Irghiz River skirmish

| strength2 = Between 14,000 and 40,000

| strength2 = Between 14,000 and 40,000

| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Mongol Invasion of the Khwarezmian Empire}}

| campaignbox = {{Campaignbox Mongol Invasion of the Khwarezmian Empire}}

| casualties1 = 20,000 killed {{sfn| The Chronicle of Ibn al-Athir for the Crusading Period from al-Kamil fi'l-Ta'rikh. Part 3|2008|p=207}}

| casualties2 = Unknown, possibly moderate

}}

}}

The '''Irghiz River skirmish''' was a minor engagement fought between forces of the [[Khwarazmian Empire]] and the [[Mongol Empire]] during the early 13th century. While the occurrence of the skirmish itself is well-attested, its precise dating is uncertain, since the major chroniclers of the period give differing accounts. Modern historians have proposed two possible dates: 1209 or 1219. The background events are similar for each possible date: [[Genghis Khan]], ''[[khagan]]'' of the Mongols, sent an army under his general [[Subutai]] to attack hostile forces (either a [[Merkit]] confederation or the renegade [[Naimans|Naiman]] prince [[Kuchlug]]) in the former lands of the [[Qara-Khitai]] dynasty. Shah [[Muhammad II of Khwarazm|Muhammad]], the ruler of the Khwarazmian Empire, received news of large armies operating along his northern borders and set out to confront them.

The '''Irghiz River skirmish''' was a minor engagement fought between forces of the [[Khwarazmian Empire]] and the [[Mongol Empire]] during the early 13th century. While the occurrence of the skirmish itself is well-attested, its precise dating is uncertain, since the major chroniclers of the period give differing accounts. Modern historians have proposed two possible dates: 1209 or 1219. The background events are similar for each possible date: [[Genghis Khan]], ''[[khagan]]'' of the Mongols, sent an army under his general [[Subutai]] to attack hostile forces (either a [[Merkit]] confederation or the renegade [[Naimans|Naiman]] prince [[Kuchlug]]) in the former lands of the [[Qara-Khitai]] dynasty. Shah [[Muhammad II of Khwarazm|Muhammad]], the ruler of the Khwarazmian Empire, received news of large armies operating along his northern borders and set out to confront them.