Battle of Samara Bend
Part of Mongol invasion of Volga Bulgaria
Date 1223 Location Kernek, Volga Bulgaria Result Decisive Bulgarian victory
Belligerents
Volga Bulgaria	Mongol Empire
Commanders
Ghabdulla Chelbir	Subutai, Jebe
Strength
Unknown	50,0001
Casualties and losses
Unknown	4,000 survived1
1 - according to the local oral traditions

v • d • e Mongol invasions Central Asia (Khwarizm) – Georgia and Armenia – Volga Bulgaria (Samara Bend – Bilär) – Anatolia – Europe (Rus' – Poland – Hungary) – Tibet – Baghdad – Korea – India – Japan (Bun'ei – Kōan) – Vietnam (Bạch Đằng) – China (Jin – Song) – Burma (Ngasaunggyan – Pagan  – Bhamo) – Java – Syria – Palestine (Ain Jalut)

The Battle of Samara Bend or the Battle of Kernek was the first battle between Volga Bulgaria and the Mongols, probably one of the first major battles the Mongols lost. It took place in autumn 1223, at the southern border of Volga Bulgaria. The Bulgars allegedly retreated and the Mongols pursued them. Then the main Bolghar forces ambushed the Mongols. After Mongols were rounded up, the Bulgars massacred them and only 4,000 managed to escape, according to local oral traditions.

Several years later later the Mongols under Batu returned to Bulgaria and annihilated this state and made it part of the Mongol Empire.

However, it is worthy to note that in Chinese source that there is no record of the defeat. Both the paragraphs about Subutai and Jebe has not even mentioned the battle. Also, on the return of Subutai, the Khan's attitude towards him didn't indicate any hint of defeat. The Chinese resource did record, however, Batu Khan's grudge against Subutai, for Subutai's late show up in the battle of Sajo, causing his lieutenant's death. It is somewhat unlikely that the Chinese source would record Batu's grudge in the overall successful Hungary campaign, but not a total defeat of Subutai.

[edit] References

• (Russian) История Татарстана, Казань, "ТаРИХ", 2001.
• (Russian) История Татарской АССР, Казань, Татарское книжное издательство, 1980

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