Genghis Khan forbade his soldiers from bringing back battle swords as he preferred his troops to use weapons such as sabers or bows, better suited to the fast combat tactics of the Mongols on horseback.
The Mongols primarily relied on their composite bow, a lightweight, powerful, and accurate weapon. This allowed them to attack from a distance while staying out of reach of their enemies. Each soldier was trained from a young age to shoot accurately on horseback, even at full gallop. Their favorite tactic was the feigned retreat: fleeing to make the opponent believe they were in trouble, and then quickly turning to unleash a rain of arrows as soon as the other lowered their guard. Thanks to this exceptional mastery of the Mongol bow, Genghis Khan's armies often succeeded in defeating forces that were much larger.
The swords, heavy and cumbersome, hindered the Mongol horsemen more than they helped. They primarily fought from a distance, thanks to their composite bow, capable of reaching the enemy well before close contact. Carrying swords meant losing agility and stamina, two essential qualities for Mongol riders. Not to mention that wielding a sword at a gallop requires a lot of specific training. Suffice it to say that for the Mongol warriors, accustomed to quick, precise, and distant attacks with arrows, it was a dead weight that risked undermining the military tactics developed by Genghis Khan.
The Mongol armies were known for their lightning-fast combat style. They traveled light, on horseback, with equipment reduced to the essentials. A heavy battle sword would have hindered their quick movements over long distances. Rather than weighing down his men, Genghis Khan preferred to rely on the lightweight and powerful composite bow, allowing for rapid and precise long-range attacks. The absence of swords also minimized the soldiers' burden during a quick retreat, which was essential for their harassment tactics and feigned retreats. In short, less weight, more speed: everything the famous Mongol conqueror loved.
Genghis Khan wanted to prevent his soldiers from getting lost in unnecessary plundering or from dragging cumbersome equipment during campaigns. Heavy weapons like swords inevitably attract attention because they are prestigious and symbolic, making them easy to resell. This could distract the troops at a time when they needed to remain fully focused on their military missions. Even worse, personal plundering could break discipline and provoke unnecessary tensions or rivalries within the ranks. By explicitly prohibiting these spoils of war, he ensured that each warrior stayed focused on the overall objective rather than on personal gain.
The Mongol soldiers were so skilled with their bows that they could shoot arrows with precision while riding at full speed, a skill that explains their superiority in open battles.
Genghis Khan favored rapid and lightweight campaigns: each Mongol soldier was required to carry a minimum of equipment to cover great distances more efficiently, which is why accumulating heavy weaponry like cumbersome swords was prohibited.
Mongolian bows were made by combining several layers of wood, horn, and animal tendons, giving them power, lightness, and exceptional range, far surpassing the bows used by their opponents.
At their peak, the Mongol archers were capable of firing up to six arrows in just a few seconds, overwhelming their enemies with a swift and deadly rain before even reaching hand-to-hand combat.
Yes, the Mongol soldiers had short, curved sabers suited for close combat. The ban actually targeted the heavy swords captured from the enemy, which slowed down the cavalry and limited their effectiveness on the battlefield.
This prohibition helped maintain discipline by reducing the temptation for unnecessary looting. As a result, the soldiers remained focused on strategic objectives rather than being driven by the individual pursuit of cumbersome spoils.
Speed and mobility were essential to the Mongolian strategy based on surprise and encirclement. By limiting unnecessary equipment, the Mongols gained in responsiveness and the ability to maneuver quickly on the battlefield.
In addition to the composite bow, Mongolian soldiers typically carried a short sword (the Mongolian saber), light daggers, and sometimes short spears. All these weapons were selected for their lightness and effectiveness in fast-paced mounted combat.
The Mongol bow was lightweight, maneuverable on horseback, and extremely accurate. It allowed for quick long-range attacks while keeping the enemy at a distance, which explained its dominance over close-range weapons like swords.
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