces, who were tied to the towns for supplies.

Since their way of warfare was superior (articulated veteran light cavalry) they could not be bested in combat. The traditional solution to this problem is to attack the opponents' supply tail (food, fields, water, etc.). However, their city-dwelling opponents were tied to a supply tail, not the Mongols.

This doctrines assured their victory against foes throughout their history. The closest modern analogue is the modern aircraft carrier, with its ability to bring an entire city of warriors next door to an opponent on short notice, strike at them, and retreat away, without the possibility of pursuit.

• Mongols' effective use of terror is often credited for the unprecedented speed with which Mongol armies spread across western Asia and eastern Europe.

First, the Mongols would provide an opportunity to surrender, usually on favourable (certainly to the Mongols) terms. These offers were typically dictated to the first major population center in a new territory.

If the offer was refused, the Mongols would sack the city, execute the entire population (save a handful of skilled workers), and burn the city and the surrounding fields to the ground. They would often construct an edifice of cleaned skulls outside the walls of the destroyed city to serve as a reminder of their passage.

Finally, they would allow a few survivors to flee, to spread terror throughout the countryside. By first offering favourable (or at least acceptable) terms for surrender, and then invariably completely destroying any resistance, it is argued that Mongols forestalled most combat with invaded peoples. The Mongols quickly developed a reputation of being unstoppable, genocidal opponents. After the initial victories, and proof of the Mongols good intentions, it became more difficult for rulers to convince their people to resist an invasion.

Source: http://www.brainyencyclopedia.com/encyclopedia/m/mo/mongols.html

Next Tuesday Part IX of The Mongols

[trussell]

Got it...and sent one back to you!! LOL

[The Mayor]

and we read it too

I love to hear that! Thank you!

[HiJinx]

I just got an autographed copy

Color me green...with envy. The book is quite informative, the run-up to Afghanistan in particular opened my eyes to things I just never knew.

The story of his early years also made an impression. You should be able to identify with a lot of it, having lived and worked in the Midland/Odessa area.

[Kathy in Alaska]

WHERE WAS THE HANKIE ALERT???? Radix, these pictures are fantastic! Thanks. Please, God, let loved ones see loved ones.

[txradioguy]

"You should be able to identify with a lot of it, having lived and worked in the Midland/Odessa area."

My parents got it at his book digning at the Barnes&Noble in Midland.

I covered him for Soldiers Television when he spoke there just before the kickoff of OIF.

There a few folks from Midland, Texas who've done some things in the world.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Are you ready? Got your long johns packed? Closest city Jet Jag could find with the temps that match. 6:30am!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Breakfast nap kin: Poppy the squirrel monkey enjoys some grub at the Oakland Zoo as baby Minikey catches a few winks. Minikey was born Oct. 30.

[HiJinx]

There a few folks from Midland, Texas who've done some things in the world.

Should I? Probably not...oh, what they hey! Of course there are...wait, no, I can't say it...c'mon, bite that tongue...

[Kathy in Alaska]

Ominous clouds: An alligator patrols the still waters of a small pond in Deleon Springs, Fla.

[txradioguy]

Yeah and I've got my GorTex stuff ready too

I got a dose of what I'm in for in Korea when it was 6 above at 12 noon last week.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Sky painting: The northern lights flash above a covered bridge at Wilkinson Pioneer Park in Rock Falls, Iowa.

[HiJinx]

That is one odd picture...at first, I found myself looking up into the sky and wondering what kind of flying craft that was...

And then realized the photographer was looking down.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Make me look like Bambi's mom: As buck season opens in Fargo, N.D., a stag orders a full antler trim. And just in time, too, because barber Don Brehmer closed up early to hunt white-tail.

[Kathy in Alaska]

It took me a few looks too. LOL!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

tx.....#250!!

[Kathy in Alaska]

Caution: Skating at the Northern Kentucky Ice Center in Crescent Springs, Ky., can be habit-deforming.

[tomkow6]

BRATTTxradioguy!

[txradioguy]

"BRATTTxradioguy!"


hehehehe....yeah that's ME!

Happy New Year!!!

[uncleshag]

Good Afternoon, Kathy.

Alligator on the front
line of Homeland Security.

Wonder if this would
work in the Rio Grande?

I'd donate the one that lives in
the creek and pond here at the house.

[Kathy in Alaska]

Don't tell me that!! Alligator in the creek!! Please tell me your kitties have sense enough to stay away from the pond!!!!!!