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Benutzer:Makreuzbichler/Son-Goku

2007-05-01T11:11:39Z

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{{animanga-in-universe}}
{{DB Character|
RefName= Son Goku|
image=[[Image:SonGoku.jpg|250px]]|
JapName=孫悟空カカロット|
RomName=Son Gokū Kakarotto|
AniName=Goku Kakarot|
MangaName=Son Goku Kakarrot|
AltName=Son Gokou Son Gokuh Son Gokuu Kakarott Zero|
CanonTo=Original [[Manga]]|
FirstApp=Dragon Ball Chapter #1 
Dragon Ball episode #1|
Appears in=[[DB]], [[DBZ]], [[DBGT]]|
Race=[[Saiyan|Saiya-jin (Saiyan)]]|
FamConnect=<li>[[List of Saiyans in Dragon Ball#Burdock|Burdock]] ''(father)''<li>[[List of Saiyans in Dragon Ball#Raditz|Raditz]] ''(brother)''<li>[[List of Earthlings in Dragon Ball#Grandpa Son Gohan|Grandpa Son Gohan]] ''(Adoptive grandfather)''<li>[[List of Earthlings in Dragon Ball#Chichi|Chichi]] ''(wife)''<li>[[List of Earthlings in Dragon Ball#Gyumao|Gyumao]] ''(father-in-law)''<li>[[Son Gohan]] ''(son)''<li>[[Son Goten]] ''(son)''<li>[[List of Earthlings in Dragon Ball#Videl|Videl]] ''(daughter-in-law)''<li>[[Mr. Satan]] ''(father of daughter-in-law)''<li>[[Pan (Dragon Ball)|Pan]] ''(granddaughter)''<li> [[Son Goku Jr.]] ''(great-great-grandson)''|
}}
'''{{nihongo|Son Goku|孫悟空|''Son Gokū''}}''' is the fictional main character and [[superhero]] of the ''[[Dragon Ball (franchise)|Dragon Ball]]'' series (created by the [[mangaka]] [[Akira Toriyama]]), including the [[manga]] ''[[Dragon Ball]]'', and the three anime series, ''[[Dragon Ball (anime)|Dragon Ball]]'', ''[[Dragon Ball Z]]'', and ''[[Dragon Ball GT]]''. The character is based upon the monkey protagonist, [[Sun Wukong]], from the [[China|Chinese]] novel ''[[Journey to the West]]''.

{{spoiler}}

==Personality==
Goku is known for his cheerful, energetic personality, fondness for competition (specifically fighting) and eating, as well as his kind and loving heart and his naivety to the world. He has remarkable intuition at seeing the good in others despite their actions. He eventually earns the respect of most of his enemies.
==Appearance==
Goku has spiky black hair, dark eyes and, like many of his acquaintances, is very muscular from years of physical training. His physique almost perfectly replicates his father [[List of Saiyans in Dragon Ball#Burdock|Burdock]]. His most common outfit is a orange martial arts uniform with a dark blue undershirt, wristbands, belt, and boots. The front and back of this outfit at first displays the symbols of his training masters ([[Muten-Roshi]], [[List of supernatural beings in Dragon Ball#North Kaio|North Kaio]]). He then uses his own symbol through the [[Freeza Saga]].

==Heritage==
''Kakarotto''/Kakarrot is Goku's name that he was given by his [[Saiyan]] family when he was born on [[Planet Vegeta]]. At first Goku rejects his heritage, but accepts it during his battle with [[Freeza]]. Only Saiyans refer to Goku by his Saiyan name and Vegeta refuses to refer to him as anything else, believing he should be proud of his Saiyan heritage.

Goku's original name fits in with the rest of his family; all the known members in his family are puns of vegetables that are related to each other. Goku's Saiyan name "Kakarrot" is a pun on "[[carrot]]." Goku's brother [[List of Saiyans in Dragon Ball#Raditz|Raditz]] is a pun of the word [[radish]] while his father Burdock's name is a pun of the herb called [[burdock]].

==Character History==
===Pre-Dragon Ball===
[[Image:Capsule-goku.jpg|left|160px|thumb|Baby Goku]]It is not revealed to the audience that Goku is a ruthless Saiyan warrior until the beginning of Dragon Ball Z. Kakarrot was sent to Earth to exterminate the Humans and make the planet suitable for conquest. Kakarrot is instead found by an old man named [[Grandpa Gohan]] who lives as a hermit on Mount Paozu, hundreds of miles away from the nearest city. Gohan, unaware of the boy's true Saiyan name, names him Goku. Goku was wild and unusually savage for a child, but one day during Gohan's travels, Goku falls out of his carrier and into a ravine where he suffers severe head trauma. The head trauma had scrambled his "programmed" Saiyan nature and Goku became an innocently naїve child, completely uninfluenced by desire and the evils of the world, and also completely unaware of his original mission of destruction.

Some time after that Goku transforms into an [[Oozaru]] one night and kills his adoptive grandfather. Goku was then left to fend for himself in the wilderness until he is twelve years old.

===''Dragon Ball''===
[[Image:Kidgoku.jpg|thumb|200px|Kid Goku in Dragon Ball]]
In the original series, Goku is first introduced to the audience at the age of 12. He is seemingly normal except for his naivety of the world, his great strength, and his tail. Goku also possesses a magical fighting stick called the Nyoi-bo and the four-star [[Dragon Ball (artifact)|Dragon Ball]]. Goku meets [[Bulma]] and together start the search for the Dragon Balls. During their quest Goku confronts the desert bandit [[Yamcha]],<ref>''Dragon Ball'' Graphics Novel Volume 1. "The Monkey King" USA, CAN.2003 — [[Special:Booksources/ISBN 1569319200|ISBN 1569319200]]</ref> who later becomes his friend. Goku also meets his future wife [[List of Earthlings in Dragon Ball#Chichi|Chichi]] and the legendary martial artist [[Muten-Rôshi]], from whom he receives his flying cloud called the [[Kintoun]] and later learns the [[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Kamehameha|Kamehameha]]. After the quest is finished, Goku begins to train with Muten-Rôshi and develops into one of the most powerful fighters on Earth. His fellow student [[Kuririn]] is a rival at first, but soon becomes Goku's best friend.<ref>''Dragon Ball'' Graphics Novel Volume 3. "The training of Kame-Sen´nin" USA, CAN.2003 — [[Special:Booksources/ISBN 1569319227|ISBN 1569319227]]</ref>

After Goku competes in, but loses, the 21st Martial Arts Tournament Tenka’ichi Budôkai, he leaves his friends behind once more and searches for the four-star Dragon Ball, which he believes contains the soul of his departed grandfather. Along the way he confronts the ruthless [[Red Ribbon Army]]. After defeating several top agents, Goku battles the deadly assassin, [[Tao Pai Pai]]. Goku is defeated at first but after receiving training from Master Karin, Goku defeats Tao Pai Pai and the whole Red Ribbon Army. Goku is sent by Muten-Roshi to train by himself around the world without kintoun, running, swimming and perfecting his abilities. They agree to meet again in the next tournament.

Goku's next major opponent was [[Tenshinhan]], a warrior trained by Muten-Rôshi’s rival, [[Master Shen#Tsuru-Sen.27nin|Tsuru-Sen'nin]]. Goku and Tenshinhan face off in the finals of the 22nd Martial Arts Tournament. Both fought valiantly, but Goku was unfortunately defeated by chance. However, as it was with Yamcha, Goku and Tenshinhan don't remain rivals for long and soon become close friends.<ref>''Dragon Ball'' Graphics Novel Volume 11." The eyes of Tenshinhan" USA, CAN.2003 — [[Special:Booksources/ISBN 1569319197|ISBN 1569319197]]</ref>

Immediately after the 22nd Martial Arts Tournament, [[List of supernatural beings in Dragon Ball#Piccolo Daimao|Piccolo Daimao]] appears, and after killing Kuririn, sets out to assassinate all martial artists on Earth to ensure his unchallenged rule. After a difficult series of battles, Goku eventually manages to defeat the demon and avenges Muten-Rôshi's and Kuririn's deaths. Moments before Piccolo's death however, he vows revenge and reincarnates himself in the form of an egg, which hatches into [[Piccolo (Dragon Ball)|Piccolo Jr]].<ref>''Dragon Ball'' Graphics Novel. Volume 12." The Demon King Piccolo" USA, CAN.2003 — [[Special:Booksources/ISBN 159116155X|ISBN 159116155X]]</ref>

After the battle, Goku accepts the gruelling training of [[List of supernatural beings in Dragon Ball#Kami|Kami]], the god of Earth for three years.<ref>''Dragon Ball'' Graphics Novel. Volume 13. "Piccolo conquer the world" USA, CAN.2003 — [[Special:Booksources/ISBN 1591161487|ISBN 1569319863]]</ref> <ref>''Dragon Ball'' Graphics Novel Volume 14 "Heaven and Earth" USA, CAN.2003 — [[Special:Booksources/ISBN 159116169X|ISBN 159116169X]]</ref>Goku arrives to participate in the 23rd Martial Arts Tournament, as does Piccolo Jr. in order to fight Goku and to avenge his predecessor's death. In the final match, both Goku and Piccolo fight ferociously, until Goku is severely injured. However, Goku prevails and defeats Piccolo, making him the champion of the 23rd Tenka’ichi Budôkai, and Goku finally claims the title of the "strongest under the heavens".<ref>''Dragon Ball'' Graphics Novel Volume 16."Goku vs Piccolo" USA, CAN.2003 — [[Special:Booksources/ISBN 1591164575|ISBN 1591164575]]</ref>

===''Dragon Ball Z''===
====Saiyan Saga====
{{main|Vegeta Saga}}
[[Image:Enter_Goku.jpg|200px|left|thumb|Adult Goku in Dragon Ball Z]]
At the start of the [[Dragon Ball Z]] series, Goku has built a family with his wife Chi-Chi, and their son, [[Son Gohan]]. A new super powerful threat arrives on Earth by the name of Raditz, who introduces himself as Goku's older brother. Raditz reveals to Goku that he is actually a Saiyan who was originally sent to Earth to conquer it. After realizing that Goku had forgotten his Saiyan roots, Raditz defeats Goku and kidnaps Gohan, telling Goku that he must kill at least 100 humans if he wishes to see his son alive again.<ref>''Dragon Ball Z'' Graphics Novel Volume 1. "The Greatest Team" USA, CAN. 2003 — [[Special:Booksources/ISBN 1569319308|ISBN 1569319308]]</ref> Piccolo then appears and offers to join forces in order to defeat Raditz. With the two of them greatly outclassed, Goku sacrifices himself, holding Raditz in place while Piccolo charges his [[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Makankōsappō|Makankosappo]]. Both are killed by Piccolo's attack.

Before dying, Goku learns that two more elite Saiyan Warriors, both more powerful than Raditz, would be coming to Earth in one year. Once in the afterlife, Goku travels along [[Serpent Road]] to receive training from [[North Kaiō]] so he can gain the strength to battle the Saiyans. Goku arrives at his destination, where North Kaiō teach Goku the [[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Kaiō-ken|Kaiō-Ken]] and the [[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Genki Dama|Genki-Dama]] on a planet with ten times the gravity of Earth. Before the battle begins, Goku is wished back to life and begins the journey back along Serpent Road so that he can return to Earth.<ref>''Dragon Ball Z'' Graphics Novel Volume 2."The Lord of Worlds" USA, CAN.2003 — [[Special:Booksources/ISBN 1569319316|ISBN 1569319316]]</ref>

Goku arrives late at the battle site, finding out that Yamcha, Tenshinhan, Chaozu, and Piccolo are already dead, but he defeats [[List of Saiyans in Dragon Ball#Nappa|Nappa]] with ease before confronting [[Vegeta]]. With the help of the Kaio-Ken and the Genki-Dama, as well as the assistance of Gohan, Kuririn, and [[List of Earthlings in Dragon Ball#Yajirobe|Yajirobe]], Vegeta is defeated. Kuririn then attempts to kill Vegeta, but Goku persuads him to let Vegeta go, something Vegeta promised to make Goku regret.<ref>''Dragon Ball Z'' Graphics Novel Volume 4. "Goku vs Vegeta" USA, CAN.2003 — [[Special:Booksources/ISBN 1569319332|ISBN 1569319332]]</ref>

====Freeza Saga====
{{main|Freeza Saga}}
After recovering from his battle with Vegeta, Goku travels to [[Planet Namek]] to aid Gohan, Kuririn and Bulma who are in search of the Namekian Dragon Balls. Goku arrives in time to save his friends and Vegeta from the [[Ginyu Force]]. Displaying the power he achieved through training under hundred times gravity of the Earth, Goku easily defeats the Ginyu Force members [[Recoome|Reacoom]] and [[Burter|Butta]], and then faces the leader [[Ginyu Force#Captain Ginyu|Captain Ginyu]]. The injuries Goku's body receives at the end incapacitate him, forcing Vegeta to place him within a rejuvenation chamber so that he may aid them in a final confrontation with [[Freeza]].

[[Image:Transformed_at_Last.jpg|right|200px|thumb|Super Saiyan Goku]]
Healed, Goku interrupts the ongoing battle before Freeza can kill Vegeta. Vegeta, in his dying words, pleads for Goku to kill Freeza to avenge the [[Saiyan]] race. Displaying impressive new strength, Goku manages to hold his own for a while, but Freeza eventually powers up to half of his full power and overwhelms him, forcing Goku to use the Genki-Dama. Freeza survives however, injuring Piccolo and murdering Kuririn which enrages Goku. Unleashing all of his power, Goku transforms into a [[Super Saiyan]]. Now more powerful than Freeza, the battle rages on until Freeza decides to obliterate the entire planet and he later powers up to his full power. As the planet dies around them, Goku and Freeza continue to fight until Freeza is cut in half by his own attack. Goku grudgingly spares Freeza some of his own energy to survive but the villain turns it against his benefactor, forcing Goku to destroy Freeza. Namek explodes, seemingly taking Goku's life in the process. However, when his friends attempt to revive him with the Namekian Dragon Balls, the dragon reveals that Goku is still alive.<ref>''Dragon Ball Z'' Graphics Novel Volume 11. "The Super Saiyan" USA, CAN.2003 — [[Special:Booksources/ISBN 1569318077|ISBN 1569318077]]</ref>

====Android Saga====
{{main|Cell Saga}}
Goku returns to Earth, only to be confronted by a teenage Super Saiyan named [[Future Trunks|Trunks]], who is from a future timeline. Trunks reveals that two androids (Jinzō'ningen) kill all the Z warriors and are destroying his world. Trunks provides Goku with an antidote for a heart disease which claimed his life in Trunks' future timeline before the arrival of the androids and ask the Z warriors to prepare for this new threat. Goku spends the next 3 years training with Piccolo and Gohan, not showing any signs of illness.

When the Jinzō'ningen appear, Goku battles Android #19. During the fight Goku becomes gradually weaker, having contracted the heart virus later than predicted, Goku falls to #19 but is saved by Vegeta before being taken to Kame House where the vaccine is administered. After recovering from the illness, Goku had sensed what happened around him, knowing that [[Android 17|#17]], [[Android 18|#18]] and [[Android 16|#16]] have been activated, this knowledge caused Goku to train further in the [[Room of Spirit and Time]] with Gohan. During their training, a new threat emerges, [[Cell (Dragon Ball)|Cell]].

After obtaining his perfect form, Cell is determined to face Goku hosting a fighting tournament, that he called "the Cell Games". The day of the tournament arrives and Goku faces Cell in battle using all his energy, only to eventually forfeit when he is worn out in order to allow Gohan to fight. Cell's torment of Gohan's friends and family forces him to transform into a Super Saiyan 2 where he easily dominates Cell. Desperate, Cell begins to self-destruct, forcing Goku to sacrifice himself and teleport together with Cell to North Kaio's planet where the explosion kills Goku. Cell regenerates from a single cell and returns to Earth more powerful than before facing Gohan again. Gohan struggles to overcome Cell's massive Kamehameha until Goku spiritually gives his son support from otherworld, allowing him to kill Cell. After the battle, the Z Warriors try to bring Goku back to life with the Dragon Balls, but Goku chooses to remain in the afterlife, believing himself to be the cause of many of the threats to Earth and his loved ones. He is granted the honour to keep his body, allowing him to continue training. <ref>''Dragon Ball Z'' Graphics Novel Volume 19. "Death of a Warrior" USA, CAN.2003 — [[Special:Booksources/ISBN 1591167515|ISBN 1591167515]]</ref>

====Buu Saga====
{{main|Buu Saga}}
On the day of the revival of the [[Tenkaichi Budokai|Tenka'ichi Budôkai]], Goku is given special permission to return to [[Earth (Dragon Ball)|Earth]] for one day to participate, allowing him to again see his loved ones and his newest son, Goten. During the tournament, Goku is informed by [[List of supernatural beings in Dragon Ball#Kaiōshin|Kaiōshin]] of the imminent threat posed by the evil wizard Babidi and so leaves to face the new danger. Arriving at Babidi's ship, Goku and his allies are forced to face Babidi's henchmen, unwittingly providing power to the slumbering [[Majin Buu]]. Babidi possesses Vegeta who forces Goku to finally have a rematch bout until Buu is released from his rest due to the massive amount of energy being output from the fight. Before they can face Buu, Vegeta feigns a forfeit and knocks Goku unconscious. Upon awakening, Goku assesses the dire situation and decides to train Goten and Trunks in the art of Fusion before his time on Earth runs out.

[[Image:Ss3goku.jpg|200px|right|thumb|Super Saiyan 3 Goku]]Goku faces Buu in battle, unveiling his Super Saiyan 3 form and overwhelming the nearly invincible Buu. The transformation consumes the majority of his remaining energy however and Goku is forced to return to the afterlife earlier than anticipated. Learning that Gohan is alive and training with Kaiōshin, Goku teleports to the Kai Planet, observing the battle on Earth through a crystal ball. When Gohan's training is complete, he returns to Earth to face Buu but faces defeat after Buu's absorption of Gotenks and Piccolo. Rou Dai Kaiōshin transfers his life force to Goku to resurrect him and allow him to aid Gohan in battle, armed with the [[Fusion (Dragon Ball)#Potara Earring Fusion|Potara fusion earrings]]. Before he can fuse with his son, Gohan is also absorbed leaving Goku desperate until Vegeta is allowed back to earth. The pair fuse to create the super warrior, [[List of Saiyans in Dragon Ball#Vegetto|Vegetto]].

Vegetto easily overpowers Buu before being purposefully absorbed by Buu to rescue his friends. The mystic nature of Buu's insides forces Vegetto's fusion to become unstable and the two separate back into Vegeta and Goku. They are confronted inside Buu's mind by an incarnation of Buu until Vegeta releases the absorbed Good Buu forcing an uncontrollable transformation, creating Kid Buu(Buu´s original form). Goku and Vegeta escape from Buu's body but Kid Buu, no longer having any goodness in him, quickly destroy Earth. Goku, Vegeta, [[Dende]] and [[Mr. Satan]] are rescued by Kaioshin and teleported to the Planet of the Kais.

Buu eventually traces them and again battles the two Saiyans. After Goku is worn out, Vegeta ask Dende to use the Namekian Dragon Balls to restore Earth and all of its inhabitants, to use their power to create a Super Genki-Dama for Goku. With persuasion from Mr Satan, the Genki-Dama is supplied with a vast amount of energy which Goku then throws toward Kid Buu. Kid Buu amazingly blocks the attack until the final wish is used to restore Goku's full power, allowing him transform into his base Super Saiyan form and force the Genki-Dama forward, disintegrating Kid Buu, settling his rivalry with Vegeta and restoring peace to the Universe.<ref>''Dragon Ball Z'' Graphics Novel Volume 26. "Good bye Dragon world" USA, CAN.2003 — [[Special:Booksources/ISBN 142150636X|ISBN 142150636X]]</ref>

===''Dragon Ball Z Movies''===
Goku appears in every single Dragon Ball Z movie. In [[Dragon Ball Z: Dead Zone|Dead Zone]], he witnesses Gohan's true power and the defeat of [[Garlic Junior]], in [[Dragon Ball Z: The World's Strongest|The World's Strongest]] he thrwarts the plans of a mad scientist, in [[Dragon Ball Z: The Tree of Might|The Tree of Might]] he defeats the Saiyan, [[Tullece]], in [[Dragon Ball Z: Lord Slug|Lord Slug]] he puts an end to the Namekian, [[Lord Slug|Slug]], in [[Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge|Cooler's Revenge]] and [[Dragon Ball Z: Return of Cooler|Return of Cooler]] he stops Freeza's older brother, [[Coola]], in [[Dragon Ball Z: Super Android 13!|Super Android 13!]] he fights the [[Android #13]], in [[Dragon Ball Z: Broly the Legendary Super Saiyan|Broly the Legendary Super Saiyan]] he battles the Legendary Super Saiyan, [[Broly]], in [[Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound|Bojack Unbound]], [[Dragon Ball Z: Broly Second Coming| Broly Second Coming]], and [[Dragon Ball Z: Bio-Broly|Bio-Broly]] he watches from the Afterlife as his sons fight the alien [[Bojack]] and then Broly twice, in [[Dragon Ball Z: Fusion Reborn|Fusion Reborn]] he and Vegeta fuse into [[Gogeta]] and fight the monster, [[Janemba]], and in [[Dragon Ball Z: Wrath of the Dragon|Wrath of the Dragon]] he ends the destruction of the monster, [[Hirudegarn]].

===''Dragon Ball GT''===
====Baby Saga====
{{main|Baby Saga}}
[[Image:SonGokussj4.jpg|200px|left|thumb|Super Saiyan 4 Goku]]
Years later, an accidental wish by [[Emperor Pilaf]] upon the [[Dragon Ball (artifact)|Black Star Dragon Balls]] reverts Goku back into his childhood physical form. Goku is then tasked with returning all 7 Black Star Dragon Balls back to Earth after they separate across the galaxy to prevent the destruction of Earth. During his journey, Goku encounters [[Baby (Dragon Ball)|Baby]], a creation of the race that lived on Planet Vegeta before the Saiyans arrived. Upon their return to Earth, Goku and his friends encounter Baby again who has possessed Vegeta and enslaved all life on Earth. Against [[Vegeta#Baby Vegeta|Baby Vegeta]], Goku's child-like state is easily beaten and he is almost killed, being saved by [[Kibitoshin]] in his final moments. Believing Goku to be dead, Baby uses the Black Star Dragon Balls to wish [[Planet Vegeta|Planet Plant]] back into existence in orbit around Earth and begins transporting all enslaved, Earth life there to become the new [[Tsufurujin]] race.

Meanwhile on Planet Kaioshin, Rou Dai Kaioshin plan to re-growing his Saiyan tail to upgrade Goku's power. Confident, Goku travels to Planet Plant and confronts Baby only to be beaten again. Defeated, Goku stares up at Earth, its reflected moon-light causing him to transform into a raging Golden [[Oozaru]] before Pan calms him down, allowing him to ascend into a [[Super Saiyan#Super Saiyan 4|Super Saiyan 4]]. Goku defeats Baby Vegeta, forcing Baby to flee Vegeta's body before Goku blasts him into the sun.

====Super 17 Saga====
{{main|Super 17 Saga}}
A badly beaten Trunks arrives at Goku's door revealing his attacker to be Android #17. Goku follows the orders given to Trunks and leaves for [[Hell (Dragon Ball)|Hell]], through a black-hole in the sky, where he meets Dr. Myu, and Dr. Gero, who leave and seal the exit behind them, trapping Goku in the afterlife. To worsen matters, Cell and Freeza both appear. After a short fight, Cell and Freeza manage to drag Goku into the deepest part of Hell, where an old lady traps him within a block of ice.

Being alive allows Goku to escape and incapacitate Freeza and Cell. Goku, still trapped in Hell, asks [[List of Deities in Dragon Ball#Enma Daiō|Enma Daiō]] for help, to which Enma responds that his powers are being blocked and he cannot release Goku. Piccolo and Dende then create another portal between the living world and Hell to allow Goku's escape.

Goku battles the newly fused [[Super 17]], with the help of Android #18. Goku defeats Super 17, piercing his stomach with a Ryū Ken before finishing him with a Kamehameha.

====Shadow Dragon Saga====
{{main|Shadow Dragon Saga}}

Goku and his companions wanted to restore the planet´s damage with the seven Dragon Balls, but instead of [[List of supernatural beings in Dragon Ball#Shen Long|Shen Long]], seven evil Dragons have emerged from the Dragon Balls negative energy. Goku, follow by Pan, confront and defeat six dragons, but the most powerful enemy of all, One Star Dragon, [[Yi Xing Long]], absorbs the other Dragon Balls into himself, forming [[List of supernatural beings in Dragon Ball#Yi Xing Long |Super Yi Xing Long]]. Gohan, Goten, Trunks and Ubb try to fight but are easily defeated. Vegeta arrives along with [[Bulma]] and uses a Bruitz Waves Generator to turn into a Golden Oozaru and transforms into a Super Saiyan 4. Desperate to end the Dragon's wrath, Vegeta suggests the fusion dance with Goku to make Super Saiyan 4 Gogeta. Gogeta nearly defeats Yi Xing Long, but his fusion time ends before the battle can be finished. The evil Dragon beats all the warriors to death, throwing his powerful negative energy to Goku. Mortally wounded, Goku starts gathering all the energy of the universe into a Genkidama, and annihilating Yi Xing Long with it, returning the Dragon Balls to how they once were and purging them of evil. Later, the real Shen Long appears and heal Goku and his friends, telling them that no more wishes shall be granted. Goku however, in exchange for one last wish, agrees to give up his place on Earth and accompany the Dragon back to the realm from which it came. The seven Dragon Balls are absorbed into Goku's body, and the dragon and Goku vanish.

[[Image:Goku_says_farewell.jpg|thumb|200px|Goku bidding farewell]]

Goku returns to Earth 100 years later to observe his great-great grandson, [[List of Saiyans in Dragon Ball#Goku Jr.|Goku Jr.]], fight Vegeta's great-great grandson [[List of Saiyans in Dragon Ball#Vegeta Jr.|Vegeta Jr.]] Seeing peace restored, Goku flies off on the Kintoun, forever ending the Dragon Ball series. The fate of the Dragon Balls is unknown, however Goku passes the four-star ball down to Goku Jr. the same way his Grandpa Gohan passed it down to him.

==Forms and transformations==
[[Image:GokuForms.jpg|thumb|200px|Goku in all of his forms throughout Dragon Ball Z]]
As a member of the Saiyan race, Goku has acquired through training, the ability to transform. By transforming his body, Goku greatly enhances his abilities from the previous state. Goku is the only Saiyan in the entire Dragon Ball series who achieves all known Saiyan transformations. These forms are listed in the order they were attained:

'''Oozaru''' 
{{main|Oozaru}}
This form was a powerful but uncontrollable state common to all Saiyans where the user transforms into a large, ape-like creature increasing strength speed durability and spirit energy(ki) 10 fold, commonly referred to as a Great Ape. As a child, Goku was able to use this form, growing to a size that rivaled small buildings. In this form, Goku became an incredible force to be reckoned with but has no control over his actions at all, his mind overcome with a primal rage. This form was never used again by Goku after Dragon Ball due to his tail being removed permanently by Kami but does make a brief appearance in Dragon Ball GT.

'''Super Saiyan''' ''
{{main|Super Saiyan}}
Goku was the first Saiyan in the series to achieve this transformation in over 1000 years making him the legendary Super Saiyan. After Freeza murdered [[Kuririn]], seriously injured [[Piccolo (Dragon Ball)|Piccolo]], and threatened the life of his son, Gohan, Goku was overcome with rage and the motivation to stop Freeza once and for all, transforming into a Super Saiyan. This transformation enabled him to increase strength speed durability and spirit energy to a power that was fifty times his base power.

'''Ascended Super Saiyan/Super Saiyan 2nd Grade

Goku achieved this form after training in the Room of Spirit and Time upon Kami's Tower by continuously increasing his power, forcing his body to grow to contain the energy. Though it granted him a huge power increase and he still retained his speed unlike the Ultra Super Saiyan form, he decided never using it in battle, instead preferring to perfect his regular Super Saiyan transformation.

'''Ultra Super Saiyan/Super Saiyan 3rd Grade

Other than displaying it to Gohan during training, Goku never actually used this form as he noticed the defects of the increased muscle mass. He discovered the weakness and chose not to continue the training Trunks and Vegeta did (however Vegeta was aware of the weakness as stated by Cell). He instead directed his methods on searching for a more effective form, thus reaching Full Powered Super Saiyan.

'''Super Saiyan, Full-Power''' 
Goku learned to perfect the Super Saiyan form, and first used it in battle against Cell. He discovered this mastery of the Super Saiyan while training with Gohan in the Room of Spirit and Time. In this form a saiyan does not feel the physical strain that comes with being a super saiyan and thus can keep this form for a much longer time.

'''Super Saiyan 2''' 
Goku first revealed this ability during his battle against [[Vegeta|Majin Vegeta]] in the Buu Saga. Though it is never seen where Goku learns this form, it can be assumed he unlocked this transformation while in the afterlife. The form granted Goku great enhancements in strength, speed, durability and spirit energy from Super Saiyan, though his appearance changed very little from the regular Super Saiyan.

'''Super Saiyan 3''' 
This was the final transformation Goku achieved in Dragon Ball Z. Goku was the only character to ever use the form without having fused with another character first. He displayed this form first during the Buu Saga against Majin Buu and admits that he achieved it while training in the afterlife. The form was the strongest transformation available in the DBZ universe but consumed large amounts of Goku's energy, reducing his time on the Earth substantially. Again, the form augmented Goku's Super Saiyan 2 strength speed durability and spirit energy. In the manga, Goku says that in the Other World he could reach the full potential of Super Saiyan 3, but on Earth he lost energy and reverted back to his original form before he could defeat Buu. The full potential of Super Saiyan 3 is obviously very great because Vegeta noted that if he were to build his chi, or ki,(spirit energy) he would be able to obliterate Buu.

'''Golden Oozaru''' 
Goku achieved this transformation in Dragon Ball GT after being transformed into a child and having his Saiyan tail restored. This state allowed him to transform into a rampaging, mindless, Super Saiyan Oozaru with golden fur instead of brown/black. This form allows him to contain greater levels of power than ever before. The raw, animal rage combined with the increase in raw strength made him a terrible force of destruction. When his granddaughter, Pan, managed to calm the raging Goku, the Oozaru power was condensed and focused allowing him to transform into a Super Saiyan 4.

'''Super Saiyan 4''' 
Goku achieved this form during his battle with [[Baby (Dragon Ball)|Baby-Vegeta]] in Dragon Ball GT. After being calmed down in the Golden Oozaru state, his mind was allowed to focus, and he was able to control his power and transform into a Super Saiyan 4, shrinking from the Oozaru form down to his regular adult size.
 

== Fusions ==
'''[[List of Saiyans in Dragon Ball#Vegetto|Vegetto]]'''

The Potara Saiyan Fusion between Goku and Vegeta, Vegetto, is considered to be the most powerful being in Dragon Ball Z. He was created as a desperate plan by Rou Dai Kaiōshin, to stop the powerful Majin Buu. Goku's relaxation and Vegeta's strategic mind enabled Vegetto to be quite an intelligent character without being overcome by arrogance but still possessing the ruthlessness to kill Buu. During their fight Vegetto outclassed Buu in every way, usually toying with him and tormenting him. Although the fusion was thought to be permanent, Vegetto ends up separating back into Goku and Vegeta once inside Buu's stomach.

'''[[List of Saiyans in Dragon Ball#Gogeta|Gogeta]]'''

The result of a Fusion Dance performed by Goku and Vegeta. Unlike with [[Vegetto|Potara Fusion]], the Fusion Dance creates a perfect fusion of minds and personalities between the participants creating a totally new individual with a unique personality. Gogeta is capable of using Super Saiyan forms including Super Saiyan 4. Unfortunately, at Super Saiyan 4, Gogeta's power is so great that the normal 30-minute duration of the Fusion Dance is cut to 15 minutes.

{{endspoiler}}

==Techniques and special abilities==
'''[[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Bukujutsu|Bukujutsu]]''' '''(Flight)'''
:This is the ability to fly using one's [[Qi|ki]]. Goku simply controls his energy and pushes out from underneath him allowing him to fly.

'''[[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Genki Dama|Genki-Dama]]''' '''(Spirit Bomb)'''
:Perhaps Goku's most powerful attack, the Genki Dama draws energy from all life and places it in a deadly ki ball. Goku uses this against many of his more powerful opponents. The downside is that he is quite vulnerable during its lengthy creation time. He can only perform this technique out of Super Saiyan. When he attempted to use it against Android 13, as a Super Saiyan, he absorbed its energy instead of throwing it, though it still fueled him to victory.

'''[[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Jan-ken|Jan-Ken]]''' '''(Rock-Scissors-Paper)'''
: This is Goku's special attack in early [[Dragon Ball (original series)|Dragon Ball]], but is soon replaced by the Kamehameha. The user shouts "Jan Ken", then a name corresponding to the attack. "Jan Ken Gu", equals rock and will be a strong punch. "Jan Ken Chyoki", equals scissors and will be a poke in the eyes. "Jan Ken Pa", equals paper and will be an open palm strike.

'''[[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Kaiō-ken|Kaiō-Ken]]''' '''(Fist of the Worlds)'''
: The Kaioken is one of Goku's most famous attacks in the Dragon Ball series. The Kaioken is a sudden eruption of ki, doubling Goku's physical abilities and strengh. Through training, Goku was able to increase the multiplier that the Kaiōken had on his power. Even though this attack gives Goku a sudden explosion of energy, the effect of it is extremely dangerous. If Goku multiplies the attack too much for his body to handle, he could kill himself by vaporizing his body.

'''[[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Kamehameha|Kamehameha]]''' '''(Turtle Destruction Wave)''' 
[[Image:Kamehameha.jpg|thumb|200px|Goku using the '''Kamehameha Wave''']]
:Goku's signature attack and the trademark technique of the series, the Kamehameha is a powerful, constant stream of energy hurled at an opponent usually through the hands. Goku learned to use this technique by mimicing [[Muten Roshi]], who used it to put the flames out on Fry-Pan Mountain during the original Dragon Ball series but Goku's was not as powerful as Muten Roshi's. Goku later developed several and more powerful variations of this attack during the course of the Dragon Ball series.

'''[[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Ryū-Ken|Ryū-Ken]]''' '''(Dragon Fist)'''
:''Ryū-Ken'' is the first and only technique that Goku created himself. He charges his energy into his fist and it creates a [[Shenlong]]-like dragon that he drives through the opponent he is facing. An exception to this was an Oozaru, instead of a dragon. This happened during Dragon Ball, when Goku defeated [[Piccolo Daimaō]].
'''[[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Kienzan|Kienzan]]''' '''(Destructo Disk)''' 
:Originally Kuririn's most powerful attack, the Kienzan is a razor sharp disk of energy that can slice through any opponent.

'''[[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Shunkan Idō|Shunkan Idô]]''' '''(Instant Transmission)'''
:An ability Goku learned on his way back to Earth from Namek on a remote planet called Yardrat. It allows him to teleport nearly anywhere instantly so long as he focuses on a specific ki signal at the desired location or can see where he wants to go. He places two fingers on his forehead to focus on a power signal.

'''[[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Taiyōken|Taiyōken]]''' '''(Solar Flare)'''
:Also known as the ''Fist of the Sun''. A technique learned from [[Tenshinhan]] that uses energy to reflect the full light of the sun at an opponent within close proximity, temporarily blinding them.

'''[[List of Dragon Ball special abilities#Zanzōken|Zanzôken]]''' '''(After-Image)'''
:Also known as the Nin-ju-Zanzôken or ''Double Shadow Attack'', this is when the user of this technique is able to move extremely fast over very short distances (usually a maximum of a few meters), leaving two rather misleading blurry after-images illusion behind.

==Voice actors==
In the English versions of Dragon Ball, the voice actors for Goku and many other characters of the series have changed as a result of the series changing dubbing studios and requiring recasting.

[[Toei Animation]]
* [[Masako Nozawa]]

[[FUNimation Entertainment|FUNimation]] ([[Ocean Group]]):
* [[Saffron Henderson]] (Kid Goku (1995 dub))
* [[Ian James Corlett]] (Adult Goku in Dragon Ball Z Season 1)
* [[Peter Kelamis]] (Adult Goku in Season 2)
* [[Kirby Morrow]] (Adult Goku from the end of the Cell saga (ep 144) to the end of DBZ)

FUNimation (in-house actors):
* [[Sean Schemmel]] (Adult Goku in Dragon Ball, Dragon Ball Z, Dragon Ball GT, and Super Saiyan 4 Goku in DBGT)
* [[Stephanie Nadolny]] (Kid Goku in Dragon Ball and "Kid" Goku Dragon Ball GT)

== Appearances in other media ==
===Video games===
'''Dragon Ball'''
*''[[Dragon Power|Dragon Power (The Mystery of Shenlong)]]'' ([[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]])
*''[[Wrath of the Demon King|Dragon Ball: Daimaō Fukkatsu]]'' ([[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]])
*''[[Dragon Ball 3: Gokuuden]]'' ([[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]])
*''[[Dragon Ball: Advance Adventure]]'' ([[Game Boy Advance]])
'''Dragon Ball Z'''
*''[[Super Butoden]]'' ([[SNES]])
*''[[Super Butoden 2|Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden 2]]'' ([[SNES]])
*''[[Super Butoden 3|Dragon Ball Z: Super Butoden 3]]'' ([[SNES]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Buyuu Retsuden]]'' ([[Sega Megadrive]])
*''[[Ultimate Battle 22|Dragon Ball Z: Ultimate Battle 22]]'' ([[Playstation]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Hyper Dimension]]'' ([[SNES]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Indainaru Dragon Ball Densetsu]]'' ([[Sega Saturn]], [[Playstation]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Legendary Super Warriors]]'' ([[Game Boy Color]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku]]'' ([[Game Boy Advance]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Budokai]]'' ([[Playstation 2]] [[GameCube]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 2]]'' ([[Playstation 2]] [[GameCube]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Taiketsu]]'' ([[Game Boy Advance]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: The Legacy of Goku II]] ([[Game Boy Advance]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Budokai 3]]'' ([[Playstation 2]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Buu's Fury]]'' ([[Game Boy Advance]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Super Sonic Warriors]]'' ([[Game Boy Advance]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi]]'' ([[Playstation 2]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Sagas]]'' ([[Playstation 2]], [[Xbox]], [[Gamecube]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Super Sonic Warriors 2]]'' ([[Nintendo DS]])
*''[[Jump Superstars]]'' ([[Nintendo DS]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]], [[Wii]])
*''[[Jump Ultimate Stars]]'' ([[Nintendo DS]])
*''[[Super Dragon Ball Z]]'' ([[PlayStation 2]])
*''[[Battle Stadium D.O.N]]''
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai]]'' ([[Playstation Portable|PSP]])
*''[[Dragon Ball Z: Shin Budokai - Another Road]]'' ([[Playstation Portable|PSP]])

'''Dragon Ball GT'''
*''[[Dragon Ball GT: Final Bout]]'' ([[Playstation]])
*''[[Dragon Ball GT: Transformation]]'' ([[Game Boy Advance]])

''All games listed chronologically.''

===Manga===
* Goku appears as a cameo in the [[Neko Majin]] series as Neko Majin's teacher.
* Goku appears during a [[One Piece]] and Dragon Ball Crossover [[Cross Epoch]]. He travels with Luffy to Shenlong's tea party.

===TV===
* In Japan, there is a short movie that features One Piece and Dragon Ball Z joining forces to take down [[Enel (One Piece)|Enel]] who tried to destroy Japan. Both [[Luffy]] and Goku team up to put an end to his evil.
* Characters personifying Goku and Gohan were featured in the [[Christmas]] special of [[Robot Chicken]], in which [[Santa Claus]] asks Goku to save Christmas. "Gohan" in the episode was met with scrutiny because he looks like Goku from Dragonball GT. Fans debate who the character actually is, but Goku in one scene does call him Gohan.
* In the ''New Dr. Slump'' series, [[Arale Norimaki]] uses a new invention of [[Senbei Norimaki|Senbei]]'s to bring the final [[Dragon Ball]] [[manga]] to life. Upon doing so, a black and white Goku and [[Majin Buu#Kid Buu|Kid Buu]] come to life as they fight in the middle of Arale's house. Later on, a younger Goku stays in Penguin Village as Senbei fixes his broken Dragon Radar so he can search for the remaining seventh Dragon Ball he needs. Upon his stay, Murasaki and Blue pay a visit to try and steal the Dragon Balls away. Needless to say, they are both outdone by Goku and Arale.

== In popular culture ==
[[Image:Goku-vs-superman.jpg|thumb|130px|right|Goku battles [[Superman]] on a comic section of ''Wizard'' magazine]]
* There are many similarties between Son Goku and [[Superman]]. Both have similar origins (sent to another planet, homeworlds destroyed, found by a nice elderly person who raised him as his own) and powers (super strength, super speed, flight, high-invulnerability) and both characters have died and been resurrected. In the 133rd edition (September 2002) of [[Wizard Magazine]], a hypothetical Superman vs. Goku match up was published. Goku won the fight quite easily, needing to just tap into the first Super Saiyan level to defeat Superman.

== Notes and references ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[http://www.shonenjump.com/mangatitles/db/manga_db.php]Dragon Ball manga.
*[http://www.shonenjump.com/mangatitles/dbz/manga_dbz.php]Dragon Ball Z manga.
*[http://www.dragonballz.com/]FUNimation web site.
*[http://www.atari.com/dragonballz/]Atari web site.
*[http://www.dragonballz.com.au]Official Dragon Ball web site Australia.

{{Dragon Ball characters}}

[[Category:Child superheroes|Goku, Son]]
[[Category:Z Fighters|Goku, Son]]
[[Category:Japanese superheroes|Goku, Son]]
[[Category:Fictional adoptees|Goku, Son]]
[[Category:Fictional orphans|Goku, Son]]
[[Category:Anime and manga characters who can teleport|Goku, Son]]
[[Category:Extraterrestrial superheroes|Goku, Son]]
[[Category:Fictional telepaths|Goku, Son]]

[[ar:جوكو]]
[[ca:Son Goku]]
[[es:Son Gokū]]
[[fr:Son Gokû]]
[[gl:Son Goku]]
[[ko:손오공 (드래곤볼)]]
[[hr:Goku]]
[[id:Son Goku]]
[[it:Goku]]
[[lt:Songokas]]
[[ms:Son Goku]]
[[nl:Goku]]
[[ja:孫悟空 (ドラゴンボール)]]
[[no:Son Gokū]]
[[pl:Son Gokū]]
[[pt:Son Goku]]
[[sr:Goku]]
[[fi:Son Goku]]
[[th:ซุน โกคู]]
[[zh:孙悟空 (漫画角色)]]

Eroberung von Bagdad

2006-11-15T10:02:39Z

195.195.38.1: /* Destruction of Baghdad */

{{Infobox Military Conflict
|conflict=Battle of Baghdad
|partof=the [[Mongol invasions]]
|image=[[Image:Hulagu Baghdad 1258.jpg|300px]]
|caption=Hulagu's army attacks Baghdad.
|date=[[January 29]]-[[February 10]], [[1258]]
|place=[[Bagdad]], [[Iraq]]
|result=Decisive Mongol victory
|combatant1=[[Mongols]]
|combatant2=[[Abbasid Caliphate]]
|commander1=[[Hulagu Khan]]
[[Guo Kan]]
|commander2=Caliph [[Al-Musta'sim]]
|strength1=Unknown
|strength2=Unknown
|casualties1=Unknown, but believed minimal
|casualties2=Military, 50,000(est.); Civilian, estimates range from 90,000 to 1 million
}}
{{Campaignbox Mongol invasions}}

The '''Battle of Baghdad''' in [[1258]] was a victory for the [[Mongol]] leader [[Hulagu Khan]], a grandson of [[Genghis Khan]]. Baghdad was captured, sacked, and burned.

==Background==

[[Baghdad]] was the [[capital]] of an [[Islam|Islamic]] state in what is now [[Iraq]] and parts of [[Iran]]; it was ruled by [[Al-Musta'sim]], then the [[Abbasid]] [[caliph]].

The Abbasid caliphate had been in existence for over 500 years, since the accession of the first caliph in Baghdad 751 CE. The Abbasids were the second of the Islamic dynasties; they had defeated the [[Umayyad]]s, who had ruled since the death of [[Ali]] in 661.

Once mighty, the Abbasid caliphate had lost control over much of the former Islamic empire and had declined into a minor state. The caliph had become a figurehead, controlled by Mamluk or Turkic warlords. However, the caliphate still had great symbolic significance, and Baghdad was still a rich and cultured city.

==The battle==

The Mongol army, led by Hulagu (or Hulegu) Khan and the Chinese commander, [[Guo Kan]] as in vice-command set out for Baghdad in November of [[1257]]. Hulagu marched with what was probably the largest army ever fielded by the Mongols. By order of [[Mongke Khan]], one in ten fighting men in the entire empire were gathered for Hulagu's army (Saunders 1971).

Hulagu demanded surrender; the caliph refused, warning the Mongols that they faced the wrath of Allah if they attacked the caliph. Many accounts say that the caliph failed to prepare for the onslaught; he neither gathered armies nor strengthened the walls of Baghdad. [[David Nicolle]] states flatly that the Caliph not only failed to prepare, even worse, he greatly offended Hulagu Khan by his threats, and thus assured his destruction. (Monke Khan had ordered his brother to spare the Caliphate if it submitted to the authority of the Mongol Khanate.)

Prior to laying siege to Bagdad, Hulagu easily destroyed the Lurs, and his reputation so frightened the Assassins (also known as the [[Hashshashin]]) that they surrendered their impregnable fortress of [[Alamut]] to him without a fight in 1256. He then advanced on Bagdad.

Once near the city, Hulagu divided his forces, so that they threatened both sides of the city, on the east and west banks of the Tigris. The caliph's army repulsed some of the forces attacking from the west, but were defeated in the next battle. The attacking Mongols broke some dikes and flooded the ground behind the caliph’s army, trapping them. Much of the army was slaughtered or drowned.

Under Guo Kan's order, the Chinese counterparts in the Mongolian army then laid siege to the city, constructing a palisade and ditch, wheeling up siege engines and catapults. The siege started on [[January 29]]. The battle was swift, by siege standards. By [[February 5]] the Mongols controlled a stretch of the wall. Al-Musta'sim tried to negotiate, but was refused.

On [[February 10]] Baghdad surrendered. The Mongols swept into the city on [[February 13]] and began a week of massacre, looting, rape, and destruction.

==Destruction of Baghdad==

Many historical accounts detailed the cruelties of the Mongol conquerors.

* The [[House of Wisdom|Grand Library of Baghdad]], containing countless precious historical documents and books on subjects ranging from medicine to astronomy, was destroyed. Survivors said that the waters of the Tigris ran black with ink from the enormous quantities of books flung into the river.

* Citizens attempted to flee, but were intercepted by Mongol soldiers who killed with abandon. Martin Sicker writes that close to 90,000 people may have died (Sicker 2000, p. 111). Other estimates go much higher. Wassaf claims the loss of life was several hundred thousand. Ian Frazier of ''[[The New Yorker]]'' says estimates of the death toll have ranged from 200,000 to a million.

* The Mongols looted and then destroyed. Mosques, palaces, libraries, hospitals—grand buildings that had been the work of generations—were burned to the ground.

* The caliph was captured and forced to watch as his citizens were murdered and his treasury plundered. The caliph was killed by [[trampling]]. The Mongols rolled the caliph up in a rug, and rode their horses over him, as they believed that the earth was offended if touched by royal blood. All but one of his sons were killed.

* Hulagu had to move his camp upwind of the city, due to the stench of decay from the ruined city.

Typically, the Mongols destroyed a city only if it had resisted them. Cities that capitulated at the first demand for surrender could usually expect to be spared. The utter ferocity of the rape of Baghdad was to some extent a military tactic: it was supposed to convince other cities and rulers to surrender without a fight, and while that worked with [[Damascus]], it failed utterly with Mamluk Egypt, which was inspired to resist, and subsequently defeated the Mongols at the [[Battle of Ain Jalut]] in [[1260]].

Baghdad was a depopulated, ruined city for several centuries and only gradually recovered some of its former glory.

==Comments on the destruction==

* ''"Iraq in 1258 was very different from present day Iraq. Its agriculture was supported by a canal network thousands of years old. Baghdad was one of the most brilliant intellectual centers in the world. The Mongol destruction of Baghdad was a psychological blow from which Islam never recovered. Already Islam was turning inward, becoming more suspicious of conflicts between faith and reason and more conservative. With the sack of Baghdad, the intellectual flowering of Islam was snuffed out. Imagining the Athens of Pericles and Aristotle obliterated by a nuclear weapon begins to suggest the enormity of the blow. The Mongols filled in the irrigation canals and left Iraq too depopulated to restore them."'' (Steven Dutch)

* ''"They swept through the city like hungry falcons, attacking a flight of doves, or like raging wolves attacking sheep, with loose reins and shameless faces, murdering and spreading terror...beds and cushions made of gold and encrusted with jewels were cut to pieces with knives and torn to shreds. Those hiding behind the veils of the great Harem were dragged...through the streets and alleys, each of them becoming a plaything...as the population died at the hands of the invaders."'' (Abdullah Wassaf as cited by David Morgan)

==Destruction or salination?==

Some historians believe that the Mongol invasion destroyed much of the irrigation infrastructure that had sustained Mesopotamia (now Iraq) for so many millennia. Canals were cut as a military tactic and never repaired. So many people had died or fled that there was neither the labor or the organization necessary to maintain the canal system. It broke down or silted up. This theory was advanced by historian [[Svatopluk Souček]] in his 2000 book, ''A History of Inner Asia'' and has been adopted by authors such as Steven Dutch.

Other historians point to [[soil salination]] as the culprit in the decline in agriculture. [http://home.alltel.net/bsundquist1/ir5.html] [http://www.saudiaramcoworld.com/issue/198305/the.greening.of.the.arab.east-the.planters.htm]

==Complicity of the Shi'a?==

One author, Reuvan Amitai-Preiss, has alleged that the Mongols were aided by Shi'a Muslims who bore a grudge against the Sunni Abbasids. But another, David Nicolle, alleged that most of the Shi'a who joined the invaders, did so out of fear of being slaughtered, as all those who resisted were being killed. Any force that surrendered at once, as virtually all of southern Persia had, and what is today northern Iraq, were allowed to live, but as Mongol vassals, had to provide troops for the invaders. Later, as Il-Khan, Hulagu, in organizing his domains, integrated these troops into his army more thoroughly though the vast majority of his troops were Mongols -- one Mongol in ten had been drafted for his army -- and Turkic nomads who had submitted to the Mongols.

==See also==

* [[Mongol empire]]
* [[Abbasids]]
* [[Baghdad]]
* [[Tigris-Euphrates river system]]
* [[Soil salination]]

==References==

* Amitai-Preiss, Reuven. ''Mongols and Mamluks: The Mamluk-Ilkhanid War, 1260–1281'' (first edition). Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1998. ISBN 0-521-46226-6.
* Morgan, David. ''The Mongols''. Boston: Blackwell Publishing, 1990. ISBN 0-631-17563-6.
* Nicolle, David, and Richard Hook (illustrator). ''The Mongol Warlords: Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan, Hulegu, Tamerlane''. London: Brockhampton Press, 1998. ISBN 1-86019-407-9.
* Saunders, J.J. ''The History of the Mongol Conquests''. Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2001. ISBN 0-8122-1766-7.
* Sicker, Martin. ''The Islamic World in Ascendancy: From the Arab Conquests to the Siege of Vienna''. Westport, Connecticut: Praeger Publishers, 2000. ISBN 0-275-96892-8.
* Souček, Svat. ''A History of Inner Asia''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2000. ISBN 0-521-65704-0.

==External links==

* [http://www.newyorker.com/fact/content/articles/050425fa_fact4 An article] describing Hulagu's conquest of Baghdad, written by [[Ian Frazier]], appeared in the April 25, 2005 issue of ''[[The New Yorker]]''.
* [http://www.uwgb.edu/dutchs/WestTech/xmongol.htm Steven Dutch article]
* [http://www.antiwar.com/orig/butler.php?articleid=2533 "The Mongol Invasion of Iraq: Lessons Never Learned"] by Amir Butler—an article on the Mongol sack of Bagdad

[[Category:1258]]
[[Category:Battles of the Mongols|Baghdad 1258]]
[[Category:Baghdad]]
[[Category:Battles of the Abbasid Caliphate]]

[[pl:Bitwa pod Bagdadem (1258)]]