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Fall of Samarkand

Type Event Region Central Asia Time 1220

In March 1220, after about a five-day siege, Khwarazm's capital Samarkand fell to defection of its commanders and a Mongol assault;…

Timeline

  1. 1220Samarkand outer city · UzbekistanAfter about five days of siege, some Khwarazmian commanders secretly contacted the Mongols and opened the gates; Mongol forces flooded the outer city, and the war-elephant corps broke in the chaos, collapsing the outer defenses.
  2. 1220Samarkand citadel (inner fortress) · UzbekistanAfter the outer city fell, part of the garrison held the citadel for several more days; the Mongols continued the siege until the defenders surrendered. Turkan Khatun and other royals were captured, while prince Jalal al-Din had already broken out southward.
  3. 1220Samarkand · UzbekistanGenghis Khan sorted the surrendered troops: artisans and skilled men were enrolled in the Mongol army, the rest of the garrison mostly executed. He then sent Jebe and Subutai with elite cavalry west to pursue Shah Muhammad and planned the conquest of Khwarazm's cities.

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