The Battle of Samara Bend

[elbandito]

"The Battle of Samara Bend or the Battle of Kernek was the first battle between Volga Bulgaria and the Mongols, probably one of the first major battles the Mongols lost. It took place in autumn 1223, at the southern border of Volga Bulgaria. The Bolghars allegedly retreated and the Mongols pursued them. Then the main Bolghar forces ambushed the Mongols. After Mongols were rounded up, the Bolghar massacred them and only 4,000 managed to escape, according to local oral traditions.

Several years later later the Mongols under Batu returned to Bulgaria and annihilated this state and made it part of the Mongol Empire."

That was according to Wikipedia. I am personally interested in this battle, if it actually happened, because this will mark the first major Mongol defeat in the European theater. The Mongol expedition was led by Subedei and Jebe, and I simply cannot believe they will fall into a trap like this. Such a massive defeat (4000 left alive from the alleged 50000!) would be surely mentioned in The Secret History of Mongols. After all, it did record the loss of nearly 30000 Mongols under Shikhikhutag Noyan who was ambushed by Jalal-ad-Din, and his subsequent reprimand by Chingis.

Can someone point me to a better source in regards to this battle? Thanks in advance.

[Azadan Januspar]

I think the latter is the Battle of Parwan, fought between Jal-al Din of Khwarazmshahian Turkmen Dynasty and the Mongols.

[H. İhsan Erkoç]

That was according to Wikipedia. I am personally interested in this battle, if it actually happened, because this will mark the first major Mongol defeat in the European theater. The Mongol expedition was led by Subedei and Jebe, and I simply cannot believe they will fall into a trap like this. Such a massive defeat (4000 left alive from the alleged 50000!) would be surely mentioned in The Secret History of Mongols. After all, it did record the loss of nearly 30000 Mongols under Shikhikhutag Noyan who was ambushed by Jalal-ad-Din, and his subsequent reprimand by Chingis.

The Mongol force was made up of only two tümens, not five Plus, you must take into account that this 20,000-men-strong force crossed from Northern Iran, Armenia, Georgia, Daghistan and the Qypchaq Steppe before crushing he Russo-Qypchaqs at Kalka. So they must have already suffered quiet a lot of losses, even though they were victorious at all their engagements. I didn't read anywhere that only 4,000 Mongols managed to escape from the Bulghar ambush, but the Mongols seem to have suffered at least some losses.

There were two reasons for Batu's European Campaign: 1) to take the Qypchaqs under full control (because they had resisted the Mongols before) and 2) to revenge the defeat suffered at the hands of the Volga Bulghars.

I think the latter is the Battle of Parwan, fought between Jal-al Din of Khwarazmshahian Turkmen Dynasty and the Mongols.

Yes indeed, it is Shigi Qutuqu's army of three tümens was defeated by Jelâle'd-dîn Mengüberti (Jalâla'd-dîn Mingburnî) at Parwan. However, it is obvious that not all 30,000 men were killed.

[Temüjin]

from what i knew it is not known if the battle was a defeat as such or not. fact is that Jebe & Sübe'edai were ambushed but eventually made it back to Kwarazm anyways. it is questionable if they were beaten or if they beat the Volga Bulgars and continued their march toward Kwarazm, the result is the same.