Atlas of Battles

siege, medieval

Siege of Gerdkuh

Siege of Gerdkuh was a siege conducted in April 1253 at Gerdkuh, in what is now Iran; it lasted about 17 years. It was part of Mongol invasions and conquests, which ran from 1206 to 1337. The recorded result: Nizzari surrender from want of clothing. Recorded strength: 5000 mongol army; 10000 mongol army; Medieval sources: 5000 knights; 5000 infantary against 110 the garrison.

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Mongolian siege of Gerdkuh. Hayton of Corycus, Fleur des histoires d'orient.
Mongolian siege of Gerdkuh. Hayton of Corycus, Fleur des histoires d'orient.. Unknown authorUnknown author. Catalonia., Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
FoughtApril 1253lasted about 17 years
WhereGerdkuh, Iran36.158N, 54.157E
OutcomeNizzari surrender from want of clothing
BelligerentsMongol Empire, succeeded by the Ilkhanate; Bavandids; PaduspanidsagainstNizari Ismaili state (until 1256); Garrison of Gerdkuh; Reinforcements from Alamut
Casualties and losses100 (first siege)andEntire force
Part ofMongol invasions and conquestsMongol campaign against the Nizaris

Where it sits in Mongol invasions and conquests

Irghiz River skirmish, 1209Mongol invasion of Khwarazmian Empire and Eastern Iran, 1219Mongol invasion of Persia and Mesopotamia, 1219Otrar Catastrophe, 1219Siege of Samarkand, 1220Mongol invasion of Khorasan, 1220Mongol invasions of Azerbaijan, 1220Siege of Khujand, 1220Mongol invasion of Alania, 1220Siege of of Ray, 1220Siege of Bukhara (1220), 1220Siege of Gurganj, 1220Siege of Nishapur, 1220Battle of Parwan, 1221Siege of Taliqan, 1221Siege of Herat, 1221Siege of Termez, 1221Siege of Ustunavand, 1221Sack of Balkh, 1221Siege of Merv, 1221Siege of Jand, 1221Siege of Bamyan, 1221Battle of Indus, 1221Mongol invasions of India, 1221Siege of Ghazni, 1222Mongol invasion of Europe, 1223Battle of Gorgan, 1223Battle of the Kalka River, 1223Siege of Isfahan, 1228Mongol invasions of Korea, 1231Battle of Amid, 1231Siege of Bilär, 1236Sack of Erbil, 1236Siege of Kolomna, 1236Siege of Ryazan (1237), 1237Mongol invasion of Circassia, 1237Siege of Vladimir, 1238Siege of Kozelsk, 1238Battle of the Sit River, 1238Siege of Kyiv, 1240Sack of Kraków, 1241Battle of Tursko, 1241Battle of Tarczek, 1241Sacking of Sandomierz (1241), 1241Battle of Racibórz, 1241Battle of Opole, 1241Battle of Chmielnik, 1241Mongol incursions in the Holy Roman Empire, 1241Battle of Legnica, 1241Battle of Mohi, 1241Siege of Esztergom (1241), 1241Battle of Grobnik field, 1242Mongol invasion of the Latin Empire, 1242First Mongol invasion of Hungary, 1242Mongol campaign against the Nizaris, 1253Siege of Gerdkuh, 1253Siege of Maymun-Diz, 1256Siege of Alamut, 1256Siege of Lambsar, 1256Siege of Erbil (1258), 1258Siege of Baghdad, 1258Mongol invasions of the Levant, 1260Sack of Sandomierz, 1260Mongol invasion of Byzantine Thrace, 1263Mongol invasions of Sakhalin, 1264Kublai Khan's Campaigns, 1266Mongol invasions of Japan, 1274Battle of the Maritsa river, 1284Battle of Beas River, 1285Third Mongol invasion of Poland, 1287Battle of Kili, 1299Chem River Battle, 1300Second Mongol invasion of Burma, 1301Mongol invasion of Byzantine Thrace, 1324Battle of Kulikovo, 138012091380Siege of Gerdkuh, 1253
77 placed engagements of Mongol invasions and conquests in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

DateApril 1253 (month precision)
to December 1270
PlaceGerdkuh, Iran
36.158N, 54.157E
KindSiege, medieval
Strength5000 mongol army; 10000 mongol army; Medieval sources: 5000 knights; 5000 infantary110 the garrison
Casualties and losses100 (first siege)Entire force
Commanders
  • Kitbuqa
  • Abaqa Khan
  • Muhammad (Bavandid ruler)
  • Shahragim
Siege of GerdkuhSiege of GerdkuhBattle of DamghanBattle of DamghanGorganSariAmolGonbad-e KavusSemnan100 km36.158N, 54.157E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

In the same war

Elsewhere in 1253

Siege of Gerdkuh is one of 629 engagements of the 13th century in the atlas and one of 189 in present-day Iran.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q89195518, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Siege of Gerdkuh, revision 1370620946, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.