The challenge is simple really, find a way to get the Mongols to invade all of Western Europe.
And if possible, find a way in getting the Mongols to invade the Byzantines
The challenge is simple really, find a way to get the Mongols to invade all of Western Europe.
And if possible, find a way in getting the Mongols to invade the Byzantines
Western Europe is easy. If Ogedei Khan survives, the armies under Subotai and Batu Khan are never recalled. At this point, poland and Hungary are broken, although the fortresses of Hungary need to be reduced. Now, if Batu Khan doesn't need to return to the homeland to deal with the succession, and decides to continue the advance, Europe is in trouble. Mongol scouts had already reached the walls of vienna IIRC, so Germany probably falls if and when the Mongols turn their attentions there. Or, they could head south, through the Balkans and towards the Adriatic. Either way, there isn't very much in the way of coherent resistance opposing the Mongols. I think that king Louis of France was forming an army to oppose them; there will almost certainly be others in, say, Germany. But I don't think that there is anybody left that can keep the Mongols out of Western Europe, or anything that can really check them, save Fortifications (which, given the Mongols' skills, are certainly not insurmountable) and logistics (again, probably not enough to end the conquest).
As for the Byzantines, there was an expedition, flanking the invasion of the 1240s, that invaded romania, so that gets you close. IIRC there was also a raid against the Byzantines by the golden Horde in 1265, so that could be a starting point. or maybe an offshoot of the campaigns of Hulagu in the Middle East, if he is more successful and has a free hand towards conquest.
Western Europe is easy. If Ogedei Khan survives, the armies under Subotai and Batu Khan are never recalled. At this point, poland and Hungary are broken, although the fortresses of Hungary need to be reduced. Now, if Batu Khan doesn't need to return to the homeland to deal with the succession, and decides to continue the advance, Europe is in trouble. Mongol scouts had already reached the walls of vienna IIRC, so Germany probably falls if and when the Mongols turn their attentions there. Or, they could head south, through the Balkans and towards the Adriatic. Either way, there isn't very much in the way of coherent resistance opposing the Mongols. I think that king Louis of France was forming an army to oppose them; there will almost certainly be others in, say, Germany. But I don't think that there is anybody left that can keep the Mongols out of Western Europe, or anything that can really check them, save Fortifications (which, given the Mongols' skills, are certainly not insurmountable) and logistics (again, probably not enough to end the conquest).
As for the Byzantines, there was an expedition, flanking the invasion of the 1240s, that invaded romania, so that gets you close. IIRC there was also a raid against the Byzantines by the golden Horde in 1265, so that could be a starting point. or maybe an offshoot of the campaigns of Hulagu in the Middle East, if he is more successful and has a free hand towards conquest.
The Mongols have fought against fortified cities before. China had scads of them.
There is a lot of arguments that Mongol invasion would fail due to Europe's lack of centralization and suitable feeding grounds for horses.
There are also lots of forests and rivers, not at all light cavalry country. The Mongols can raid as did the Moors, but any battle is going to favour the Europeans because the scruffy sheep herders won't be able to manouvre as they could in open country.i doubt they would be able to get that far. europe is thick with castles and fortified cities and around the alps numerous narrow passes and the such. it would be a hard nut to crack, so to speak. and with little pasture land (respectively) it would be hard for the horsemen to survive off the land. by bets are the mongols advance further then they did OTL but are eventually repulsed somewhere in mid to western germany... my 2 cents
What prestige would there be in conquering Europe? Europe could offer neither the riches nor prestige that the Middle East, China, or India did. Compared to them, it was still a feudal backwater (on the whole).I've heard those arguments. The logistical issues would be problematic for the Mongols, although I'm don't think that they are insurmountable, with proper strategy (which the mongols would have, between the services of Subotai and time to consolidate after the conquest of Hungary (IIRC they had not considered further advances until after the Savo River)). My point is that, if the mongols can find a reason (maybe Batu Khan wants some prestige?) to invade europe, it is possible to invade, or at least raid in force.
What prestige would there be in conquering Europe? Europe could offer neither the riches nor prestige that the Middle East, China, or India did. Compared to them, it was still a feudal backwater (on the whole).
Maybe some european state insults the mongols, and Batu must go west out of pride?
Quite likely, actually. Genghis Khan had already destroyed Persia for just that reason, and it's not like the Europeans of the time could have understood what they were up against. I can easily see that happening again.