So let's just say that the Sassanids survive through some POD, maybe a destruction of the ERE by some barbarians, or Islam contained to Arabia, or something of the sort. They are restricted to Persia and maybe some of Mesopotamia, but they are centralized and powerful. In the beginning of the 13th century they are led by a powerful emperor, Bahram XV, who is an able commander/ administrator. In many ways he's as adept as Shapur, the Sassanian king who defeated the Romans and brought two emperors to heel.
Then the hordes of Genghis Khan attack in 1217, fresh from laying waste to the Jin Dynasty in China. The Persians have a powerful army numbering about 200,000, composing of paighan levies, their tribal bowmen, and the massive companies of Savaran, ranging from lighter horsemen to heavy knights to war elephants. These are pitted against the typical Mongol hordes. This is also a battle between leaders, as the cunning of the Great Khan is matched against the will of a Persian emperor as great as the one who started his dynasty.
So which nation would come out on top? Please don't kill the thread by saying "is impossible". I'd like to see what would happen if a classical Persian empire at full strength went up against the Mongols.
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