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Mongol Siege of Klis Fortress

Domobran7

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Mongol Siege of Klis Fortress – History and War (wordpress.com)

Mongols under Kadan’s leadership suffered a major setback at Klis fortress, while hunting king Bela IV. Believing that Bela is in Klis, they surrounded the fortress, launching arrows at it.

However, natural defences of the fortress and its walls combined to make it impervious to such an attack. Thus, Mongols started crawling up the cliffs to the fortress, suffering casualties due to thrown rocks and missiles. Enraged, the attackers managed to reach the walls themselves, engaging the defenders in hand-to-hand combat. Mongols managed to rob the houses located in proximity of the fortress, but failed to take the fortress itself. Realizing the king is not there, Mongols abandoned the attack, riding off towards Trogir and Split.

The text below is the basis of the above account:

“Credentes autem Tatari, quod rex in Clisse presidio consideret, ceperunt undique op#pugnare castrum iacientes sagittas et iacula intorquentes. Sed quia locus erat natura munitus, modicam poterant inferre iacturam. Tunc descendentes de equis ceperunt reptantes manibus ad superiora conscendere. Castrenses vero ingentes lapides revolventes in ipsos aliquot ex eis neci dederunt. Ipsi vero ex casu ferociores effecti usque sub magnas rupes manu ad manum pugnando venerunt diripientes domos predasque non modicas asportantes. Sed cum cognovissent regem ibi non esse, dimise#runt oppugnare castrum et ascensis equis versus Tragurium equitarunt. At Spaletum autem non multi diverterunt ex eis.”

(CONTINUED ON BLOG)
 
To get the perspective of how big the mongol empire was, they fought Chinese, Koreans, Viets, Japanese, Persians, Arabs, Indians, Turks, Hungarians, Polish and Russians
 
Zdravo Hrvate! I didn't know about this siege!

Not surprising perhaps, as I do not think many know of it even in Croatia. Later Ottoman siege of Klis in 1537 is, I think, far better known. Part of this might be lack of sources: in fact, sources on anything regarding the Mongol invasion of Hungary and Croatia are unfortunately sparse.
 
Was it Klis sacked by crusaders on the way to Constantinople during the 4th Crusade?
 
Was it Klis sacked by crusaders on the way to Constantinople during the 4th Crusade?

No, that was Zadar. Zadar is a coastal city, Klis meanwhile is a fortress and a town on a cliff to north of Split.

Zadar - Bing Maps
Klis - Bing Maps

Zadar:
R.dfed1b2890afc12683a33125ada819ed (1920×1080) (bing.com)

Klis:
R.d68eb54911804ff035c450380e28d53d (1154×800) (bing.com)

Klis also used to be a royal residence of Croatian kings up until the union with Hungary, and even afterwards royal family often made use of the fortress.
 

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