Mongol Invasion of the Khwarezmian Empire

Name: Mongol Invasion of the Khwarezmian Empire
Start: 1219
End: 1221

Type Event Region Asia Time 1219–1221

In 1219, Genghis Khan led a great army west to invade the Khwarezmian Empire after Otrar's governor Inalchuq killed a Mongol caravan and envoys.

Timeline

1218–1219Otrar · KazakhstanOtrar's governor Inalchuq killed a Mongol caravan and peaceful envoys; Genghis Khan used this as grounds to assemble a great army, resolved to conquer Khwarezm.
1219Syr Darya · Central AsiaGenghis Khan led an army of about 200,000 westward, crossing the Syr Darya in separate columns into Khwarezmian territory and launching an offensive against border fortresses such as Otrar.
1219Otrar · KazakhstanMongol princes and generals besieged Otrar and fortresses toward Bukhara; Khwarezmshah Ala al-Din Muhammad fled west, and the border defenses quickly collapsed.

The Cambridge History of Iran, Volume 5: The Saljuq and Mongol Periods — J. A. Boyle (ed.) (1968)
The History of the World-Conqueror — Ala-ad-Din Ata-Malik Juvaini