Siege of Otrar
1219 · Otrar (on the Syr Darya, in present-day southern Kazakhstan) · World · Medieval
After a siege of about five months Otrar's outer city fell; the inner city held out for about another month before it was stormed, and Inalchuq was captured and executed.
Belligerents
Mongol Empire
- Commanders
- Chagatai, Ögedei
- Strength
- Tens of thousands (part of Genghis Khan's Western Campaign army)
Khwarazmian Empire
- Commanders
- Inalchuq (Ghayir Khan)
- Strength
- Garrison of tens of thousands (sources vary)
Background
In 1218 Inalchuq, governor of Otrar, killed several hundred members of a caravan sent by Genghis Khan and seized their goods, and the Khwarazm-Shah Muhammad then killed the Mongol envoys sent to negotiate. In the autumn of 1219 Genghis Khan personally led a great army on his Western Campaign.
Course of the battle
- Dividing forces to encircleGenghis Khan left Chagatai and Ögedei to besiege Otrar and led his main force straight for Bukhara.
- Prolonged siegeKnowing his guilt was grave, the garrison commander dared not surrender and held out for about five months.
- Outer city fallsSome of the defenders who left the city to surrender were killed, and the Mongol army broke into the outer city.
- Citadel fallsInalchuq held the inner citadel with the remnants of his force for about another month until it too fell; he was taken to Genghis Khan and executed.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 1219 |
|---|---|
| Place | Otrar (on the Syr Darya in today's southern Kazakhstan) |
| Result | After a siege of about five months Otrar's outer city fell; the inner city held out for about another month before it was stormed, and Inalchuq was captured and executed. |
| Winner | Mongol Empire |
| Casualties | Most of the garrison was killed in battle or put to death, and the city was severely damaged; no precise figures. |
| Territorial change | The Mongols broke the Syr Darya defense line and immediately divided their forces to attack Bukhara, Samarkand and elsewhere, and the Khwarazmian Empire quickly collapsed. |
Impact
The Otrar incident and the siege that followed marked the start of the first great Mongol Western Campaign; the famous cities of Central Asia then fell one after another, reshaping the course of Eurasian history.
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