Battle of Grobnik Field: Difference between revisions

Battle of Grobnik Field
	Part of Mongol invasion of Europe
	; Mongols in Hungary and Croatia
Date	1242
Location	Grobnik Field
Result	Croatian victory
Belligerents
Mongols	Croats
Commanders and leaders
Batu Khan ; Kadan	King Béla IV of Hungary and Croatia
Strength
30,000	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Almost entire army	Unknown

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The Battle of Grobnik field is a legendary battle that supposedly occurred in 1242 between the Croats and the Mongols (also called "Tatars") of the Golden Horde in the area below the Grobnik Castle in the present-day Čavle municipality in Primorje-Gorski Kotar County, western Croatia. The legend was recorded as late as the 16th century and was later a focus of an early romantic poem The Grobnik Field written in 1842 by Dimitrija Demeter for the 600th anniversary of the battle. Legend has it that, in a last-ditch struggle, Croats from all over the region gathered at the field and killed thousands of Mongols, who withdrew, never to return.

Historical background

Mongols began attacking Europe in the 1220s. They conquered most of Russia and then headed west in the late 1230s. In almost every battle the Christian armies were destroyed and much of Hungary, Poland and the Balkans were laid to waste by Batu Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan. It is known that the Mongols overran Zagreb and swept through Lika and Dalmatia, but were unable to take Vinodol. The extent of death and destruction dealt out by the Mongols was compared to an epidemic of the black plague.^{[citation needed]}

Narrative of the battle

Arriving at the Grobnik field, the Mongols encountered a native Croatian army that tried to stop their advance and invasion. In the battle that followed, the Mongols were destroyed, losing an entire army of 30,000^{[citation needed]} people led by the notorious army leader Batu Khan. It is said that Grobnik ("field of graves") got its name from the many graves that were built after the battle due to great casualties. It was one of the last battles of the Mongols in Europe, after which they retreated to their homeland in far Asia.

Historicity

Some scholars and historians have long doubted and still are arguing if the battle ever took place. Some of them think that battle didn't occur.^[1] There has been no physical evidence of a battle uncovered on the supposed battlefield, nor is the battle mentioned in any document from that time.^[2] The first accounts about this battle are mentioned in the documents from the 14th century, but some claim that they were either a hoax or not verifiable. Legend also has it that the Croats also fought off a Turkish invasion at Grobnik field several centuries later by wearing the heads of cows and other animals (see zvončari), scaring the enemy.

References

^ Goldstein, Ivo (1994) "The Use of History: Croatian Historiography and Politics", HeinOnline, accessed May 2008.
^ Županov, Josip, "Dan zahvalnosti: jesu li nacionalni mitovi prokletstvo ili blagoslov^{[permanent dead link‍]}", accessed May 2008. Županov says "Taj se mit, doduše, sve manje spominje, jer je povjesničarima poznato da se ta navodna bitka na Grobničkom polju ne spominje ni u jednom povijesnom dokumentu iz toga vremena".

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{short description|1242 Croat-Mongol battle}}
-<!-- Please do not remove or change this AfD message until the issue is settled -->
+{{Infobox military conflict
-{{AfDM|page=Battle of Grobnik field|date=2008 May 28|substed=yes}}
+|conflict    = Battle of Grobnik Field
-<!-- For administrator use only: {{oldafdfull|page=Battle of Grobnik field|date=28 May 2008|result='''keep'''}} -->
+|partof      = [[Mongol invasion of Europe]]
-<!-- End of AfD message, feel free to edit beyond this point -->
+|image       = MongolsInHungary1241.jpg
-{{accuracy}}
+|caption     = Mongols in Hungary and Croatia
-{{Infobox Military Conflict|
+|date        = 1242
-conflict=Battle of Grobnik field|
+|place       = Grobnik Field
-image=[[Image:Mongol soldiers by Rashid al-Din 1305.JPG|thumb|280px|center|Mongolian archers]]|
+|result      = [[Croats|Croatian]] victory
-partof=[[Mongol invasion of Europe]]|
+|combatant1  = [[Mongols]]
-date=[[1242]]|
+|combatant2  = [[Croats]]
-place=Grobnik field|
+|commander1  = [[Batu Khan]] <br />[[Kadan]]
-result=Decisive [[Croatian]] Victory|
+|commander2  = King [[Béla IV of Hungary]] and [[Croatia in personal union with Hungary|Croatia]]
-combatant1=[[Mongols]]|
+|strength1   = 30,000
-combatant2=[[Croats]]|
+|strength2   = Unknown
-commander1=[[Batu Khan]]|
+|casualties1 = Almost entire army
-commander2=Unknown|
+|casualties2 = Unknown
-strength1=Around 30,000|
+|}}
-strength2=Unknown|
+The '''Battle of Grobnik field''' is a legendary [[battle]] that supposedly occurred in 1242 between the [[Croats]] and the [[Mongols]] (also called "[[Tatars]]") of the [[Golden Horde]] in the area below the [[Grobnik Castle]] in the present-day [[Čavle]] municipality in [[Primorje-Gorski Kotar County]], western [[Croatia]]. The legend was recorded as late as the 16th century and was later a focus of an early romantic poem ''The Grobnik Field'' written in 1842 by [[Dimitrija Demeter]] for the 600th anniversary of the battle. Legend has it that, in a last-ditch struggle, Croats from all over the region gathered at the field and killed thousands of Mongols, who withdrew, never to return.
-casualties1=Almost entire army annihilated (some sources claim 56,000)|
-casualties2=Unknown|
-}}
-The '''Battle of Grobnik field''' is a legendary [[battle]] that occurred in [[1242]] between the [[Croats]] and the [[Tatars]]. The legend claims that, in a last ditch struggle, Croats from all over the region gathered there and killed thousands of Mongols, who subsequently withdrew, never to return.<ref>Hrvoje Hitrec, Hrvatska Povjesnica, p.40</ref>  The legend become part of a focus of an early romantic poem entitled "Grobnik field" written in [[1842]] by [[Dimitrija Demeter]] for the 600th anniversary of the supposed battle.
 ==Historical background==
-{{further|[[Mongol invasion of Europe]]}}
+{{further2|[[Mongol invasion of Europe]]}}
-The [[Mongols]] began attacking Europe in the 1220s. They conquered most of [[Russia]] and then headed west in the late 1230s. In almost every battle the [[Christian]] armies were destroyed and much of [[Hungary]], [[Poland]], [[Austria]] and the [[Balkans]] were laid waste by [[Batu Khan]], grandson of [[Genghis Khan]]. It is known that the Mongols overran [[Zagreb]] and swept through [[Lika]] and [[Dalmatia]] but were unable to take [[Vinodol]]. The extent of death and destruction dealt out by the [[Mongols]] was compared to an epidemic of the black [[plague]].
+[[Mongols]] began [[Mongol invasion of Europe|attacking Europe]] in the 1220s. They conquered most of [[Russia]] and then headed west in the late 1230s. In almost every battle the [[Christians|Christian]] armies were destroyed and much of [[Hungary]], [[Poland]] and the [[Balkans]] were laid to waste by [[Batu Khan]], grandson of [[Genghis Khan]]. It is known that the Mongols overran [[Zagreb]] and swept through [[Lika]] and [[Dalmatia]], but were unable to take [[Vinodol, Croatia|Vinodol]]. The extent of death and destruction dealt out by the Mongols was compared to an epidemic of the black plague.{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}}
+==Narrative of the battle==
-==Battle==
-After a series of defeats along the eastern [[Adriatic]] coast, Tatars arrived at the Grobnik field (near [[Rijeka]]), where they encountered a native [[Croatian]] army that tried to stop their invasion. In the pitched battle that followed, [[Tatars]] were routed and destroyed, losing an entire army of 30,000 or, as some claim, even 56,000 people lead by the notorious army leader [[Batu Khan]]. They were beaten by units from all the corners of [[Croatia]], and so peace was ensure. It is believed that Grobnik got its name from the many [[graves]] that were used after the battle due to great casualties. Acording to legend there may have been as much as 100,000 dead on the battlefield, so that even the field beneath them could not have been seen. But this is almost certanly an exaggeration because the largest european armies at that time could not have gathered an army of more than 30,000 men.<ref>Igor Žic, Kratka povijest grada Rijeke, 1998, p 20</ref> It was one of the last battles of the Mongols in [[Europe]], after which they retreated to their homeland in far [[Asia]]. Some of the Mongolians found their new life in new country.
+Arriving at the Grobnik field, the Mongols encountered a native Croatian army that tried to stop their advance and invasion. In the battle that followed, the Mongols were destroyed, losing an entire army of 30,000{{Citation needed|date=November 2009}} people led by the notorious army leader [[Batu Khan]]. It is said that Grobnik ("field of graves") got its name from the many [[graves]] that were built after the battle due to great casualties. It was one of the last battles of the Mongols in Europe, after which they retreated to their homeland in far Asia.
-==Epilogue==
+==Historicity==
+Some scholars and historians have long doubted and still are arguing if the battle ever took place. Some of them think that battle didn't occur.<ref>[[Ivo Goldstein|Goldstein, Ivo]] (1994) "[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=info:P51Bqgq6dYkJ:scholar.google.com/&output=viewport The Use of History: Croatian Historiography and Politics]", HeinOnline, accessed May 2008.</ref>  There has been no physical evidence of a battle uncovered on the supposed battlefield, nor is the battle mentioned in any document from that time.<ref>[[Josip Županov|Županov, Josip]], "[http://www.vjesnik.hr/Html/2001/08/16/Clanak.asp?r=gle&c=3 Dan zahvalnosti: jesu li nacionalni mitovi prokletstvo ili blagoslov]{{Dead link|date=May 2021|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}", accessed May 2008. Županov says "Taj se mit, doduše, sve manje spominje, jer je povjesničarima poznato da se ta navodna bitka na Grobničkom polju ne spominje ni u jednom povijesnom dokumentu iz toga vremena".</ref> The first accounts about this battle are mentioned in the documents from the 14th century, but some claim that they were either a hoax or not verifiable. Legend also has it that the Croats also fought off a Turkish invasion at Grobnik field several centuries later by wearing the heads of cows and other animals (see [[zvončari]]), scaring the enemy.
-After a series of defeats along the eastern [[Adriatic]] coast, Tatars arrived at the Grobnik field (near [[Rijeka]]), where they encountered a native [[Croatian]] army that tried to stop their invasion. In the pitched battle that followed, [[Tatars]] were routed and destroyed, losing an entire army of 30,000 or, as some claim, even 56,000 people lead by the notorious army leader [[Batu Khan]]. They were beaten by units from all the corners of [[Croatia]], and so peace was ensure. It is believed that Grobnik got its name from the many [[graves]] that were used after the battle due to great casualties. Acording to legend there may have been as much as 100,000 dead on the battlefield, so that even the field beneath them could not have been seen. But this is almost certanly an exaggeration because the largest european armies at that time could not have gathered an army of more than 30,000 men.<ref>Igor Žic, Kratka povijest grada Rijeke, 1998, p 20</ref> If it ever took place, it would have been one of the last battles of the Mongols in [[Europe]], after which they retreated to their homeland in far [[Asia]]. Some of the Mongolians found their new life in new country.
-==Controversy and history==
-Some scolars and historians have long doubted and still are arguing if the battle ever took place<ref>Goldstein, Ivo (1994) "[http://scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=en&lr=&q=info:P51Bqgq6dYkJ:scholar.google.com/&output=viewport The Use of History: Croatian Historiography and Politics]", HeinOnline, accessed May 2008.</ref>. To this day, There seems to be no certain evidence of the battle uncovered on the battlefield. There has been no physical evidence of a battle uncovered on the supposed battlefield, nor is the battle mentioned in any document from that time.<ref>Županov, Josip, "[http://www.vjesnik.hr/Html/2001/08/16/Clanak.asp?r=gle&c=3 Dan zahvalnosti: jesu li nacionalni mitovi prokletstvo ili blagoslov]", accessed May 2008. Županov says "Taj se mit, doduše, sve manje spominje, jer je povjesničarima poznato da se ta navodna bitka na Grobničkom polju ne spominje ni u jednom povijesnom dokumentu iz toga vremena".</ref> The first documents about this battle are mentioned in the 14th century, but some claim that they were either a hoax or not veryfiable. Legend also has it that the Croats also waged off a Turkish invasion at Grobnik field several centuries later by wearing the heads of ows and other animals (see [[zvončari]]) and scating the enemy.{{fact}}What is certan, however, is that if the battle ever happened, it was probably on a smaller scale than the original legend claims.
-==References==
-{{more sources}}
-{{reflist}}
 ==See also==
@@ Line 44: / Line 34: @@
 *[[Béla IV of Hungary]]
 *[[Batu Khan]]
+== References ==
-[[Category:Battles involving the Mongols]]
-[[Category:History of Croatia]]
+{{reflist}}
-[[Category:13th century conflicts]]
-[[Category:Battles involving Croatia]]
+==Further reading==
-[[Category:1242]]
+*{{cite book|author=Ivan Kukuljević Sakcinski|title=Borba Hrvatah s Mongoli i Tatari|url=https://archive.org/details/borbahrvatahsmon00kuku|year=1863|publisher=Nakladom i brzotiskom A. Jakić|pages=[https://archive.org/details/borbahrvatahsmon00kuku/page/49 49]–}}
-[[Category:Croatian history]]
+*[https://www.vecernji.hr/vijesti/frankopani-pobili-56-tisuca-tatara-1021208 Frankopani pobili 56 tisuća Tatara?!] {{in lang|hr}}
+{{Wars and battles involving Croatia|state=autocollapse}}
+[[Category:Battles involving the Mongol Empire|Grobnik Field]]
+[[Category:Battles involving medieval Croatia|Grobnik Field]]
+[[Category:1242 in Europe]]
+[[Category:13th century in Croatia]]
+[[Category:Oral tradition]]
+[[Category:Conflicts in 1242|Grobnik Field]]
+[[Category:13th-century military history of Croatia]]