Subutai: Genghis Khan's military strategist and general

Subutai was of humble origins -- the \"son of a metal worker\" -- who rose up in the army of Genghis Khan till he was the main military strategist for Genghis Khan.[footnoteRef:1] This was a remarkable feat for a commoner like Subutai -- but his method and intelligence earned him the respect of his superiors and after ten years of fighting, he was leading campaigns. By his leadership along with Genghis and his son Ogedei, the Mongols were able to achieve victory in several contests using a type of siege warfare strategy in which machines such as stone throwers served a purpose of bombardment.[footnoteRef:2] Subutai also saw the expediency of using those he defeated for military purposes. For example, if certain enemies the Mongols defeated were particularly good engineers, Subutai would use their skills to advance the aims of the Mongols. At the same time, he also used great care and consideration when planning an attack and is known for watching the people of Hungary for many months before finally making his attack. He studied the enemy and developed a campaign suited just for them. Every battle was customized, therefore, to meet the particular demands of that particular people and place. In this regard Subutai was a considerate general -- a thoughtful craftsman and military strategist. He was not above, however, the occasional barbaric gesture -- such as when he sent the king of Bohemia a gift of 9 sacks of ears removed from the Poles whom Subutai had helped defeat.[footnoteRef:3] In short, Subutai was an ingenious Mongol general whose talent for war was an essential element of the Mongol invasions in the 12th-13th centuries. [1: Christian Potholm, Winning at War: Seven Keys to Military Victory throughout History (UK: Rowman & Littlefield, 2010), 27.] [2: J. J. Saunders, The History of the Mongol Conquests (PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1971), 59.] [3: Gerard Chaliand, A Global History of War: From Assyria to the Twenty-First Century (CA: University of California Press, 2010), 148.]

Subutai was described as one of the Four Dogs of Temujin in a poem celebrating his accomplishments: in the poem, he along with three others are said to \"feed on human flesh\" and \"have foreheads of brass, their jaws are like scissors\" and \"they slobber at the mouth with glee\" at the thought of bringing destruction to the enemy.[footnoteRef:4] Temujin was Genghis Khan before the latter name was adopted. Thus, Subutai was from boyhood essentially brought up to be a Mongol mongrel-warrior -- and he proved a valiant force to reckon with, as his name became legendary. He was devoted to Genghis and assured him that he would do his all to protect him in battle against his foes.[footnoteRef:5] [4: Richard Gabriel, Genghis Khan\'s Greatest General: Subotai the Valiant (OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 2004), 14.] [5: J. J. Saunders, The History of the Mongol Conquests (PA: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1971), 60.]

One of the first assignments that Subutai carried out for Genghis was the destruction of the Merkits, whom Subutai dutifully annihilated in the early 1200s. Subutai\'s ferocity in battle was demonstrated each time he met this foe. Along with Genghis, Subutai went into Khwarizm with thousands of Mongolians. Even though the Mongol army was outnumbered by the Khwarzim, thanks to Subutai\'s quick guidance and cunning strategies, the Mongols routed the Khwarzim again and again. The fleeing leader of the Khwarzim was chased down by Subutai and another of the Four Dogs -- Jebe -- along with thousands more Mongols. During that chase, Subutai entered into modern day Azerbaijan. He decided he would circle the Caspian and come upon the enemy\'s rear in surprise. Thus, he and his men went over the Caucasus in the cold of winter, meeting enemies along the way and routing them at every step. The encirclement took years to complete -- but in the end Subutai was victorious and he rejoined his leader Genghis Khan in 1223.[footnoteRef:6] [6: Richard Gabriel, Genghis Khan\'s Greatest General: Subotai the Valiant (OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 2004), 102.]

Subutai was thus trusted by Genghis to lead men for long periods of time. As one of the Four Dogs, he was a respected general who proved his mettle and devotion to the Mongolian army by never stopping or turning tail. His will power and resolution were strong. Into the face of danger, he leapt will every ounce of his being -- this is why his status became legendary.

In fact, the only thing that could force Subutai to actually withdraw from the field of battle -- and the Mongols from their mission to conquer all of Europe all the way to the Great Sea -- was the business of electing a new Khan. When Ogedai the Great Khan died in 1240, he along with the other Mongol princes had to select a new Khan -- and this required him to exit Hungary. Ogedai\'s Father Genghis had died thirteen years earlier and for those intervening thirteen years, Subutai had faithfully served Ogedai. Now Ogedai was dead and the princes and generals had to choose a successor. For years, these men discussed and debated the selection -- but finally it was made six years later in 1246. Subutai at that time was 70 years old -- yet he was still viewed by the new Khan as essential to warfare and was dispatched on service to fight the enemy once more. Such was the stature of Subutai that even as an old man his services were not in decline.[footnoteRef:7] [7: Timothy May, The Mongol Art of War: Chinggis Khan and the Mongol Military System (UK: Westholme, 2007), 95.]

When viewed in comparison with Genghis Khan, who called himself the \"Scourge of God,\" it is all the more astonishing that Subutai throughout his whole career could serve as the right hand so to speak of that Scourge.[footnoteRef:8] In Russia, Subutai had helped lead the Mongols from principality to principality, devastating the Russians\' hope of escaping the Scourge.[footnoteRef:9] Indeed, it was Subutai who led the 200,000 fierce Mongolian army over the Volga River in the middle of winter on a frozen night in 1237 to bring the Scourge to Russia. He took Kiev and pushed into Hungary and there would have remained -- now in his 60s -- but duty called him back: Ogedai had died -- the Mongols needed a new leader. [8: Christian Potholm, Winning at War: Seven Keys to Military Victory throughout History (UK: Rowman & Littlefield, 2010), 26.] [9: Richard Gabriel, Genghis Khan\'s Greatest General: Subotai the Valiant (OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 2004), 125.]

Every dutiful, Subutai submitted to this call. He had had a stellar career -- invading in all directions. Along with Ogedai he had invaded China, and helped defeat Jin and Xi Xia. He invaded in the West -- causing Europe and Christendom to shake in fear as they ran over Russia and stood on the border of Central Europe -- the entire West open before them and they themselves seemingly unstoppable -- an army the likes of which had not been seen since the time of Alexander the Great. Subutai was their strategist -- a real war dog. The attack on Europe began.

Subatai had his Mongols invade Hungary, bringing panic and chaos with them. Subutai utilized an encirclement trick that left a gap so that the frightened Hungarian soldiers could flee once they realized they were outmaneuvered. The gap of course had been part of the plan -- and the Hungarians escaped to their doom: the gap led directly to a swamp where Subutai instructed his men to snipe the fleeing Hungarians. The end result was that Hungary was sacked thoroughly.

But then word of Ogedai\'s death had come. Subutai retired from the field. The new Khan Guyuk sent Subutai to wage war with the Songs. Subutai was by then called the Valiant -- and now an old man he did his duty waging war against the Songs and then finally returned home, where he died peacefully.[footnoteRef:10] [10: Richard Gabriel, Genghis Khan\'s Greatest General: Subotai the Valiant (OK: University of Oklahoma Press, 2004), 325.]