Genghis Khan's First Siege against the Western Xia Dynasty in 1227 AD Genghis Khan’s first major siege in 1227 was against the Western Xia dynasty, marking the Mongols’ mastery of siege warfare. Though initially skilled in open-field battles, the Mongols adapted by using captured engineers and Chinese siege technology. They surrounded and starved out cities, systematically devastating Xia strongholds. The final siege of the Western Xia capital, Ningxia, led to the dynasty’s destruction. Genghis