Until conquering Persia 20 years later, did Mongolian begin to consider of ending their temporary government there, so called two-government system (one was military rule in A’lan and Plateau Mugan, the other were financial management in Khorasan, Lssyk, and Alejiami) on which a regular regime could be established. In 1251, KeHan M?ngke decided to have his younger brother—Hülegü be viceroy in Iran at Kuliletai. In addition to be viceroy, Hülegü was responsible for suppressing two religious powers remained in Persia of which one was the Yimammeng dukedom of Ism?iiyah in MaZanDalan, the other was ABaSi caliph Dyansty in Badad. The another task, which was appointed to him later, was to conquer Syria.

In 1256, Hülegü got rid of Ism?iiyah, then in September 1275 began to march towards Badad where the orthodox Catholicism was. In the mid seven century Badad expanded to India in the east. Syria in the West, so far as to Egypt. At first it founded its capital in Basrah City and later moved to Baghdad, so named its country Badad. In 750, the ABaSi succeeded the bishop, because the clothes worn were black, Tang Dynasty called them “Black Dashi”. The ABaSi Caliph was the spirit leader of Sunni of Islam as well as the king of a piece of manor. At that time the king was Caliph Mustasim (he was the king between 1242-1258) commonplace, who attempted to fight against Mongolian as his predecessors did with the supreme powers appeared in Iran one by one such as Buzvei Dynasty, Salghuk Dynasty, Khw?rezm-sh?h Dynasty and Mongolian. Before, as long as the other countries were proved to be strong, the Caliphs would surrender, such as in the 10th century the Caliph accepted YiMiAeRoMa of Buzvei Dynasty as his co-governor; in the 11th century Sudan of Saighuk Dynasty. The Caliph temporality restricted his power to the religion waiting the short-lived kings to recede. When the chance came, he would stand out moderating the conflicts between landlords and striking them fiercely. He had the more longstanding power of partial superhuman strength than these landlords who had been governors for long did or short time did. It was eternal or believed to be eternal, so the bishop of Badad refused to surrender when Hülegü sent his envoy to prompt him to do so and wrote back to Hülegü, Hülegü was furious when he knew that his envoy was cursed by the people of the outside of Baghdad city on the way back, later he was more furious as he received the Caliph’s letter, said to Caliph’s envoy:“Since your head is not wining to surrender, go back and tell him to prepare for fighting.”

Mustasim gathered his ministers to study strategy when he knows that Hülegü forced him to fight. But half of ministers agreed to fight, half were in favor of peace, so the fighting plan was held up, meanwhile the soldiers’ pay and provisions were owed, they were depressed and lack of courage.

While preparing for fighting, the Caliph wrote to Hülegü to threaten him and asked him to withdraw in a given time. In his letter he said: “Countries that come to attack the Capital of ‘Black Clothes Dash, however strong they are, are to deserve an unfortunate outcome. Our dynasty has so solid foundation that it can survive the end of the century. You may know this or not, you are surely to be told about that by those who are familiar with our history.” Hülegü took no notice to the letter. He speeded military operations because of Badad’s preparing for fighting.

In November 1257 Mongolian troops began to march towards Badad. The troop under the command of Baizhu attacked Badad from behind in the west bank of Tigris through MaoXiLiLu. At first KeHan MongKe commanded an astrologer to follow the west troop. Hülegü asked him the result of attacking Badad. He said six disasters would come. But the scholars in Buddha and high-rank officials agreed to do so, then Hülegü gave them consent.

Hülegü commanded the troops to march together. He led the Central Force set off from Hamad?n and captured KarManSha. On one hand he gathered information, on the other hand he convened the right-wing troop officials and general Baizhu to put the attacking plan into effect. On 18 December the same year Hülegü avanced on Huolewan where he massed his troops. Meanwhile, the left wing troop under the command of QieDiBuHua had occupied the supreme head quarters of LuoEr; the right wing troop led by BaiZhu had crossed Tigris near Taklite and people lived there run into Baghdad City.

When Hülegü’s troops attacked Baghdad City form three directions, the bishop sent the official of keeping the seal –AiBoGe and general FeiDuDing leading a troop of 12,000 to be stationed on HuolewanDao to the east of Tiqris and the troop scouted that Baizhu’s troops had appeared at the west of Tigris and were stationed at DuHe. On 26 January 1258, the vanguard of BouZhu’s troops—SuHunCha troop entered Anb?r where it was attacked by FeiDuDing’s troops and then withdrew to the little Tigris and joined its great forces. FeiDuDing did not want to run after them while AiBoGe thought it was time to do so and prompted him to take action. FeiDuDing fought against the main force of Baizhu near Duozhele. They fought until the night came, without any result they had been locked in a stalemate for a whole night. Taking the advantage of darkness Baizhu’s troops burst the bank of the river, which made the plain behind the camps of FeiDuDing, flooded. The next day they launched an attack, which gained success with the death of FeiDuDing, and the soldiers except that AiBoGe alone ran back to Baghdad City.

Knowing that AiBoGe was back, Mustasim commanded to repair the city cavil and city tower at once, arrange obstructive, and raised citizens to serve for defending capital. At this time the troops under the command of three commandants of the right wing vantage of BaiZhu had captured the outskirts to the west of Baghdad City moat; the left wing force of QieDiBuHua had landed Dichercher, the Central Force of Hülegü gathered the west to Baghdad City on 18th of January. After sieging Baghdad City Hülegü’s troops built defending works on the banks of the river and dug trench outside of it as well as made brick base on which gun devices, bombing-stones and big oil bottles were laid to prepare for fighting. After one day all these had been done. At this time the target each force attacked was as follows: (1) Hülegü’s troops were stationed the outside of Azhimimeng; (2) Kukeyirke’s troops the outside of Keleula; (3) HuLi, BaCiSai, TuTar, ShiLieMeng, WulukeTu etc the outside of SukeSuanDuan; (4) BuHuaTieMur in the south; (5) Baizhu, SuHunCha in the West. On 30 January Hülegü commanded his troops to attack. At the every beginning of attacking the tower of Azhimimeng was partially destroyed by bombing-stone.

Caliph knew this and recognized fighting did not went well. Terrified and panic he sent Prime Minister’s, his fluorite ministers and the bishop to Hülegü’s base with gifts saying: ”Today I sent my prime minister to meet with you in the hope that all is to be as it has been before the war.” Hülegü said: ”what you said is what I demanded in Hamd?n. Now, besides your prime minister all your generals and officials in power should come to here.” The next day the minister of internal affairs and representatives of citizens arrived at Hülegü’s base, but were refused by him.

Hülegü commanded his troops to continue attacking.

On 1 February the towers of Azhimimeng were whosely destroyed, day and night the fighting went fiercely. Hülegü shot an arrow with a letter into the city proclaiming that all judges, layers, clergymen and all people were promised not to die. (Prime Minister AlejiaMi was a devout believer of Ali sect, Hülegü wanted to drive a wedge between them). Because of lacking of stone outskirts of the city, bombing-stone was substitued by coconut tree. On 5 February the Central Force landed the city near Azhimimeng; ShuChiZhuSun leading his troop captured SukeSuanDuanMeng, then Hülegü’s forces wholely captured the east wall of the city. In order to prevent the people in city from running away Hülegü had the forts build, gun launched, soldier-boats lined on Tigris to patrol the upper and lower reaches of the moat. ABoge in power who had attempted to run away by water found that all the people on board were killed by Hülegü’s troops and he had to go back to city. To this time Caliph felt the situation was dangerous, he could do nothing but surrenders. Meanwhile he attempted to hold up. He sent his officials and sons repeatedly to go out for sparing, but was refused by Hülegü.

On the 7th of January, 1258 (Mongke’s eighth year) Hülegü commanded:”SuLiManSha and official in power come to me.
Whether Mustasim comes or not is his decision.” The two men had to come to him, but he asked them to go back and take their subordinates to come together. They obeyed. On 8 January the attack of Hülegü’s forces was fiercer. On the 10th of January Caliph knew it was impossible to save the situation, so he led his three sons, deans, justices and nobles about 3,000 people to come out of city for surrending to Hülegü who met him with good manors. After greeting Hülegü asked him to let the soldiers and people in city come out so that he could count the number of all the people. On the 13th of January Hülegü’s great forces entered Baghdad City; on the 15th of January he gave a banquet to his officials in the palace of Baghdad commanding Baghdad had been captured, no killing was allowed and he left to his camp the very night.

Up to this time the three months of fighting against Baghad ended. It was this time that “Black DaShi” Dynasty perished. It handed down 37 generations and lasted 503 years.

Written by www.travel-silkroad.com
Translated by Beijing Star-light Translation Center
February 12th, 2001