The Shah and the Mongols

The shah was not afraid. His army, anchored by its well trained turkish cavalry, numbered over 400 thousand - at least twice the enemy's size. By defeating the mongols in battle, the shah could finally take over their land. The demand, which presumed to put the two empires on equal footing, incensed the shah. He had the ambassador's head cut off and sent back to genghis khan. This, of course, meant war.