Abstract
<jats:p>On the first day of February 1242, the Mongol army crossed the frozen Danube and advanced into the western regions of the Kingdom of Hungary, marking the final phase of their invasion of Central Europe. Drawing on a wide range of written sources and archaeological evidence, this article critically reassesses key aspects of this Mongol campaign, challenging prevailing misconceptions and offering new insights into the scale and strategic objectives of their operations in Transdanubia. Contrary to the frequently repeated opinion that the Mongols’ abrupt cessation of military activity in the region was prompted by news of Great Khan Ögödei’s death, this was not the case. The study argues that the Transdanubian campaign was a limited military undertaking, primarily intended to facilitate the Mongols’ principal war aim: the capture of King Béla IV of Hungary.</jats:p>