In 1258, one of the most tragic and bloody events in the history of the Middle East took place: the siege and destruction of the Abbasid imperial city of Baghdad by the Mongols. This episode marked a profound fracture in the history of the Islamic world, ending the dynasty of enlightened rulers who had dominated Islam for four centuries, and whose cultural and political consequences would be felt for centuries to come.
The Mongol army, led by Hulagu Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, embarked on a campaign of aggressive expansionism from Central Asia westwards and into the Middle East. Hulagu had been specifically tasked by Great Khan Mongke to subdue the Islamic Arab peoples, perceived as an obstacle and a threat to Mongol rule. Until then, for almost three centuries, Baghdad had been the seat of the Abbasid Caliphate and the largest and richest city in the world, with its mosques, libraries and markets.
The ruler Al-Musta'sim underestimated the danger posed by the Mongol horde and sources are conflicting as to the reasons why. Whether due to untrustworthy advisors or personal indecision, the ruler refused to send reinforcements to the garrisons in the north or to seek alliances with other Islamic powers. Consequently, Hulagu approached Baghdad without encountering much resistance, leading an army of almost 100,000 men. The siege began in January 1258 and the Mongols, masters in the art of siege, used ingenious devices to storm the fortified walls: mobile towers and catapults were promptly deployed. After only two weeks, Baghdad surrendered to the overpowering enemy forces.
For almost a week, the city suffered brutal looting and a systematic massacre of every inhabitant; figures vary, but the most reliable estimates speak of hundreds of thousands dead. Palaces and mosques were set on fire, as were libraries. From this point on, the centre of Islamic power shifted towards Egypt and Baghdad turned from a beacon of knowledge and civilisation into a desert of ruins and decay.