The siege of Maghas was the largest battle during the Mongol invasions of the North Caucasus, which was fought between the Mongol Empire and its allies and the Principality of Durdzuketi and the Kingdom of Alania. The historic capital of the Alans and Durdzuks, whose location is strongly debated, was besieged for 3 months, until it eventually fell to the Mongols, who destroyed it afterwards. This resulted in the capitulation and eventual destruction of the Kingdom of Alania and the Principality of Durdzuketi as well as the mass migration of Durdzuks and Alans into the mountains. Battles involving Chechnya History of Chechnya Battles involving Ingushetia Battles involving the Alans 13th-century conflicts History of Ingushetia Background Mongol invasion of Circassia In 1236, Ögedei Khan sent a large army consisting of more than 200,000 under the command of Batu Khan (along with other commdanders) to the North Caucasus to help Subutai in conquering the region. Goal of the Mongols was the capture and destruction of Maghas and the subjugation of the North Caucasian tribes. The army arrived in the medieval Circassian kingdom Zichia, where the ruler of the state, Tuqar, was killed in battle in autumn of 1237, thus allowing the establishment of a pro-Mongol administration of the region. In the meanwhile, an army led by Subutai and others was sent to the "Land of the Ases" (Alania and Durdzuketi). Alan/Durdzuk campaign in Circassia With the establishement of the pro-Mongol administration in Circassia, Khasi I, the ruler of Alania and Durdzuketi, sent a request to the governors, asking for the status of strapaty of Alania in Circassia, to which the refused. This led to Khour's I campaign in Circassia, in which he fought the Mongol administration. Prelude Start of the Mongol campaign in Alania In winter of 1238, the army which was stationed in Circassia, now invaded Alania. It ravaged the western regions of Alania, today's Karachay-Cherkessia. In november of 1239, the army arrived in Maghas. Boturcha rebellion Before the start of the main Mongol invasion, the ruler of the village Boturcha, prince Botur (from the Dishniy clan of Chechnya, known as "Ela Botur" in Chechen and "Ele Badur" in the Chinese chronicle Yuan-Shi, conducted secret negotiations with the Mongol Empire, in which he discussed an independent state under his rule. At the start of the Mongol campaign in 1238, he and his family, such as his 2 brothers Matarsha and Utszorbu