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or you can get all of History Daily plus other fantastic history podcasts at into History.com. It's February 20th, 1258 in Baghdad, the capital of the Abbasid Empire.

Al Mustassum, the ruler of the Abbasid Empire. Al Mustassam, the ruler of the Abbasid Empire,

stumbles along the hallways of his palace,

only remaining upright thanks to the two enemy soldiers,

grasping him firmly by his arms.

Smoke catches in his throat,

and he hears the distant screams of his people being put to death.

Baghdad has fallen.

For 500 years, Al-Lustasam's predecessors ruled an Islamic empire that stretched across the Arab world.

But a few decades ago, a new enemy emerged from Central Asia, the Mongols.

The Abbasids were unable to match them in battle, and bit

by bit the Mongols encroached on Abbasid territory. In January 1258, they reached the

capital Baghdad. It didn't take long for the Mongols to

breach the walls and for the last week their soldiers have rampaged through the

city with al-Mustassum hold up in the palace as a prisoner.

The soldiers escorting him open a gate and push Al Mustasam into a courtyard.

Flames dance against the sky.

The entire palace is burning, but that's not what frightens

al-Mustassam. Standing in the courtyard on a fine rug looted from the palace is Prince

...