Siege of Nishapur
1220 CE.
Shown on the map at 36.213°, 58.796°.
The siege of Nishapur (Persian:محاصره نیشاپور) took place in April 1221 (Muharram 618 AH), during the Mongol invasion of Khorasan. The siege was led by Tolui Khan, son of Genghis Khan, following the death of Genghis Khan's son-in-law Taghaqchar during an earlier engagement at Nishapur. The fall of the city resulted in a large-scale massacre and the near-total destruction of Nishapur. The city of Nishapur was a major center of learning, trade, and culture in Khorasan. Located on the Silk Road, it thrived as a regional capital known for its bustling markets, pottery, and production of textiles and turquoise. Then it became part of the Khwarazmian Empire. In the spring of 1221 a Mongol force, estimated to number between 10,000 and 15,000 men and led by Tolui, son of Genghis Khan, besieged the city and after breaching its defences, the entire population was put to the sword and the city laid waste as an act of vengeance.
Text from the Wikipedia article Siege of Nishapur (1221), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.