Siege of Baghdad
1258 CE · Iraq
The Siege of Baghdad was fought in 1258 CE in Iraq between Mongol Empire vs the Abbasid Caliphate; decisive Mongol victory; Baghdad was sacked and the Abbasid Caliphate destroyed.
Siege of Baghdad: quick facts
- Date
- 1258 CE
- Location
- Iraq
- Belligerents
- Mongol Empire vs the Abbasid Caliphate
- Commanders
- Hulagu Khan vs Caliph Al-Musta'sim
- Result
- decisive Mongol victory; Baghdad was sacked and the Abbasid Caliphate destroyed.
- Era
- ⚔️ Ottoman & Islamic Empires
- Quiz difficulty
- medium
What happened at the Siege of Baghdad?
Hulagu Khan's Mongol army besieged and sacked Baghdad, ending the five-century-old Abbasid Caliphate. The last Abbasid caliph, al-Musta'sim, was executed, and the city's legendary libraries, mosques, and hospitals were destroyed. According to accounts, the Tigris ran black with ink from the books thrown into it. The fall of Baghdad is widely considered one of the most catastrophic events in Islamic history, ending the Islamic Golden Age.
Did you know?
Scholars estimate that the Mongol sack of Baghdad destroyed libraries containing millions of manuscripts, setting back Islamic science and learning by centuries. The Tigris reportedly ran black with ink.
Sources and further reading
- Siege of Baghdad on Wikipedia for the full account, historiography and primary sources.
- How BattleGuess compiles and checks battle facts: see the About page.
Entry last reviewed 26 September 2026.