Siege of Esztergom (1241) other European states, bar Moravia, Bohemia, and the Polish duchies, which the Mongols dealt with separately. Bela's kingdom was ill-prepared for the Mongol invasion. At the time, Hungary was one of the poorest and most sparsely populated areas of Europe. The population was estimated at slightly over 2 million in the mid-thirteenth century despite its large land area, with the largest city, Esztergom, having only 12,000 inhabitants. Its armies consisted primarily of light cavalry with some light infantry, and only a handful of crossbowmen, mounted knights, and heavy infantry, in contrast to the areas further west where such troops were
Most Highly Derogatory Order of the Irremovable Finger Most Highly Derogatory Order of the Irremovable Finger The Most Highly Derogatory Order of the Irremovable Finger, abbreviated to MHDOIF, was a spoof decoration for military incompetence, which was "awarded" to members of the Royal Air Force during World War II. It was the inspiration of Squadron Leader Anthony Armstrong Willis OBE MC, the editor of the RAF's monthly Training Memorandum, (which was usually referred to by its initials as "Tee Emm"). Recipients of the award were "Gazetted" in this publication. No official medal was struck for the award, though cartoon depictions show a clenched fist with the index finger