WI: Khwarezm allies with the Mongols

[Mort the Reaper]

While the Mongol conquest of Khwarezm was notoriously brutal, it wasn't Genghis Khan's intention to go to war. He wanted trade, and possibly an alliance.

What if he'd gotten one? How would things be different?

 

[Ameck16]

While the Mongol conquest of Khwarezm was notoriously brutal, it wasn't Genghis Khan's intention to go to war. He wanted trade, and possibly an alliance.

What if he'd gotten one? How would things be different?

Well, the Islamic world for one would be in better shape. around 1 in every 8 Muslims died due to the Mongols.

 

[BigBlueBox]

Well, the Islamic world for one would be in better shape. around 1 in every 8 Muslims died due to the Mongols.

An alliance with the Khwarezm doesn’t preclude a brutal conquest of the Levant and Anatolia.

 

[John7755 يوحنا]

There is great doubt as to Temujin's claim. It seems more likely based upon Arabo-Ilkhan sources attest, the Abbasid caliphate had contacts and an alliance with the Mongol empire. Caliph al-Musta'sim for instance in his letter to Hulegu, congratulated the Mongols over their victory against the heathens and heretics and for their service (referring to destroying the Kwarezmshahs and the Hashashin). This points to the status of the Mongol relation to the Islamic world, its true relation that is.

 

[alexmilman]

There is great doubt as to Temujin's claim. It seems more likely based upon Arabo-Ilkhan sources attest, the Abbasid caliphate had contacts and an alliance with the Mongol empire. Caliph al-Musta'sim for instance in his letter to Hulegu, congratulated the Mongols over their victory against the heathens and heretics and for their service (referring to destroying the Kwarezmshahs and the Hashashin). This points to the status of the Mongol relation to the Islamic world, its true relation that is.

Quite agree with what you wrote about the claim (it seems to be a consistent pattern to justify the conquests by some offense) but have doubts that position of the Caliphate played any serious role in the Mongolian conquest of Khwaresm : Genghis was clearly playing for time collecting strategic intelligence, making the plans, etc.. Campaign against Khwaresm was planned too well for an act of a pure revenge and as a part of Genghis grand strategy it made obvious sense because it was placing one more important segment of the East-West trade routes (and related revenues) under Mongolian control.

Caliphate was, of course, enemy of a potential enemy but Caliph, from their point of view, was just one more ruler who would be facing a choice between submitting or being destroyed. At the time when Genghis campaigning Khwaresm started the Mongols were considered just one more bunch of the successful barbarians, probably not too dangerous, but then perception changed.

 

[alexmilman]

An alliance with the Khwarezm doesn’t preclude a brutal conquest of the Levant and Anatolia.

Getting there with Khwaresm being on the way would be technically possible but logistically impractical. OTOH, conquest of these areas clearly was not a top priority judging by the timing.

 

[John7755 يوحنا]

Quite agree with what you wrote about the claim (it seems to be a consistent pattern to justify the conquests by some offense) but have doubts that position of the Caliphate played any serious role in the Mongolian conquest of Khwaresm : Genghis was clearly playing for time collecting strategic intelligence, making the plans, etc.. Campaign against Khwaresm was planned too well for an act of a pure revenge and as a part of Genghis grand strategy it made obvious sense because it was placing one more important segment of the East-West trade routes (and related revenues) under Mongolian control.

Caliphate was, of course, enemy of a potential enemy but Caliph, from their point of view, was just one more ruler who would be facing a choice between submitting or being destroyed. At the time when Genghis campaigning Khwaresm started the Mongols were considered just one more bunch of the successful barbarians, probably not too dangerous, but then perception changed.

My view is not so radical that the Mongols were told to do by the Abbasids. Rather, there was a mutual understanding against the Khwarezmshahs. Their destruction was mutually beneficial and a secret Mongol-Abbasid alliance was a boon for both sides.

 

[Tocomocho]

GK stays out of Turkestan and focuses on China. Jin, maybe Song fall earlier. Allying with Khwarazm is less of an alliance and more of a "don't try anything stupid, we may visit you still in the future". Gunpowder goes west later, Abbasids survive longer, castles spread later in Eastern Europe, maybe Russia stays Kiev focused and Lithuania stays small and maybe depaganized earlier. I think the Mongols will demand tributes and submission from Khwarazm eventually anyway (just like with the Tanguts) but the war won't be as destructive.

 

[alexmilman]

GK stays out of Turkestan and focuses on China. Jin, maybe Song fall earlier. Allying with Khwarazm is less of an alliance and more of a "don't try anything stupid, we may visit you still in the future". Gunpowder goes west later, Abbasids survive longer, castles spread later in Eastern Europe, maybe Russia stays Kiev focused and Lithuania stays small and maybe depaganized earlier. I think the Mongols will demand tributes and submission from Khwarazm eventually anyway (just like with the Tanguts) but the war won't be as destructive.

Russian princedoms ceased to be Kiev focused decades prior to the Mongolian invasion: Kiev remained one of the prestigious princedoms but it was already ranking second to Vladimir and Galitz became a com0,Evelyn independent entity. Of course, without the Mongols the regional dynamics could be different with more than one deviation from OTL.

As for the alliance with Khwaresm, it was actually a peace treaty guaranteeing security of the caravans, not a real alliance, and Genghis made it quite clear from the very beginning that he is considering Khwaresmshsh as his “son” (aka, vassal), position to which the Shah had no intention to agree. So a potential difference could be in years, not decades.

 

[John7755 يوحنا]

Russian princedoms ceased to be Kiev focused decades prior to the Mongolian invasion: Kiev remained one of the prestigious princedoms but it was already ranking second to Vladimir and Galitz became a com0,Evelyn independent entity. Of course, without the Mongols the regional dynamics could be different with more than one deviation from OTL.

As for the alliance with Khwaresm, it was actually a peace treaty guaranteeing security of the caravans, not a real alliance, and Genghis made it quite clear from the very beginning that he is considering Khwaresmshsh as his “son” (aka, vassal), position to which the Shah had no intention to agree. So a potential difference could be in years, not decades.

Another point, the Mongol claiming of the Kwarezmshahs as vassals, could not be reasonably agreed to. In the mind of the Kwarezmshahs, there was not so much to fear, they had previously bested the Qhara-Qhitan, Quman-Qipchaq and other steppe nomads and they themselves were of steppe nomadic origin. We cannot expect without some show of force, for the Kwarezmshahs to simply agree to Mongol vassalage....

 

[alexmilman]

Another point, the Mongol claiming of the Kwarezmshahs as vassals, could not be reasonably agreed to. In the mind of the Kwarezmshahs, there was not so much to fear, they had previously bested the Qhara-Qhitan, Quman-Qipchaq and other steppe nomads and they themselves were of steppe nomadic origin. We cannot expect without some show of force, for the Kwarezmshahs to simply agree to Mongol vassalage....

That’s the whole point: Khwaresmian state kept growing almost all the way to the Mongolian invasion and even in the middle of it when a big part of a territory already had been lost Jelal ad Din found time and resources to invade and loot Georgia.

 

[Anarch King of Dipsodes]

I know nothing of Khwarezmi internal history, but...

WI, at the time Temujin demands vassalage, Khwarezm is embroiled in a succession crisis? Say there is a child heir, a greedy regent, an intriguing vizier, and an usurping uncle (IOW, the usual suspects). One player (A) invites Mongol intervention in return for pledging vassalage. Temujin sends a tumen under Subutai, which annihilates the B side in action. A and his cronies decide they should be really nice to the Mongols; the surviving B siders agree.

Subutai goes home laden with tribute, while Urgenj is not sacked and destroyed. Khwarezm remains politically shaky for the next 20 years, with its leadership dependent on Mongol support, which they pay for, heavily. (This is unpopular, but when a hothead talks of "breaking the Mongol yoke", some old fellow will ask "Were you at Ulus River? No? Then shut up.")

Also, though, Khwarezm provides auxiliaries for Mongol operations in the Middle East and Russia. Some conquered territory is awarded to the Shahs, so the alliance is somewhat rewarding. After a generation or so, Khwarezm is largely integrated into the Mongol empire, but as a vassal state/ally, not a conquered realm. Khwarezm's armies learn Mongol methods, and the Shahs become players in Mongol politics. (The next two Shahs are strong, able men.) There is intermarriage between the Shahs and the Great Khanate; the tribute is reduced or forgiven.

Circa 1300: a dispute between the Il-Khan and the Golden Horde gets violent. Khwarezm supports the Horde, which is backed by the (very distant) Great Khan. Khwarezmi troops even defeat a (badly led, heavily outnumbered) Il-Khanid tumen. The Horde wins, and Khwarezm gets some Il-Khanid territory.

Later still, Khwarezm intervenes in an Il-Khanid succession dispute, and actually places a puppet on the Il-Khanid throne. This doesn't last, but the Il-Khanid state breaks up, with the Mamluks and Ottomans tearing off pieces in the west, and Arab and Persian rebels seizing the core. Khwarezm allies with Muscovy to defeat the Golden Horde. The "Great" Khan is busy in China and has lost any real authority west of Xinjiang.

Circa 1350-1400, China overthrows the Great Khan, but Khwarezm is not affected, except to regain formal independence. The Shah even claims the title of Great Khan, based on descent from Mongol princesses, but it means nothing.

Thus Khwarezm survives the Mongol age as an organized state. Later Middle Asian history is left as an exercise for the student.

 

[TachfineAlMansour]

Another point, the Mongol claiming of the Kwarezmshahs as vassals, could not be reasonably agreed to. In the mind of the Kwarezmshahs, there was not so much to fear, they had previously bested the Qhara-Qhitan, Quman-Qipchaq and other steppe nomads and they themselves were of steppe nomadic origin. We cannot expect without some show of force, for the Kwarezmshahs to simply agree to Mongol vassalage....

And there is no possibility for Khwarezm to put up a fight against G.K. ?

 

[alexmilman]

And there is no possibility for Khwarezm to put up a fight against G.K. ?

Khwaresm did put fight: it took years to conquer it. Muhammad was criticized for not opposing Mongols in a field battle but his armies were not good enough for such a task, being a set of the tribal militias with a minimal discipline and questionable loyalty, while there was a reasonable expectation that the cities of the CA with their powerful fortifications and big garrisons can stand up to the invading nomads who, after being exhausted by the futile attempts to take them, would be forced to retreat to wherever they came from. Discovery that the Mongols are not just the ordinary nomads came too late.

 

[TachfineAlMansour]

Khwaresm did put fight: it took years to conquer it. Muhammad was criticized for not opposing Mongols in a field battle but his armies were not good enough for such a task, being a set of the tribal militias with a minimal discipline and questionable loyalty, while there was a reasonable expectation that the cities of the CA with their powerful fortifications and big garrisons can stand up to the invading nomads who, after being exhausted by the futile attempts to take them, would be forced to retreat to wherever they came from. Discovery that the Mongols are not just the ordinary nomads came too late.

What about his son? Didn't he beat the mongols at Pervan ?

 

[alexmilman]

What about his son? Didn't he beat the mongols at Pervan ?

Well, he managed to win a battle but he was defeated by Genghis with a loss of pretty much all of his army.