SAJO or MOHI, BATTLE OF THE, 1241. This was the decisive battle in which the Mongols under Sabutai and Batu overthrew the Hungarian army under Bela, and thereby gained undisputed possession of Hungary, a conquest voluntarily aban doned next year (see MONGOL. CAMPAIGNS). The date of the bat tle is usually reckoned as April 10, 1241, but other estimates place it on April 27, or even early in May. A week before the three wide-circling columns of the Mongol main army had converged and joined hands on the Danube near Gran, the Hungarian capi tal. Sabutai fell back slowly, luring Bela after him, away from the protection of the Danube. Meanwhile Sabutai had recon noitred an ideal battle-ground in the plain of Mohi, a natural amphitheatre surrounded by the Sajo river and the famous hills of Tokay. After six days' pursuit the Hungarian army, including large contingents of Germans, Croats and French Knights Tem plar, camped here, while their apparently retreating foe crossed the river and disappeared out of sight. The Mongol plan was that while Batu fixed the Hungarians by a frontal attack across the river, Sabutai was to execute a wide manoeuvre back to the river, cross it lower down where he had reconnoitred a deep but fordable passage, and then fall upon the enemy's rear. During
the night Batu turned on his track, and before dawn his advanced guard seized the bridge over the river to his front. The fire of catapults and archers covered the crossing of the main body.
Then he moved forward to the attack and the battle was being hotly contested when, some hours later, Sabutai's surprise blow suddenly took the Hungarians in rear, dislocating both their formation and moral. The disruption of their host followed, and the fragments took flight, to shrink progressively under the Mon gol pursuit, closely sustained for two days. Thousands were cut down on the field itself, the Knights Templar falling to the last man, but Bela, deserting his followers to their fate, made good his escape.