Ogedei Khan dies in Mongolia

December 11, 1241

Drinking himself to death in his campaign ger, the second Mongol great khan ended the western invasion by his demise. Batu's commanders turned their ponies home for the kurultai that would elect his successor. Christendom credited God; Mongolia credited fermented mare's milk. Had Ogedei lived another year, Subutai's army would likely have ridden through Vienna and into the Rhine valley.