Nadir

From wiki:

Then Mongols could cross the frozen Danube and Béla had to flee from the Mongol troops, the khan sent to capture him into Croatia. Tatars under the leadership of Kadan believed that the king was hiding in the Klis Fortress. They attacked it in March 1242, and experienced a major failure. But when they learnt that the king was not there, they abandoned their attack on the fortress, and ascending their mounts rode of in the direction of Trogir. All the same, a number of them turned toward Split.
The Mongols attacked the Dalmatian cities but eventually withdrew without major success, as the mountainous terrain and distance were not suitable for Mongol warfare. After failure against Croatian soldiers, Mongols retreated and Béla IV awarded Croatian towns and nobility. Much of Hungary and Croatia was plundered by the Mongols nonetheless, but without any major military success.

Kind a sad that I dont know my peoples history but atleast I dont give it up.

Does anyone knows more intersting details about it?
Any help about it is welcomed. Im personally interesting in battles and wars. Who lead them? Numbers, weapon used, manouvers, tactics, spies, ...well anything.

Thanks in advance.

WeisSaul

Those were the White Croats, not the Croats we know today. I'm pretty sure they were the ancestors of today's Serbs, Bosnians, Montenegrins, and Croats, if not all the south slavs.

Nadir

Im aware of white Croats. But Croats we know today came on shores of Adriatic sea in 7 century and we are here talking about same area in 13 century.

cachibatches

In all the books that I have read about the Mongols, I have never come across this. Europe owes the Croats a great debt.

azato2000

In fact after defeating Hungarian King, Mongols army disparted to small groups and lost their impact power.
The unit that failed to take Klis was under Kadan Khan command i.e. at least 6 time less then forces that had beaten Hungars (6 Mongol Khans defeated them).
And still mongols reached the Adriatic sea and after that they moved back to Hungaria for regroupping and prepations to move west (as it was planned by Batu Khan earlier).
But when Batu Khan found that Ugedey died he moved back due to internal politic affairs

I am not downplaying the role of Klis defenders but want to highlight that the retreat of mongolians was planned.

Bobby

Europe owes Jan Sobieski a greater debt!

azato2000

Wasn't that Osman Empire Sobeski fought with?

Bobby

I believe Sobieski and his fellow Poles turned the tide against the Mongols at Vienna. From then on the retreat was on.

DreamWeaver

That would be the Ottoman Turks in 1683, not the Mongols.

Bobby

I stand corrected, the Ottoman turks, I messed up the invaders. Thanks for the correction.