16 moments

1. Birth in Khamag Mongol

   1205-01-01 · Khamag Mongol, Mongolian Plateau

   

   Batu Khan was born into the Mongol ruling family in the region described as Khamag Mongol. Both the year and the broad regional birthplace are approximate; coordinates are a representative point on the Mongolian Plateau.

2. Campaign against the Jin dynasty

   1229-01-01 · North China

   

   Batu joined Ögedei's military campaign against the Jin dynasty in North China while other Jochid forces operated farther west. The source identifies only the broad theater; coordinates are a representative point for North China.

3. Invasion of Volga Bulgaria

   1236-01-01 · Volga Bulgaria, near Bilär, present-day Tatarstan, Russia

   

   Batu and Subutai commanded the Mongol invasion force that crossed the Volga and entered Volga Bulgaria. The precise river-crossing and campaign position are not specified; coordinates represent the Volga Bulgar core near Bilär.

4. Siege of Ryazan

   1237-12-01 · Staraya Ryazan (Old Ryazan), Ryazan Oblast, Russia

   

   Batu led the Mongol force during the siege and capture of the Rus' capital at Old Ryazan. The cited siege location is the medieval site of Staraya Ryazan, not modern Ryazan city.

5. Crimean campaign

   1238-01-01 · Crimea, Ukraine

   

   During the summer campaign season, Batu devastated Crimea while extending Mongol control over adjoining steppe regions. Only Crimea as a broad campaign region is specified; coordinates are a representative central point.

6. Approach and siege of Kozelsk

   1238-03-01 · Kozelsk, Kaluga Oblast, Russia

   

   Batu's main force moved through the upper Oka region and reached Kozelsk, beginning a siege that continued into May. The source places Batu's force at Kozelsk at the end of March; the siege lasted from March to May 1238.

7. Sack of Chernigov

   1239-01-01 · Chernihiv, Ukraine

   

   Batu conducted the winter campaign that sacked Chernigov, a major Rus' principality center. The source calls this the winter of 1239; the exact month is not supplied.

8. Sack of Pereyaslav

   1239-01-01 · Pereiaslav, Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine

   

   Batu's winter campaign also reached and sacked Pereyaslav. The source calls this the winter of 1239; the exact month is not supplied.

9. Siege of Kiev

   1240-11-01 · Kyiv, Ukraine

   

   Batu was present outside Kiev as the Mongol army assembled for the final siege and capture of the city. The army reached Kiev in November 1240; the siege concluded on 6 December 1240.

10. Capture of Pest

    1241-01-01 · Pest, Budapest, Hungary

    

    During the invasion of Hungary, Batu captured Pest before advancing farther west across the kingdom. The source gives the year but not a more precise date for Batu's capture of Pest.

11. Battle of Mohi

    1241-04-11 · Muhi, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Hungary

    

    Batu personally assaulted a strong point during the Mongol victory over King Béla IV's army at the Battle of Mohi. The Battle of Mohi took place on 11 April 1241; coordinates represent Muhi near the Sajó battlefield.

12. Assault on Esztergom

    1242-01-01 · Esztergom, Hungary

    

    Batu directed the Mongol assault on Esztergom; the city was devastated, but the citadel resisted and the siege was abandoned. The January 1242 assault followed the Mongol capture of the lower city in late 1241.

13. Camps on the Volga

    1242-01-01 · Lower Volga River, Russia

    

    After withdrawing from Hungary, Batu established camps along the Volga, forming the political center of his western ulus. The source does not identify a specific camp site; coordinates represent the lower Volga zone.

14. Daniel of Galicia submits at Sarai

    1245-12-01 · Sarai Batu, Lower Volga, present-day Astrakhan Oblast, Russia

    

    Daniel of Galicia visited Batu at Sarai and submitted for confirmation of his office, demonstrating Batu's lower-Volga court authority over Rus' princes. The precise archaeological location of Batu's Sarai is debated; coordinates use the conventional Selitrennoye site.

15. Michael of Chernigov at Batu's court

    1246-09-20 · Sarai Batu, Lower Volga, present-day Astrakhan Oblast, Russia

    

    Michael of Chernigov visited Batu at Sarai, refused full submission, and was executed there. The precise archaeological location of Batu's Sarai is debated; coordinates use the conventional Selitrennoye site.

16. Death at Sarai Batu

    1255-01-01 · Sarai Batu, Lower Volga, present-day Astrakhan Oblast, Russia

    

    Batu died at Sarai Batu after leaving affairs of state to his son Sartaq. The year is supported, but the precise date is not; the exact archaeological site of Sarai Batu remains disputed.