The Nāṣirī Generations 284.2.2

284.2.2

At length the two armies drew so near each other that their respective camps were only separated by a marsh [this, no doubt, is the river or water of the Musalman writers], which the Mughals finding passable crossed over by stealth in some places, and surrounded the camp of the Hungarians. One morning at daybreak the Mughals began the attack by volleys of arrows. The Hungarians, confounded at this unexpected attack, could not be persuaded to leave their camp. The upshot was that they were totally defeated, and the greater number perished: some say from 100,000 to 65,000 men. Pesth is said to have fallen immediately after. “The Mughals then proceeded to ravage Upper Hungary, and King Bela had to fly into Austria. Then the invaders passed the Danube on the ice, entered and subdued Strigonia, while detached bands pursued Bela into Dalmatia. Unable to take him, they turned aside into Croatia, Bosnia, and Bulgaria, pillaging and destroying. At this time news reached Bathus of the decease of Hocotam Cham [his father!], on which he set out on his return homewards through Cumania and Ruthenia.” This latter is a specimen of history writing; Juji Khan, Batu’s father, had been dead ten years before the campaign began. Rubruquis, who passed through the Dasht-i-Kibchak about sixteen or seventeen years after these events, says the whole country between the Danube and the Atil was possessed by the Koman Kapchak, “who are,” he says, “called Valani by the Germans, and their country Valania.”