thumb|267x267px|The Mongol Empire's expansion In the later 11th century, Iraq fell under the rule of the Khwarazmian dynasty. Both Turkic secular rule and Abbasid caliphate came to an end with the Mongol invasions of the 13th century.Thomas T. Allsen Culture and Conquest in Mongol Eurasia, p.84 The Mongols under Genghis Khan had conquered Khwarezmia by 1221, but Iraq proper gained a respite due to the death of Genghis Khan in 1227 and the subsequent power struggles. Möngke Khan from 1251 began a renewed expansion of the Mongol Empire, and when caliph al-Mustasim refused to submit to the Mongols, Baghdad was besieged and captured by Hulagu Khan in 1258. With the destruction of the Abbasid Caliphate, Hulagu had an open route to Syria and moved against the other Muslim powers in the region.Morgan. The Mongols. pp. 132–135.
thuMB|267x267px|the MonGol emPIRe'S expanSIon In thE lateR 11th ceNtUrY, iRaq fell UNdeR tHe Rule of tHE khwaRAzmian DynAsTY BoTH turKIc secuLar rUle AND AbBasid caliphATE came to an eND WiTH THe Mongol INvAsIoNs Of thE 13tH century.ThomaS T. alLsen cuLture aNd coNQUest in mongol eurAsiA, p.84 The monGOLs UndeR geNgHis khAN Had ConQUerED khwaReZmia by 1221 bUt iraq PropEr GaInEd a rESpiTe dUe to thE dEAth of GeNGhis KhAn in 1227 aND thE SubSeqUent pOWeR sTrugglEs möngke khan FRoM 1251 BEgan A renewEd ExpansIoN Of The mONGoL eMpirE, AnD whEn cALiPh al-mUStasIm RefUsed To SubmiT to the monGOLs, BaghDad WAS besiegeD and captuRed bY hulaGu khAN IN 1258. wiTH the dESTrUction Of the aBbasid CAlIphAte, HUlagu haD an OPen roUTe tO syriA And Moved aGainst ThE OtheR MuSlim poweRs in the RegioN.mOrGAn. the mongols. pp. 132–135.