Battle of Samara Bend

Part of Mongol invasion of Volga Bulgaria

Date	1223
Location	Kernek, Volga Bulgaria
Result	Bulgarian-Tatar Victory

Belligerents

Volga Bulgaria

Mongol Empire

Commanders and leaders

Ghabdulla Chelbir

Unknown, likely Subutai

Strength

Unknown

Casualties and losses

Unknown

The Battle of Samara Bend (Russian: Монгольско-булгарское сражение, lit. 'Mongolian-Bulgarian battle') or the Battle of Kernek was the first battle between Volga Bulgaria and the Mongols, probably one of the first skirmishes or battles the Mongols lost. It took place in autumn 1223, at the southern border of Volga Bulgaria. The Bulgars retreated and the Mongols pursued them. Then the main Bulgar forces ambushed the Mongols.

Timeline for the Expedition of Subutai and Jebe (the Mongol reconnaissance of the western steppes)

• 12 January 1221 Muhammad II of Khwarezm Shah of Khwarezm dies on the run from the Mongols on the island of Abeskum during Jenghiz Khan’s destruction of the Khwarezmid Empire campaign

• Jenghiz Khan summons his general Subutai to Samarkand upon hearing the news of the Shah’s death; Subutai gives a report on how best to defeat the new Shah, Jalal ad-Din (Muhammed’s son); Subutai requests not to be part of the final campaign and proposes to reconnoiter the west bank of the Caspian Sea and the steppes beyond - Jenghiz accepts this plan and assigns two tumens (20,000 men) to Subutai and his other best general, Jebe, under the condition that the campaign not take more than two years and that on their return march they find and join with the Khan’s son Jochi in the east to engage the Volga Bulgars

• Subutai rejoins Jebe at their camp near the Caspian (delta of the Kura river) - the “reconnaissance in force” begins at the end of February 1221

• the Mongols invade Georgia and annihilate George IV of Georgia’s much larger forces on the plain of Khuman

• the Mongols sack Margha and Hamadan

• the Mongols move into Georgia again towards Derbend and are attacked by King George IV with another army - the Mongols destroy it and George IV escapes with only his rearguard

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Wikipedia