02/1220 AD invaded

Genghis used a two-pronged attack with a strong element of surprise.

Immediately when war was declared, Genghis sent orders for a force already out to the west to immediately cross the Tien Shan mountains to the south and ravage the fertile Fergana Valley in the eastern part of the Khwarezm Empire.

This smaller detachment, no more than 20,000–30,000 men, was led by Genghis's son Jochi and his elite general Jebe. The Tien Shan mountain passes were much more treacherous than the Dzungarian Gate — The Khwarezm assumed that the Mongols would invade through the Dzungarian Gate, the natural mountain pass in between Mongol controlled Khara-Khitai and Khwarezm — and to make it worse, they made the crossing in the middle of winter with over 5 feet of snow.

Meanwhile, another Mongol force under Chagatai and Ogedei descended from either the Altai Mountains to the north or the Dzungarian Gate and immediately started laying siege to the border city of Otrar.

Though the Mongols suffered losses and were exhausted from the crossing, their presence in the Ferghana Valley stunned the Khwarezm leadership and permanently stole the initiative away. This march can be described as the Central Asian equivalent of Hannibal's crossing of the Alps, with the same devastating effects.

Unknown - Khwarazm

Lattitude: 36° N
Longitude: 59° E
Region: Middle East

Modern Day Iran

Events in 1220 MORE