Editing 1221 (section)

==== Mongol Empire ====
* Spring &ndash; [[Genghis Khan]] orders an armed reconnaissance expedition into the [[Caucasus]] (consisting of [[Kingdom of Georgia|Georgia]] and [[Armenia]]) under the command of [[Subutai]] and [[Jebe]] ("the Arrow"). The Mongols defeat two Georgian armies around [[Tbilisi]], but lack the will or equipment to besiege the capital city. During the fighting, King [[George IV of Georgia]] himself is severely wounded and his elite knights are massacred. Meanwhile in [[Siege of Bamyan|Bamyan]], the ruler [[Genghis Khan]] leads a Mongol force that besieges and captures the fortified city after fierce resistance; during the fighting, his grandson [[Mutukan]] is killed, prompting a brutal massacre of the city’s defenders. The Mongols then return to [[Azerbaijan]] and [[Iran|Persia]], and burn and pillage a few more cities.<ref name=RuncimanIII207/>
* February &ndash; The cities of [[Merv]] (perhaps the world's largest up to this date), [[Herat]] and [[Nishapur]] which have peacefully surrendered rise up in arms. Genghis Khan sends his son [[Tolui]] to spend an extra month to subdue the revolts. Contemporary scholars report over a million people are systematically killed in a [[genocide]].<ref name=RuncimanIII205/>
* September &ndash; [[Battle of Parwan]]: Sultan [[Jalal al-Din Mangburni]] recruits an army of Turkic and Afghan warriors numbering some 60,000 men. As soon as news of this reaches Genghis Khan he sends a Mongol army of 30,000 men, led by his stepbrother [[Shikhikhutug]]. Meanwhile, Jalal al-Din moves to [[Parwan Province|Parwan]] (modern [[Afghanistan]]), where the two armies meet in a narrow valley. Jalal al-Din takes the initiative, ordering his right-wing of Turks to dismount and engage in a skirmish. On the third day, the Mongols are finally defeated by the Khwarezmian forces and are forced to retreat. Shikhikhutug is driven off in defeat, losing over half his army.<ref>Tanner, Stephen (2009). ''Afghanistan - A Military History from Alexander the Great to the War against the Taliban'', p. 94. Da Capo Press.</ref>
* October &ndash; The Mongol army raids Georgia for the second time, and Subutai and Jebe allow their forces to pass through the [[Caucasus Mountains]].<ref name=RuncimanIII207>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', p. 207. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>
* [[November 24]]  &ndash; [[Battle of the Indus]]: Left with some 20,000 men, Jalal al-Din Mangburni has headed for the [[Indus River]] where Genghis catches up with him. In a desperate battle the Khwarezmain forces are destroyed, completing the [[Mongol conquest of the Khwarazmian Empire]], while Jalal al-Din flees across the river and escapes into [[India]].<ref name=RuncimanIII205>Steven Runciman (1952). ''A History of The Crusades. Vol III: The Kingdom of Acre'', pp. 205–206. {{ISBN|978-0-241-29877-0}}.</ref>