katchen
Banned
I just finished reading Book 3 of Greg Bear's "The Mongoliad". Apparently Subotai and Batu Khan attacked Europe at a particularly bad time. The Pope had died 3 years before and the College of Cardinals was stalemated with the Holy Roman Emperor camped outside the walls of Rome. If Ogadei Khan had not died (probably of cirrhosis of the liver brought about by his severe alcoholism) in that year, forcing the Mongols to withdraw their forces to elect a new Khagan at their Kuriltai, Batu could have caught the Emperor and Rome unawares, sacked Rome and prevented the election of a new Pope all without being completely aware of what he had accomplished until after he had done it.
While in the meantime, Subotai could have swept through Germany and into France and defeated King Louis IX and then moved into the Spanish kingdoms. I doubt if he would have bothered with England, or Scandinavia since either one would require organizing a naval armada.
And after the Christian kingdoms of Aragon and Castille, the Almohads, though once again, I doubt if Subotai would cross the Strait of Gibraltar immediately to comquer Fez. Iberia would be relatively easy for Mongols--open plateau--good for horses.
And then the Balkans and besiege Constantinople on the way back if Ogadei is still alive.
So depending on how long Ogadei lasts:
1242 Mongols conquer Italy, France and Germany but fail to conquer Spain. Mongols leave. England and Castille divide France between them. Mongol conquest Dennmark conquers Germany. Byzantines reconquer Italy. Eastern Church triumphant since Roman Catholic Church cannot reconstitute itself with cardinals abducted and taken to Karakorum
Ogadei survives until 1243
Spanish conquest incomplete. Almohads reconquer Spain Follow retreating Mongols into France, Germany and Italy, meeting Byzantines at some point. Big chance for big Islamic gains in Europe.
Ogadei survives until 1244 or 1245
Mongols consolidate power in Europe. No power vacuum. England avoids invasion by paying Mongols tribute as does Dennmark and Sweden. Constantinople falls. Lack of organized Catholic hierarchy enforced by abduction of Catholic cardinals. Religious freedom enforced. No heresy. Albigensianism revived. Size of nobility drastically reduced when Ogadei finally dies in 1245 due to conscription of much of Europe's nobility and men at arms to return to Karakorum with Subotai and Batu leaving only whatever Mongols necessary to govern.
While in the meantime, Subotai could have swept through Germany and into France and defeated King Louis IX and then moved into the Spanish kingdoms. I doubt if he would have bothered with England, or Scandinavia since either one would require organizing a naval armada.
And after the Christian kingdoms of Aragon and Castille, the Almohads, though once again, I doubt if Subotai would cross the Strait of Gibraltar immediately to comquer Fez. Iberia would be relatively easy for Mongols--open plateau--good for horses.
And then the Balkans and besiege Constantinople on the way back if Ogadei is still alive.
So depending on how long Ogadei lasts:
1242 Mongols conquer Italy, France and Germany but fail to conquer Spain. Mongols leave. England and Castille divide France between them. Mongol conquest Dennmark conquers Germany. Byzantines reconquer Italy. Eastern Church triumphant since Roman Catholic Church cannot reconstitute itself with cardinals abducted and taken to Karakorum
Ogadei survives until 1243
Spanish conquest incomplete. Almohads reconquer Spain Follow retreating Mongols into France, Germany and Italy, meeting Byzantines at some point. Big chance for big Islamic gains in Europe.
Ogadei survives until 1244 or 1245
Mongols consolidate power in Europe. No power vacuum. England avoids invasion by paying Mongols tribute as does Dennmark and Sweden. Constantinople falls. Lack of organized Catholic hierarchy enforced by abduction of Catholic cardinals. Religious freedom enforced. No heresy. Albigensianism revived. Size of nobility drastically reduced when Ogadei finally dies in 1245 due to conscription of much of Europe's nobility and men at arms to return to Karakorum with Subotai and Batu leaving only whatever Mongols necessary to govern.