Battle of Chmielnik
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Chmielnik occurred on 18 March 1241 during the Mongol invasion of Poland
. It ended in the total defeat of the Polish armies of Sandomierz
and Kraków
provinces. The Mongols were able to move unimpeded, and plunder the abandoned city of Kraków
.
, was heading towards Kraków
(Cracow), a large city (and capital of the fragmented Polish Kingdom) in central-southern Poland (two other Mongol commanders, Kadan
and Orda Khan
, were advancing more to the north).
(Chmielnik would gain city rights only in mid-16th century).
Polish forces were commanded by Włodzimierz, voivode (palatine) of Kraków
, and Pakosław, voivode of Sandomierz
, and represented most of Polish knights from those two provinces (the Kraków Province, also known as the Seniorate Province, and the Sandomierz Province) of fragmented Poland. Mongols were commanded by Baidar
. Duke of Kraków, Bolesław V the Chaste, withdrew prior to the battle and did not participate in it. Bolesław's escape damaged the morale of the army, and caused many others to withdraw as well, weakening the forces available to Włodzimierz and Pakosław.
While the Polish forces had the advantage in the first phase of the battle, the Mongols, seeing that they would not defeat the Poles in straight combat, feigned a retreat and when the Polish forces begun to pursue them, they were hit by the Mongol's reinforcements and defeated comprehensively. Polish casualties were very heavy (Norman Davies
wrote: "At Chmielnik, the assembled nobility of Malopolska perished to a man"), Włodzimierz and Pakosław were slain.
, one of the largest and most prosperous cities of Poland, was abandoned, as inhabitants fled, and the Mongols spent several days pillaging it and the neighboring hamlets (accounts vary on how soon after the battle Mongols entered the city, but it is certain they were burning it by March 24).
In the modern town of Chmielnik
there is a monument dedicated to this battle.
Mongol invasion of Poland
The Mongol Invasion of Poland from late 1240 to 1241 culminated in the battle of Legnica, where the Mongols defeated an alliance which included forces from fragmented Poland and members of various Christian military orders, led by Henry II the Pious, the Duke of Silesia. The first invasion's...
. It ended in the total defeat of the Polish armies of Sandomierz
Sandomierz
Sandomierz is a city in south-eastern Poland with 25,714 inhabitants . Situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship , previously in Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship . It is the capital of Sandomierz County . Sandomierz is known for its Old Town, a major tourist attraction...
and Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
provinces. The Mongols were able to move unimpeded, and plunder the abandoned city of Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
.
Background
The Mongols invaded Poland in early 1240, and were advancing westwards. The Poles had already suffered a defeat (battle of Tursk), and the Mongol forces split into two or three armies, the main of which, under BaidarBaidar
Baidar was the second son of Chagatai Khan.He participated in the European campaign with his nephew Büri from 1235-1241. He commanded the Mongol army assigned to Poland with Kadan and, probably, Orda Khan....
, was heading towards Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
(Cracow), a large city (and capital of the fragmented Polish Kingdom) in central-southern Poland (two other Mongol commanders, Kadan
Kadan
Kadaň , is a city in the Ústí nad Labem Region of the Czech Republic.The city lies on the banks of the river Ohře. Although it is situated in an industrial part of the Czech Republic there is no major industry within the city and people usually work in offices or have to commute. There are two...
and Orda Khan
Orda Khan
Orda Ichen was a Mongol Khan and military strategist who ruled eastern part of the Ulus of Jochi during the 13th century.-First Khan of the Blue Horde:...
, were advancing more to the north).
Battle
Details of the battle were recorded in the chronicles of Jan Długosz. Incidentally, the oldest mention of the town Chmielnik dates to the battle. In 1241, it was a villageVillage
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
(Chmielnik would gain city rights only in mid-16th century).
Polish forces were commanded by Włodzimierz, voivode (palatine) of Kraków
Kraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, and Pakosław, voivode of Sandomierz
Sandomierz
Sandomierz is a city in south-eastern Poland with 25,714 inhabitants . Situated in the Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship , previously in Tarnobrzeg Voivodeship . It is the capital of Sandomierz County . Sandomierz is known for its Old Town, a major tourist attraction...
, and represented most of Polish knights from those two provinces (the Kraków Province, also known as the Seniorate Province, and the Sandomierz Province) of fragmented Poland. Mongols were commanded by Baidar
Baidar
Baidar was the second son of Chagatai Khan.He participated in the European campaign with his nephew Büri from 1235-1241. He commanded the Mongol army assigned to Poland with Kadan and, probably, Orda Khan....
. Duke of Kraków, Bolesław V the Chaste, withdrew prior to the battle and did not participate in it. Bolesław's escape damaged the morale of the army, and caused many others to withdraw as well, weakening the forces available to Włodzimierz and Pakosław.
While the Polish forces had the advantage in the first phase of the battle, the Mongols, seeing that they would not defeat the Poles in straight combat, feigned a retreat and when the Polish forces begun to pursue them, they were hit by the Mongol's reinforcements and defeated comprehensively. Polish casualties were very heavy (Norman Davies
Norman Davies
Professor Ivor Norman Richard Davies FBA, FRHistS is a leading English historian of Welsh descent, noted for his publications on the history of Europe, Poland, and the United Kingdom.- Academic career :...
wrote: "At Chmielnik, the assembled nobility of Malopolska perished to a man"), Włodzimierz and Pakosław were slain.
Aftermath
With the defeat of the Polish army, panic spread through the nearby Polish lands. KrakówKraków
Kraków also Krakow, or Cracow , is the second largest and one of the oldest cities in Poland. Situated on the Vistula River in the Lesser Poland region, the city dates back to the 7th century. Kraków has traditionally been one of the leading centres of Polish academic, cultural, and artistic life...
, one of the largest and most prosperous cities of Poland, was abandoned, as inhabitants fled, and the Mongols spent several days pillaging it and the neighboring hamlets (accounts vary on how soon after the battle Mongols entered the city, but it is certain they were burning it by March 24).
In the modern town of Chmielnik
Chmielnik
Chmielnik is a town in Kielce County, Świętokrzyskie Voivodeship, Poland. It has a population of 4,005 . Town's name is derived from hop .- History :...
there is a monument dedicated to this battle.