Battle of Legnica

Battle of Legnica
Part of the first Mongol invasion of Poland

Depiction of the Battle of Legnica in 1241
Date9 April 1241
Location
Legnica, Poland
51°8′43″N 16°13′22″E / 51.14528°N 16.22278°E / 51.14528; 16.22278
Result Mongol victory
Belligerents
Mongol Empire
Commanders and leaders

Subutai (strategic coordinator)
Strength
3,000[1]–8,000 cavalry[2] 2,065–8,088[1][3][4][5][6]
Casualties and losses
Unknown Heavy[6]

The Battle of Legnica (Polish: bitwa pod Legnicą), also known as the Battle of Liegnitz (German: Schlacht von Liegnitz) or Battle of Wahlstatt (German: Schlacht bei Wahlstatt), was fought between the Mongol Empire and combined European forces at the village of Legnickie Pole (Wahlstatt), approximately 10 kilometres (6 mi) southeast of the city of Legnica in the Duchy of Silesia on 9 April 1241.[7]: 97–99 

A combined force of Poles and Moravians under the command of Duke Henry II the Pious of Silesia, supported by feudal nobility and a few knights from military orders sent by Pope Gregory IX, attempted to halt the Mongol invasion of Poland. The battle took place two days before the Mongol victory over the Hungarians at the much larger Battle of Mohi.

  1. ^ a b John France. Journal of Medieval Military History, Volume 8. Page 115. Article: "Numbers in Mongol Warfare", by Carl Sverdrup. Published 18 November 2010. ISBN 9781843835967
  2. ^ Tartar Relation, Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, ~1248. Page 80.
  3. ^ Jerzy Maroń. Koczownicy i rycerze. Najazd Mongołów na Polskę w 1241 roku na tle sztuki wojennej Europy XII i XIII wieku. Oficyna Wydawnicza Arboretum. Wrocław. 2001. ISBN 978-83-932793-2-6
  4. ^ Maroń's total includes 250 knights from Silesia, 36 Templar knights, 10 knights from Lesser and Greater Poland, 10 'guest' knights, and a handful heavy cavalry mercenaries
  5. ^ Wacław Korta. Najazd Mongołów na Polskę i jego legnicki epilog. Śląski Instytut Naukowy. Katowice. 1983. ISBN 83-00-00646-X
  6. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Burzyński, p. 24 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Chambers, James (1979). The Devil's horsemen : the Mongol invasion of Europe (1st ed.). New York: Atheneum. ISBN 0-689-10942-3. OCLC 4504684.