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The Mongol warrior alone was a formidable opponent during this period. The crucial military concept was of the independent individual soldier and unit. Not only were they to participate in large coordinated efforts but also be capable of independent existence and action. Each warrior carried a battle-axe, a scimitar, a lance, and two versions of their most effective weapon: the recurved bow. These bows were bent away from their normal shape; this allowed much greater power in a smaller weapon than a standard European long bow. The bow was small enough to be fired from horseback but powerful enough to knock a hole in a knights plate armour. The warriors themselves were lead by very capable commanders; this was due to the Mongol principle of promotion to posts of leadership and authority on the basis of ability alone. This meant that at every level the commanders could be entrusted with a degree of independence in the strategy they adopted. .
The European knights defeat was certainly due to their inferiority against Mongol weapons and their lack of understanding of Mongol tactics. The heavily armed medieval knights learned to their sorrow that their heavy iron armour impeded their movements and moreover was of little use when the Mongols just shot the horses dead under them. One other example that clearly illustrates their lack of understanding with Mongol tactics occurred in the battle of Mohi. As the Hungarian army retreated to its entrenched position within its circle of wagons they were completely surrounded by the Mongol army. Siege weapons were brought forward to cast tar, naphtha and in some cases Chinese fireworks into the camp. Then as the camp was burning the Mongols opened a deliberate gap in their line encircling them. A few Hungarians began to escape and were allowed to pass through; as many more followed they began to shed their weapons and armour that weighed them down. They became strung out and were assailed with arrows from Mongol horse archers riding along their flanks.