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Dates

b. 1205

Capsule Bio

The son of Genghis' son Jochi, Batu was at the forefront of Mongol expansion. Having helped conquer the Jin of northern China, he was then ordered by Ögedai in 1235 to oversee the invasion of Europe. With the help of the legendary general Subutai, he set to conquering Crimea and Volga Bulgaria. Soon he turned his attention to Ruthenia, laying siege to its major cities and capturing nearly all of them as of 1238. The Ruthenians became vassals of the Mongol Empire.

At a victory banquet afterwards, his cousins Buri and Guyuk complained it was unfair that Batu should take such a large territory for himself, and started insulting him, calling him a bearded old woman. Incensed, Batu wrote to his uncle Ögedei Khan and demanded that the boys be recalled from the field. Ögedei, upon hearing the news, recalled both the boys to Mongolia and gave them a stern talking-to . . . although he sent Guyuk, his son, right back to the field.

By 1241, Batu had begun to invade further west into Poland, triumphing over European forces at the Battle of Legnica.

Mentions

• The Kinyen - Chapter 1, The Mongoliad
• The Khan of Khans - Chapter 2, The Mongoliad
• The Journey Begins - Chapter 5, The Mongoliad
• That Is How My Father Hunted - Chapter 6, The Mongoliad
• An Afternoon At First Field - Chapter 21b, The Mongoliad
• Under The Night Sky - Chapter 38, The Mongoliad
• The Gift of the Spirits - Chapter 45, The Mongoliad
• To Eternal Glory - Chapter 46b, The Mongoliad
• Plans, Gone Awry - Chapter 56, The Mongoliad
• A Tree Has Many Branches - Epilogue, The Mongoliad