Mongol Siege of Esztergom

Timeline

1. 1241Northern Hungary · HungaryIn March 1241 Mongol forces invaded Hungary by several routes, defeating Béla IV's main army at Mohi (Sajó River) on April 11. They then devastated settlements on the plain, and in early 1242 crossed the Danube on ice to attack the kingdom's wealthiest western regions.
2. 1242Esztergom Cathedral · HungaryIn January 1242 Batu attacked with catapults; the outer walls and wooden towers fell easily. Roger records that residents burned their own houses and textiles, livestock were slaughtered, and gold and silver sent into the castle. The castle was commanded by the Aragonese knight Simon (Simon/Simeone, ispán), whose crossbowmen repelled repeated assaults; catapults failed to breach the stone walls and Batu raised the siege. The outer town was sacked and hostages killed. No verifiable account of an 'Archbishop Mate' defending the city exists.