Genghis Khan, the legendary Mongolian hero, conquered much of the Eurasian continent in the 13th century, creating an unprecedented vast empire. However, it is curious that the Mongolian cavalry never set foot in India.
During his reign, Genghis Khan launched numerous wars and conquered vast territories, establishing a renowned empire that spanned across Europe and Asia. Despite the empire’s extensive reach, it is perplexing that the Mongolian cavalry fought across most of Eurasia but did not invade India. Why was that?
According to the records of historian Jia Lueshi in “The Secret History of the Mongols,” Genghis Khan abandoned his plan to invade India after encountering a mysterious creature named “Luo Duan” as his army approached the Indus River.
Faced with the steamy river and oppressive heat, the Mongolian soldiers, who were used to living in dry steppes, became exhausted and disoriented. At that moment, a gigantic monster appeared by the riverbank. Genghis Khan ordered his men to prepare bows and arrows to kill this creature. Suddenly, they heard the monster’s voice, eerily resembling that of a human, uttering four words: “Your Lord, Retreat.”
Jia Lueshi immediately stopped the archers and took the opportunity to inform Genghis Khan that this creature was named Luo Duan and was sent by heaven to warn him to heed the divine mandate and retreat. Genghis Khan then consulted with his generals and decided to withdraw without launching an invasion into India.
The hot and humid climate and rugged terrain of India also presented significant challenges for the Mongolian army. The Mongolian cavalry, accustomed to fighting on vast steppes where they could maneuver flexibly and harness their speed, faced difficulties in the mountainous and forested terrain of India.
Some believe that the primary reason was that the Mongolians, living in the cold, high-altitude Mongolian plateau, were greatly afraid of the hot and humid environment and could not withstand high temperatures. This was clearly demonstrated in campaigns to conquer South Asia and Southeast Asia. Therefore, some speculate that the real reason Genghis Khan did not invade India was that the Mongolian cavalry could not adapt to the climate and geographical conditions of India.
Records indicate that it was mid-summer, and the sweltering heat made it difficult for the Mongolian troops to march even a few miles without feeling breathless and exhausted, sweating profusely, with many soldiers succumbing to heatstroke. Meanwhile, Indian soldiers were accustomed to this climate. Due to these environmental limitations, the Mongolian soldiers completely lost their advantages. They lacked the motivation and combat effectiveness to sweep through the highlands of India.
In their culture and religion, elephants are highly revered; Hinduism worships a deity with a human body and an elephant head, Ganesha, symbolizing wisdom, happiness, and success. The selected troops were trained from the fierce forest elephants of India.
Besides the spiritual and environmental factors, many historians believe that the primary reason Genghis Khan halted his advance was due to the war elephants of India. India had a vast number of elephants, not only used for heavy labor but also trained as “soldiers” to assist in warfare. For the Indians, these animals symbolized strength, intelligence, and kindness. Once trained, elephants could easily become great allies of humans. On the battlefield, elephants often gained the upper hand due to their height, size, and strength.
These towering war elephants could reach several meters in height, allowing soldiers from their backs to shoot arrows and throw spears at enemies from an elevated position. Among many animals, elephants are extremely powerful and can be tamed; if deployed strategically on the battlefield, they would be nearly invincible. For the Mongolian cavalry, accustomed to fighting on horseback, war elephants represented a formidable enemy.
War elephants were a potent weapon of the Indian army at that time. The strength and ferocity of war elephants posed a significant threat to the Mongolian cavalry, which was used to fighting on open battlefields.
It is evident that Genghis Khan’s decision not to invade India was due to a combination of factors, including spiritual influences, the military prowess of India, and unfavorable geographical and climatic conditions. Despite not conquering India, Genghis Khan left behind a significant legacy as one of the greatest conquerors in human history.
