A Warrior Who Captured More Territory than Alexander
Subutai was the person who defeated Russia twice in the war, and that too in winter
Subutai was one of the four greatest military commanders of Genghis Khan. But in front of his victories, the remaining 3 commanders used to fall short.
Subutai was a war machine. If he got the target, then he had become an achiever. If Subutai was standing in the battle, Genghis Khan could rest comfortably.
Subutai has been the only military general ever in history who won Russia in the cold, that too twice. The achievement that Hitler could not do, Napoleon could not do, was done by Subutai.
Subutai joined Genghis Khan’s army at the age of fourteen. Until then, Genghis Khan was not a big name.
Early Life
In 1175, Subutai was born in the blacksmith clan nearby Onon River in Mongolia. There used to be a wall of snow between the Mongols and those blacksmiths during the winter season. But as soon as the snow melts, both clans used to start trading with each other.
When Subutai had joined Genghis’s army, it was as if God had written his fate in his childhood to be with him. Subutai’s father met a Mongol trader named Yesugai. His father was Levantine in a lot of Yesugai’s debt. But Yesugai forgave that debt because he felt that Subutai’s father was no longer in a position to repay. Yesugai considered him his best friend. Subutai’s father said that my second son would be yours and help you in your business.
Later, some years, When Subutai was in his teenage. Subutai’s father arrived in the Mongol clan looking for Yasugai. So he came to know that Yasugai died many years ago. But his son is a rebel named Temujin. Subutai’s father started searching Temujin. When he found Temujin, he told him the promise which was made to Temujin’s father. And he said that here is my younger son, Subutai.
Subutai’s first step to becoming a Fighter
Henceforth he would be at your service. Temujin was the new boss of Subutai. Who afterward became famous by the name of Genghis Khan.
In the year 1190, Genghis Khan was engaged in gathering all the Mongolian tribes. Genghis asked Subutai what he can do better. So Subutai said that he wants to be a great warrior just like you. Genghis Khan started to get him training for horse riding, archery, and wrestling. Subutai brought out an amazing student of these three types of training.
By 1197, Subutai had become a master of all these three types of training. When Genghis Khan ordered him to fight with many other fighters, he demonstrated his fighting skill with many other warriors. The entire Mongol tribe was impressed by seeing Subutai’s fight.
Genghis Khan gave Subutai the first assignment to take some tribespeople with him and kill some of his old enemies. Those enemies were Merkits, who had taken away Genghis’s wife. Subutai went with his team to the area of Markets and took everyone’s neck off.
Subutai was now in Genghis Khan’s core team, which had all Genghis’s best fighters. And by now, Genghis Khan dreamt with open eyes to win the world.
Invades Asian Territories
For the first time, the Mongols decided to attack outside their homeland. And their first target became Jin, the Kingdom of China.
Genghis chose Subutai as his number two commander of this attack. Which means one troop would fight under Genghis Khan, the other one under Subutai.
This victory proved so easy for them so that Genghis decided that he would now attack Xi Xia.
When Genghis told his next move to every fighter, everyone got the shock of hearing an attack on the Xi Xia Empire. They couldn’t believe it. But when Genghis Khan discussed with Subutai about the attack. And ordered him to tell all the fighters how we would plan for this attack. Everyone starts to think that now Genghis is damn serious about this.
Subutai planned to fight the same, as the previous war fought with two divisions. But there will some changes in the strategy. One troop will run away from war.
The other unit's task would be making enemies in a situation, so they get stuck in a narrow way on the backside. Another troop which runs away would go round and have to stand just behind the enemies and attack them from behind suddenly.
Because of this planning, the enemy would not be able to run from their back. Then there would be panic in the chaos, and their position would also become vulnerable.
Their planning got successful. In 1211, Genghis Khan’s army defeated the Mighty Xi Xia Empire. Subutai was now not only a warrior but also an army general.
The remaining three commanders of Genghis Khan lived with him in the forward formation. While Subutai leads the army attacking from behind. Subutai’s troop was to run away as soon as possible and flee his horses at a pace to attack enemies from behind.
The attack used to be that forced from behind enemies started shuddering. Subutai’s troop used to do the same and execute a mass-murdering.
They burnt down Beijing. They ended the Khwarezm Empire by attacking. Uzbekistan and its adjoining area were under their rule.
Genghis Khan died in 1227. Sabutai remained the commander under Ogede Khan, son of Genghis Khan.
Conquest of Russia
Subutai headed towards Russia. Russia used to be a strong power at that time. Subutai proceeded further to capture Russia.
Subutai captured the Crimea like a cup of tea. Crimea’s Emperor asked other Russian leaders to unite against the Mongols; after this, the Russians gathered their forces to fight with him.
That time Subutai wanted to back down.
But how to get back?
If he backed down, all his reputation would go in vain.
The Russian army captured a legion of Mongols. Everybody’s neck was chopped off.
Subutai and his army were retreating. Approaching towards the Kalka river of Ukraine. The Russians saw that Mongols could not cross this river. This is the right time to end the havoc of the Mongols.
Running away from the Russian army. Subutai suddenly stopped when he saw that the Russian army was running towards him.
Subutai started smiling after waiting for a while. Then started laughing out loud. The Russians thought that he had gone mad because death stood in front of him in the form of a huge army.
But then the Russians heard the sound of horses running from behind them. That was the second troop of Mongols. The Russians were now in the trap. There were Mongol fighters on both sides. All the princes of Russia were killed in that battle.
Subutai’s 20,000 men army routed the 80,000 men Russian army without a prolonged missile bombardment.
Now Subutai’s name was established as the greatest military general in history. The area he had won was more than that won by Alexander. He defeated Russia again at the age of 60, and he was lethal all over the world until he died.
Glory and Death
Subutai died at the age of 72 near the Tuul river. He won 65 battles and conquered more territory than any other emperor in history.
He won the wars utilizing imaginative and sophisticated strategies. His coordination of the movements of armies that operated hundreds of kilometers apart from each other was amazing.
Sabutai is well recognized for the territorial diversity and the triumph of his excursions, which led him from central Asia to the Russian steppe and Europe. His record of undisputed always remained with him.
In the Secret History of Mongols, Subutai is the only person who was not from Genghis’ family, but still, a glory was written in such details.
