The news as it happened.
The Mongols at Baghdad
The Mongol siege and capture of Baghdad, seat of the Abbasid caliphate, under Hülegü Khan, January to February 1258
Written from the ancient historians, with every claim cited.
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One issue each morning, starting with the week to Wednesday, January 23, 1258.
- The week to Wednesday, January 23, 1258Caliph’s army broken by flood and sword west of BaghdadThe caliph’s army has been drowned and cut down west of Baghdad on the day of Ashura; Hülegü has come up to the east bank, the city is ringed on both sides, and the caliph has sent the Khan’s envoys away with insults.
- The week to Wednesday, January 30, 1258Mongols open the assault on Baghdad’s wallsThe Mongols have walled Baghdad in and shut the Tigris with bridges of boats; on Tuesday their catapults opened on the Ajami Tower, and the Khan has sent the caliph’s vizier back, demanding the vizier, Sulaymanshah and the Dawatdar together.
- The week to Wednesday, February 6, 1258Ajami Tower brought down; Mongols hold Baghdad’s eastern wallsThe Ajami Tower is down and the Mongols hold the tops of Baghdad’s eastern walls; the caliph has offered to surrender, the Khan has turned away his gifts and his son, and today sent his own envoys into the city.
- The week to Wednesday, February 13, 1258Mongol army goes into Baghdad, killing, burning and plunderingThe caliph has come out to the Khan and is held under guard outside the walls, Sulaymanshah and the Dawatdar are dead, and today the Mongol army went into Baghdad, killing, burning and plundering.
- The week to Wednesday, February 20, 1258Caliph al-Musta’sim put to death at Waqf with his eldest sonThe caliph al-Musta’sim was put to death tonight at Waqf, outside Baghdad, with his eldest son; this week the Khan feasted in his palace and took his treasure, the caliph’s mosque and the shrines burned, the killing was ordered stopped, and the vizier is back in the city under a Mongol governor.
