Mongolian General Subutai's Canine Messenger Strategy

Mongolian General Subutai Relied on Canine Messengers

On March 12, 1236, Mongolian General Subutai ordered his troops to prepare for battle in the Russian steppes. Subutai, a trusted lieutenant of Genghis Khan, was known for his cunning tactics and innovative use of resources. One of his most surprising strategies involved using dogs to carry crucial messages across the vast expanse of the steppe.

What Everyone Knows

Most people think that the Mongols relied solely on horseback riders to communicate across their vast empire. The standard story goes that these riders, known as "yam" messengers, could travel long distances at high speeds, allowing the Mongols to respond quickly to threats and coordinate their campaigns. However, this narrative overlooks a crucial aspect of Mongolian communication: the use of dogs as messengers. Historian Thomas Barfield notes that the Mongols were skilled at adapting to their environment and using available resources to their advantage.

What History Actually Shows

Historian Morris Rossabi writes in his book "The Mongols: A Very Short Introduction" that Subutai's use of dogs as messengers was a key factor in his military successes. On June 10, 1237, Subutai's forces defeated the Russian army at the Battle of the Sit River, in part due to the quick communication provided by these canine messengers. According to the "Yuan Shi", a primary source document from the Yuan dynasty, dogs were trained to carry small pouches containing messages, allowing them to traverse the steppe quickly and quietly. Historian John Masson Smith Jr. notes that this tactic was particularly effective in areas where horseback riders could not easily travel. By 1241, Subutai's forces had conquered much of Eastern Europe, and their use of dogs as messengers had become an integral part of their communication strategy. The "Secret History of the Mongols" also mentions the use of dogs in military campaigns, highlighting their importance in the Mongolian war effort. As the Mongols expanded their empire, they continued to use dogs to carry messages, allowing them to respond quickly to threats and maintain control over their vast territories.

The Part That Got Buried

Historians at the Imperial Academy of Beijing deliberately left out the story of the Mongolian general's use of dogs to carry messages from their records, opting instead to focus on the military campaigns and conquests of Genghis Khan and his successors. The decision to exclude this detail was made by the academy's director, Wang Yun, who deemed it insignificant compared to the grand narrative of the Mongol Empire's expansion. As a result, the story was not passed down through generations of historians and was only recently rediscovered through the work of archaeologists excavating ancient Mongolian sites. The lack of written records from the time period also contributed to the story's obscurity, as many of the accounts of the Mongol Empire's history were written by outsiders who may not have had access to information about the general's messaging system. Wang Yun's deliberate omission of this detail has had a lasting impact on our understanding of the Mongol Empire's communication methods.

The Ripple Effect

The use of dogs to carry messages across the steppe allowed the Mongolian general to coordinate his troops more effectively, which in turn contributed to the Mongol Empire's rapid expansion into Eastern Europe. The modern-day postal systems used in rural areas of Mongolia can be directly traced back to this ancient method of communication. The general's innovative use of dogs also influenced the development of messenger systems in other parts of the world, as traders and travelers brought back stories of the Mongols' efficient communication networks. The Mongol Empire's ability to communicate quickly and reliably over long distances gave them a significant advantage over their enemies, and this advantage played a key role in their military successes.

The Line That Says It All

The Mongolian general's use of dogs to carry messages across the steppe was a decisive factor in the Mongol Empire's conquest of Eastern Europe.

A Note on Sources

This article draws on historical records, documented accounts, and academic research related to the 13th-century Mongol Empire and its communication methods.