Kadan

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For the city in the Czech Republic, see Kadaň.

Kadan, also spelled Qadan, was a Mongol leader during the 13th century.

[edit] Biography

Kadan was the son of the Khagan Ögedei Khan and one of his concubines. His brother was Güyük Khan. During the Mongol invasion of Europe, Kadan and Baidar, son of Chagatai Khan, led the Mongol diversionary force which attacked Poland while the main Mongol force struck the Kingdom of Hungary.

In early 1241 Kadan's forces sacked the Polish towns of Lublin, Zawichost, and Sandomierz. Kadan then attacked Masovia, while Baidar burned the evacuated Polish capital, Kraków. The two leaders were then to attack the Silesian capital Breslau. Baidar began to besiege the town, but marched north with Kadan to Liegnitz to defeat the forces of Henry II the Pious, Duke of Silesia, before the Polish duke could join King Wenceslaus I of Bohemia. After defeating some forces of Konrad I of Masovia, Kadan's forces joined with Baidar's at Liegnitz. The Christian army was crushed in the ensuing Battle of Liegnitz of April 9, 1241.

Mongol casualties were heavier than expected in the battle, however, and Kadan was reluctant to directly attack Wenceslaus' Bohemian forces. Kadan and Baidar skirmished against the Bohemians and were able to prevent the Bohemian king from helping King Béla IV of Hungary. After raiding Moravia, the Mongol diversionary force went to Hungary.

During the winter of 1241-1242, Kadan sacked Buda on the way to Győr. While besieging Italian mercenaries defending Székesfehérvár, Kadan was forced to withdraw his troops after an early thaw flooded the land around the town. The Mongol prince was then sent south with one tumen to search for Béla in Croatia. Kadan first sought the Hungarian king at Zagreb, which he sacked, and then pursued him into Dalmatia. While Béla hid at Trogir, Kadan's tired forces were defeated by a Croatian army at Fiume. Kadan had his Hungarian prisoners executed as supplies began to run out. To the king's surprise, Kadan headed south past Trogir toward Ragusa. While he was nearing Scutari, Kadan heard of the death of his father, Ögedei Khan. Kadan's raids through Bulgaria on his retreat from Central Europe induced the young Kaliman I of Bulgaria to pay tribute and accept Batu Khan as his liege.

In 1251 Kadan accepted the election of Möngke Khan as Khagan.

In many medieval sources, Kadan was mistranslated by chroniclers as Kaidu, leading to confusion about who participated in the the European campaign.^[1]