Book Review: Mongol Warrior Versus European Knight: Eastern Europe 1237–42

A simplified, analytical, and enjoyable study of Mongol and European warfare

Mongol light and heavily-armed cavalrymen proved superior in their methods of attack as seen here in this painting of the Mongols at war. Public Domain

There can hardly be a better example of a clash of civilizations than when the Mongols and Europeans met on the battlefield. The Mongols, led by the Khans, established the largest contiguous land empire in human history, stretching across approximately 9 million square miles. Stephen Turnbull’s new book “Mongol Warrior Versus European Knight: Eastern Europe 1237–42” identifies how the Mongol warrior enabled the expansion of this vast empire.

Turnbull focuses on a short period between 1237 and 1242 when the Mongols invaded the lands of Poland and Hungary. In this historically analytic work, the author demonstrates why the Mongol Golden Horde of Batu Khan, grandson of Genghis, were able to outperform the knights in battle—covering everything from their weaponry to their military tactics.

Warrior Versus Knight

The author begins early on with breaking down the elements of a Mongol warrior and a European knight’s military gear―from weapons to uniform to how their horses were dressed and ornamented. The comparisons help the reader understand what were superior or inferior elements in both.