
Genghis Khan invaded the eastern part of 'Ala' ad-Din's
empire in 1219. Avoiding a battle, 'Ala' ad-Din retreated to a small
island in the Caspian Sea, where he died in 1220. Soon after 'Ala'
ad-Din's death, his energetic son Jalal ad-Din Mingburnu rallied the
Afghan highlanders at Parwan (modern Jabal os Saraj), near Kabul, and
inflicted a crushing defeat on the Mongols under Kutikonian. Genghis Khan, who
was then at Herat, hastened to avenge the defeat and laid siege to Bamian.
There Mutugen, the Khan's grandson, was killed, an event so
infuriating to Genghis Khan that when he captured the citadel he ordered that no
living being be spared. Bamian was utterly destroyed. Advancing on
Ghazna, Genghis won a great victory over Jalal ad-Din, who then fell back
toward the Indus (1221), where he made a final but unsuccessful stand.