Factors and Brutality of Mongol Warfare

The Mongols were ruthless conquerors who used fear tactics to control cities and suppress rebellion. They would spread rumors of their massive army approaching, driving people into the cities and hoping for a quick surrender. If close family members of Genghis Khan were killed in battle, he would take it personally and devastate the entire city or area as a form of revenge. Rebellion was treated harshly, with brutally punished cities and brutal reprisals. There are numerous accounts of massacres and brutal warfare, which cannot be dismissed due to their consistency across different sources. Even tribes that rebelled against the Mongols were brutally put down. Overall, the Mongols operated under a heroic martial ethos where honor was at stake, and they would go to extreme lengths to protect it.