This is the story of 1221 AD, when a large part of the world was ruled by the 'fear of the Mongols'. This tale is not just about a battle, but about a revenge that stained the pages of history with blood.
Nishapur, in Persia (modern-day Iran), was at that time one of the most beautiful and prosperous cities in the world. It was called the 'City of Turquoise'. Its markets were fragrant with silk and spices, and its libraries were filled with knowledge. But the people of Nishapur had no idea that death was knocking at their gates.
The Mongol army had surrounded the city. The siege was led by Toquchar, Genghis Khan's favorite son-in-law. The Mongols believed that no power in the world could stand against them. Perhaps it was this arrogance that led Toquchar to venture too close to the city walls.
Suddenly, an unknown archer on the city wall drew his bow. An arrow, whistling through the air, struck Toquchar directly. Genghis Khan's son-in-law fell from his horse and died on the spot.
The people of Nishapur celebrated, believing they had won the battle by killing the enemy commander. But they were wrong. They hadn't won the battle; they had invited their own destruction.
When the news reached the Mongol camp, mourning ensued. But Genghis Khan's daughter (Toquchar's wife) did not express her grief in tears, but in volcanic rage. She went to her father. She didn't ask for justice. She said:
"I want that city razed to the ground, brick by brick. I want it leveled so completely that I can ride my horse across it without stumbling."
Genghis Khan, known for his loyalty to his family, granted his daughter's wish. He summoned his youngest and most cruel son, Tolui Khan, and issued an order that shamed humanity: "Annihilate everything that breathes in Nishapur."
Tolui Khan, with his vast army, descended upon Nishapur like a storm. The Mongols possessed siege engines. Within days, the city's strong walls crumbled.
As the Mongols entered the city, the word "massacre" proved inadequate to describe the carnage. The soldiers had strict orders—show no mercy to anyone.
Swords were drawn and did not stop. Old men, children, women, and young men were all slaughtered.
Genghis Khan's daughter's rage was so terrifying that she ordered that even the city's animals be spared. Dogs, cats, and livestock roaming the streets also fell victim to the Mongol swords. They feared that the soul of the archer who had killed her husband might escape in the form of an animal.
When the massacre ended, silence descended upon the city. But the Mongols' work was not yet complete. To celebrate their victory and send a message of terror to the world, they decapitated the corpses.
Amidst the ruins of Nishapur, pyramids of skulls were erected:
One pile of men's heads.
One pile of women's heads.
And most tragically, one pile of children's heads.
It is said that nearly 1.7 million people were killed in that single act of revenge. The rivers of blood flowed so fast that the drains became clogged. Finally, Genghis Khan's daughter rode her horse over the rubble of the city, just as she had sworn. Nishapur was no longer a city, but a mound of dust and bones.
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