WI Christian victory over Mongols at Legnica (Liegnitz) 1241

[marcinL]

Let's say that two things happen: first (although chronologically this is the second change) forces of Duke Henry aren't divided and slaughtered in detail, but stand together and successfully defend themselves, that alone is possibly enough to led to a "victorious draw", but also forces of Wenceslaus of Bohemia - who let's say in this TL had had an unusually vivid but otherwise completely mundane dream in which his favorite saint demanded him to march overnight and help his allies and was listened to ( or for whatever reason you can imagine, this is of no importance) - come to help Poles-Silesians knights of the Rohan-style. The result is that this particular Mongol army is decisively and its commanders taken hostage during pursuit.

What would be results of that?

 

[seraphim74]

Duke Henry the Pious becomes very serious contender for the Polish crown. In 1241 he controlled Lower Silesia, western part of the Greater Poland and Cracovia, with most of the Upper Silesia and rest of the Little Poland allied to him. His prestige will be enormous. He can easily present himself as "the Man Who Stopped the Mongols" assuming they withdraw from Poland and Hungary as they did IOTL. Conrad of Masovia can forget about taking over Cracow, not that in lasted very long IOTL. In fact Henry can easily gather a large army to prepare for another Mongol invasion and lead it against Conrad accusing him of refusing to help Christain forces againt the Mongols. He can also reorganize his state(s) and crown himself king of Poland claiming that Poland will need strong central authority capabale to fight against the threat from the east. I think the Church would support him, especially since Conrad was not very popular among the clergy. Some of the Polish nobles might even break with Conrad and join Henry.
Not all will be so pleasant though. Little Poland suffered a lot during the Mongol invasion. It is also possible the Mongols will be itching for revanche, just to show those westerners that they are the top dogs after all and mantain their reputation of invincibility. The 1st Mongol invasion of Poland in 1241 was in fact only done by relatively small force supporting the main army invading Hungary. Would Henry be able to face a full might of the Mongols?