Actually, the Mongols are very adept at conquering fortifications. Here's the basics: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mongol_military#Siege_warfare
What books (unless they're not in English, in which this poor monolingual American is shit out of luck)?
I have trouble imagining a Mongol army being "utterly destroyed" by anything except the Mamluks or a similar style force. Its just that hard to destroy an army, especially one disciplined enough to have the concept of an orderly retreat.
You are out of luck... hungarian onesBut if i ever came along any english sources, i try not to forget you
And orderly retreat is one thing- retreating while the passes are closed and because of the pursuers you have to cross the mountains... recipe for high losses.
Thanks.
Either way, kudos to Hungary for handling round #2 much better than the first attack - whether this was a major raid or invasion or in between, it seems to have rebounded from the first attack better than one might have expected.
What books (unless they're not in English, in which this poor monolingual American is shit out of luck)?
I have trouble imagining a Mongol army being "utterly destroyed" by anything except the Mamluks or a similar style force. Its just that hard to destroy an army, especially one disciplined enough to have the concept of an orderly retreat.
There are some English sources. It appears to have been a raid and most damage to the Mongols appears to have been done by the weather. The Mongol army definitely was not annihilated as the careers of Nogai Khan and Talabuga Khan show.
Thanks.
Either way, kudos to Hungary for handling round #2 much better than the first attack - whether this was a major raid or invasion or in between, it seems to have rebounded from the first attack better than one might have expected.
Bela IV was smart despite how things went and turned out for him.
Interesting.
So it was a complete disaster, except that they could launch another great campaign only two years later? That doesn't sound like a complete disaster to me.
[/QUOTE]I'm just going to shamelessly promote Empty America (a timeline I didn't even write and have no contribution to) because it is just awesome, including its depiction of Mongol Europe:
https://www.alternatehistory.com/discussion/showpost.php?p=5303260&postcount=4
On the other hand, England and especially Iberia are certain to come as the beacons of progress and trade since they would be spared ( sea and Pyrenees ).