Siege of Baghdad

Mongols besieging Baghdad in 1258

The Mongol ruler Hulagu in Baghdad interns the Caliph of Baghdad among his treasures.

Mongols besieging Baghdad in 1258

Mongols besieging Baghdad in 1258

Siege on Baghdad by the Mongols led by Hulagu Khan 1258

Caliph al-Musta'ṣim (detail). Folio 89v (British Library, Or 2780)

Execution. Illustration of Rashid-ad-Din's Gami' at-tawarih. Tabriz (?), 1st quarter of 14th century. Water colours on paper. Original size: 18.5 cm x 26.2 cm. Staatsbibliothek Berlin, Orientabteilung, Diez A fol. 70, p. 49. The executed - long and full beard probably means he is not a Mongol - has been thrown off a cliff.

Conquest of Baghdad by the Mongols 1258. Right part of a double-page illustration of Rashid-ad-Din's Gami' at-tawarih. Tabriz (?), 1st quarter of 14th century. Water colours and gold on paper. Original size: 37.4 cm x 29.3 cm. Staatsbibliothek Berlin, Orientabteilung, Diez A fol. 70, p. 4. Note the ponton bridge, siege engine, and the refugee on the boat, maybe a high dignitary or even the calif himself. For the complete illustration, see Image:DiezAlbumsFallOfBaghdad.jpg.

Conquest of Baghdad by the Mongols 1258. Right part of a double-page illustration of Rashid-ad-Din's Gami' at-tawarih. Tabriz (?), 1st quarter of 14th century. Water colours and gold on paper. Original size: 37.4 cm x 29.3 cm. Staatsbibliothek Berlin, Orientabteilung, Diez A fol. 70, p. 4. Note the ponton bridge, siege engine, and the refugee on the boat, maybe a high dignitary or even the calif himself. For the complete illustration, see Image:DiezAlbumsFallOfBaghdad.jpg.

Conquest of Baghdad by the Mongols 1258. Left part of a double-page illustration of Rashid-ad-Din's Gami' at-tawarih. Tabriz (?), 1st quarter of 14th century. Water colours and gold on paper. Original size: 37.2 cm x 29 cm. Staatsbibliothek Berlin, Orientabteilung, Diez A fol. 70, p. 7. Note the ponton bridge and siege engines. For the complete illustration, see Image:DiezAlbumsFallOfBaghdad.jpg.

Conquest of Baghdad by the Mongols 1258. Left part of a double-page illustration of Rashid-ad-Din's Gami' at-tawarih. Tabriz (?), 1st quarter of 14th century. Water colours and gold on paper. Original size: 37.2 cm x 29 cm. Staatsbibliothek Berlin, Orientabteilung, Diez A fol. 70, p. 7. Note the ponton bridge and siege engines. For the complete illustration, see Image:DiezAlbumsFallOfBaghdad.jpg.

Conquest of Baghdad by the Mongols 1258. Double-page illustration of Rashid-ad-Din's Gami' at-tawarih. Tabriz (?), 1st quarter of 14th century. Water colours and gold on paper. Original size: 37.4 cm x 29.3 cm (right), 37.2 cm x 29 cm (left). Staatsbibliothek Berlin, Orientabteilung, Diez A fol. 70, p. 4 (right) and 7 (left). Note the ponton bridges, siege engines, and the dawatdar (a high official) attempting to flee by boat. For only the left or only the right part of the illustration, see Image:DiezAlbumsFallOfBaghdad_b.jpg and Image:DiezAlbumsFallOfBaghdad_a.jpg.

Fall Of Baghdad (Diez Albums). Detail: a leading official's failed attempt to escape by boat from the city (center right): "The davāt-dār (chief secretary) who commanded the Caliph’s army was encamped between Baʿqūbā and Bājisrā. Hearing that the Mongol army was approaching from the west, the davāt-dār crossed the Tigris and joined battle with the Mongols near Anbār. The Mongols retreated and, joining Baiju ’s main army, opened a canal on the river Tigris. Half of the Caliph’s army was drowned and half was defeated in the attacks that followed. The davāt-dār made an attempt to escape by boat down the Tigris. Being unsuccessful, he fled back to Baghdad." in (2011) The Mongols and the Armenians (1220-1335), Leiden ; Boston: Brill, p. 130 ISBN: 978-90-04-18635-4.

Fall Of Baghdad (Diez Albums). Detail: a leading official's failed attempt to escape by boat from the city (center right): "The davāt-dār (chief secretary) who commanded the Caliph’s army was encamped between Baʿqūbā and Bājisrā. Hearing that the Mongol army was approaching from the west, the davāt-dār crossed the Tigris and joined battle with the Mongols near Anbār. The Mongols retreated and, joining Baiju ’s main army, opened a canal on the river Tigris. Half of the Caliph’s army was drowned and half was defeated in the attacks that followed. The davāt-dār made an attempt to escape by boat down the Tigris. Being unsuccessful, he fled back to Baghdad." in (2011) The Mongols and the Armenians (1220-1335), Leiden ; Boston: Brill, p. 130 ISBN: 978-90-04-18635-4.

Fall Of Baghdad (Diez Albums). Detail: a leading official's failed attempt to escape by boat from the city (center right): "The davāt-dār (chief secretary) who commanded the Caliph’s army was encamped between Baʿqūbā and Bājisrā. Hearing that the Mongol army was approaching from the west, the davāt-dār crossed the Tigris and joined battle with the Mongols near Anbār. The Mongols retreated and, joining Baiju ’s main army, opened a canal on the river Tigris. Half of the Caliph’s army was drowned and half was defeated in the attacks that followed. The davāt-dār made an attempt to escape by boat down the Tigris. Being unsuccessful, he fled back to Baghdad." in (2011) The Mongols and the Armenians (1220-1335), Leiden ; Boston: Brill, p. 130 ISBN: 978-90-04-18635-4.

Conquest of Baghdad by the Mongols 1258. Double-page illustration of Rashid-ad-Din's Gami' at-tawarih. Tabriz (?), 1st quarter of 14th century. Water colours and gold on paper. Original size: 37.4 cm x 29.3 cm (right), 37.2 cm x 29 cm (left). Staatsbibliothek Berlin, Orientabteilung, Diez A fol. 70, p. 4 (right) and 7 (left). Note the ponton bridges, siege engines, and the dawatdar (a high official) attempting to flee by boat.

The Mongol ruler Hulagu in Baghdad interns the Caliph of Baghdad among his treasures.

15th-century miniature from a manuscript of the Chinggisid Shahnameh.

The Mongol ruler Hulagu in Baghdad interns the Caliph of Baghdad among his treasures.

Islamic art in the Cincinnati Art Museum

Islamic art in the Cincinnati Art Museum

Islamic art in the Cincinnati Art Museum

15th-century miniature from a manuscript of the Chinggisid Shahnameh.

Mongol siege techniques in 1221 were little different than those used for the siege of Baghdad in 1258. A 14th century Persian illustration from the Heinrich von Diez Albums, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin.

Persian painting of Hülegü’s army besieging a city. Note use of the siege engine.