The card shows the painting "The Mongols at Liegnitz Battle" by Karl Homely, painted in the year 1870. The Mongol Invasion of Poland from late 1240 to 1241 culminated in the battle of Legnica, where the Mongols defeated an alliance which included forces from fragmented Poland and members of various Christian military orders, led by Henry II the Pious, the Duke of Silesia.
750 years ago, on April 9, 1241, the Mongols under Orda Khan defeated the German army of knights under Henry II of Silesia atLiegnitz. However, the Mongols could not take advantage of their victory, and had to retreat down south, due to internal unrest in their homeland.
The Battle of Legnica , also known as the Battle of Liegnitz was fought between the Mongol Empire and the combined defending forces of European Christendom that took place at on the plains of Legnica Pole (Wahlstatt) near the city of Legnica (Liegnitz) in Silesia on April 9, 1241 in what is now modern-day Poland.
The Mongols invaded Europe with three armies. One of the three armies was tasked with distracting Poland, before joining the main Mongol force invading Hungary. That army, under Baidar, Kadan and Orda Khan, began scouting operations in late 1240.
The death of Duke Henry, who was close to unifying the Polish lands and reversing their fragmentation, set back the unification of Poland, and also meant the loss of Silesia, which would drift outside the Polish sphere of influence until the unification took place in the 14th century.
Thank you Merja for this nice maxi card, with the pretty stamp postmarked 9.4.1991, commemorating the 750th anniversary of the famous Battle of Leignitz.
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