Initially, the 1240s looked like being another golden decade for the Golden Horde.
The empire was still growing, and the khan’s opponents were still being crushed — sometimes literally.
The Mongols were led by Batu Khan
ALAMY
One battle at Mohi in Hungary was so successful that they were able to fill “nine sacks with the right ears of the slain”. Then it all went wrong. Having reached Europe, the Mongol horde retreated. The empire had reached its high water mark, and western civilisation was saved. But why?
Researchers claim that they may at last know the answer: medieval Europe was too muddy.
The withdrawal of the Mongol armies, 300,000-strong, from Europe in 1242 has been considered a pivotal moment in our history. Winston Churchill wrote of it: “Asia was marching against the