Siege of Herat
1221 CE.
Shown on the map at 34.333°, 62.200°.
The siege of Herat (Persian:محاصره هرات) took place in 1221 CE (618–619 AH), during the Mongol invasion of Khorasan. It consisted of two military engagements fought at the city in 1221 and 1222. The campaign was led by Tolui, son of Genghis Khan, after the citizens of Herat revolted and killed the Mongol garrison stationed in the city. Following its capture, Herat was extensively destroyed, and a large portion of its population was massacred. The city of Herat was an important center of learning, commerce, and culture in Khorasan. The city was strategically located on key trade routes connecting Central Asia and Persia, and it flourished as a regional hub with bustling markets and skilled artisans producing textiles and other goods. Herat became part of the Khwarazmian Empire prior to the Mongol invasion. In 1221, a Mongol army commanded by Tolui, son of Genghis Khan, laid siege to the city. After the city fell, the Mongols massacred the entire population and destroyed much of its infrastructure. According to chroniclers, the city was devastated to the point that very little of its former structures survived.
Text from the Wikipedia article Siege of Herat (1221), licensed CC BY-SA 4.0.