Leaders in History: Subutai

Born in Mongolia in 1176 in the Uriangqai tribe, Subutai was the primary military strategist of the great Ghengis Kahn. Not necessarily a man of common knowledge in western society, Subutai has the distinction of conquering the most territory throughout history directing more than 20 campaigns where he would routinely coordinate campaigns up to 500 kilometers apart including the conquering of Poland and Hungary within 2 days of one another. In addition, Subutai was the highest-ranking non-relation to the Khan having begun service to him at the age of 17.

Those who succeed do those things that others do not, such as the leaders that have harnessed their abilities and conquered their circumstances in times past. We look to these leaders to gather insight into those things which we can do differently to find success or further it. Subutai was a man that changed the paradigm of his trade by virtue of his merit and wit.

A story I recall reading about General Subutai once was regarding his siege of a European city. Surrounding the city he faced the decision whether to lay siege to it or to take a more passive approach. Inconspicuously he ordered a column from a rear entrance to the city to be vacated leaving an ample opportunity for any occupants of the city to flee from the city. Uncertain of the situation a small number of troops traversed through the vacated column and escaped the supposed forthcoming slaughter. After the escape of the first few troops, the remainder of the city was vacated through the opening—only to be slaughtered. Instead of using aggressive means to take their goal, Subutai found a method which reduced friendly casualties while the effect of total war was felt on the enemy.

Regardless of the style he used to achieve victory at that siege, Subutai was known for his aptitude and proclivity for using siege equipment and engineers on the battlefield. When most countries outside of China were using siege equipment and engineers for just that—laying sieges to cities—Subutai’s insight into the alternate uses for such combat assets made him become the first individual to use tactical artillery on the battlefield. During the Battle of Mohi Mongolian forces faced the wrath of Hungarian crossbowmen through fierce resistance and a battle that conflicted high levels of Mongolian casualties at a battle for a bridge. Needing to adapt his forces competencies and assets to conquer the situation—and the Hungarians—Subutai ordered stone-throwing catapults to thrust boulders at the banks of crossbowmen, quickly dispatching the threat that they posed to Mongol forces. Moreover, while the crossbowmen defended the bridge they had been ordered to secure with all their might, Subutai ordered an emergency bridge be built so that his forces could outflank his enemies.

Subutai was responsible for conquering the various jurisdictions of Russia and further ventured into Eastern Europe and easily bested many of the military forces there. He sent spies further into Europe and partook in limited military engagements leading to his ambition of taking on the entire Holy Roman Empire in 1241. Unfortunately, by this time, news had made it to the front of the death of the third son of Ghengis Khan, Ogotai. Mongol forces returned to their homeland and Subutai never returned to Europe by the time of his death at 72 years old in 1248. Had he done so, however, the face of western civilization might have changed dramatically.

Valuing wisdom and the application of it to circumstances, Subutai elegantly balanced grace with brute force by gracefully maneuvering his enemies into circumstances where brute force would completely wipe them out: He was a wise leader who controlled circumstances instead of allowing circumstances to control him.