Genghis Khan’s Fire Cats and Swallows

For thousands of years, humans have used animals as incendiary weapons. One famed anecdote, which may or may not be genuine, surrounds Genghis Khan, who allegedly utilized swallows and cats during his fight in China with the Western Xia Empire.

During the early 13th century, when laying siege to the city of Volohoi, Genghis offered terms of peace: the Mongols would lift the siege in exchange for 1,000 cats and 10,000 swallows. The Xia consented to their requirements and immediately gathered the necessary animals to give as tribute. The Mongols, on the other hand, had other ideas. They tied cotton to the animals' tails, set them on fire, and released them at the city's outskirts. Most of the animals rushed back into the city, which was mostly made of wood, in a panic. Thousands of fires erupted all at once inside Volohoi, overwhelming the residents. Meanwhile, the Mongols assaulted the city, taking advantage of the disarray and confusion.

Date: 1207