Afghanistan
The Mongol invasion.
Genghis Khan invaded the eastern part of 'Ala`
ad-Din's empire in 1219. Avoiding a battle, 'Ala`
ad-Din retreated to a small island in the Caspian Sea,
where he died in 1220. Soon after 'Ala` ad-Din's
death, his energetic son
Jalal ad-Din
Mingburnu rallied the Afghan highlanders at Parwan (modern Jabal
os Saraj), near Kabul, and inflicted a crushing defeat
on the Mongols under Kutikonian. Genghis Khan, who was then
at Herat, hastened to avenge the defeat and laid siege
to Bamian. There Mutugen, the Khan's
grandson, was killed, an event so infuriating to Genghis Khan
that when he captured the citadel he ordered that no living
being be spared. Bamian was utterly destroyed.
Advancing on Ghazna, Genghis won a great victory over Jalal
ad-Din, who then fell back toward the Indus (1221), where
he made a final but unsuccessful stand.
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