Could Mongol hordes prosper in Europe?

Could Mongol hordes prosper in Europe?
Where could they live and maintain their traditional lifestyle?

Hungary and the plains of Northern Germany are the only areas comming to mind as remotely similar to their territories along the Black Sea.

But then again they managed to rule Persia for a time (and substain their Tumen there).

So could they adapt to Northern Italy or France?
 
Could Mongol hordes prosper in Europe?
Where could they live and maintain their traditional lifestyle?

Hungary and the plains of Northern Germany are the only areas comming to mind as remotely similar to their territories along the Black Sea.

But then again they managed to rule Persia for a time (and substain their Tumen there).

So could they adapt to Northern Italy or France?

They didn't really maintain their traditional lifestyle that well in Persia, but theoretically there's nothing stopping them from control of (to use the German term) Mitteleuropa and settling down - though settling down also removes most of their advantages.

France and northern Italy might be a bit harder, especially the former (much more people to try ruling over).

If you really want the Mongols as something distinct rather than just a dynasty of Mongol-blooded French kings after awhile or that sort of thing, the part of what's now Russia they settled is about it, maaaaybe Hungary.
 
In Persian they did have access to a lot more grasslands than they would in Europe. I agree with Elfwin mainly, but if the Mongol europeans had continuous traffic and reinforcement with the eastern steppes they might maintain a traditional character for longer.
 
Who says they have to maintain their traditional ways? It's characteristic of the Mongol empires to adopt the way of life of their subjects. That's who they are as a people, they adapt. The Mongols who remained in Mongolia and failed to adapt are the ones that didn't prosper.
 
In Persian they did have access to a lot more grasslands than they would in Europe. I agree with Elfwin mainly, but if the Mongol europeans had continuous traffic and reinforcement with the eastern steppes they might maintain a traditional character for longer.

How, in a word? As in, how will traffic with the steppes make those Mongols away from the steppes meaningfully maintain their ttraditional character?
 
Who says they have to maintain their traditional ways? It's characteristic of the Mongol empires to adopt the way of life of their subjects. That's who they are as a people, they adapt. The Mongols who remained in Mongolia and failed to adapt are the ones that didn't prosper.

They also added into the mix of culture, it's not like they went Oooo and Aaaah then converted to sedetary living
 
As in China and India, there is no way they would maintain their nomadic lifestyle except for ceremonial occasions. Pannonia and the Black Sea region would most likely stay their main recruiting areas and horse-breeding centres. The North German plain sucks for horses, where it's not marshy, it's heavily forested, and where you cut down the forest, it turns sandy. You could have some cavalry based there, but it's not a Mongol herder's dream billet.

Now, there is no reason why the Mongols couldn't control Europe the way they did China, Korea and later India. But since they couldn't turn it into pastureland, they'd have to adapt. The idea of controlling Europe from the Eastern European steppes is not far-fetched if you think in Mongol terms. They'd have garrisons in major centres and react to any trouble by despatching couriers to Pannonia or the Dniepr to bring back a couple ten thousand horsemen. The speed and flexibility of their armies makes that plausible. But Europe would recognisably stay Europe, and as with China, there's a good chance the Mongols may find themselves ejected at some point. Especially if they make themselves as obnoxious as the Yuan dynasty.
 
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