Iraq / France: Hulagu Khan imprisons the last Abbasid caliph, Al-Musta'sim Billah, with his treasures. From the 'Livre de Merveilles', France, 15th century

In 1258 Hulagu invaded the Abbasid domain, comprising a little more than what is now Iraq and Syria. Baghdad was sacked on February 10 and Caliph Al-Mustasim was killed by Hulagu Khan soon afterwards. It is believed that the Mongols did not want to shed 'royal blood', so they wrapped him in a rug and trampled him to death with their horses.

Marco Polo reports that upon finding the caliph's great stores of treasure which could have been spent on the defense of his realm, Hulagu Khan locked him in his treasure room without food or water, telling him 'eat of thy treasure as much as thou wilt, since thou art so fond of it'.

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GREAT KHANS