Need some tips fighting against the Mongols

[eXoMagus]

Alright first of all hey there everyone, I'm new here and hope to have a nice time =] Anyways, I'm using the Turkish in the Late Ages, I got a bit aggressive and took Constantinople very early (I still had a decent army though), and the Mongols have just suddenly declared war on me and hopped onto Constantinople with army size of 2000 (I'm playing huge unit size) and holy schmoly they whooped me good at Constantinople... Their Heavy Mongol Calvary ripped up everyone of my units, and also they outnumber me in troop size, since I think I can only pull maybe 1500 troops to the borders to defend
So anyone if they have any good sure-fire way to teach those Mongol Calvary a lesson, please tell me I've never encountered the Mongols right near the start of a game before, since all my other times playing Late Age I've been using some nations on the west, and by the time I get to the Mongols they're already heavily torn up by all those battles

[BDC]

Try spearman and the like vs cavalry, and archers are good. If your going to die and have a really good general, just let the computer do it, you will win some impossible victories.

[Naagi]

Keep to the trees mostly, cuts down on damage from the archers and cavalry he brings. Bout the only tried and true defense for them, and what year is it for you again? They normally show up around 1230.

Naagi http://www.totalwar.org/forum/non-cgi/emoticons/joker.gif

[Exile]

Here's a few things that have worked for me against the mongols:

1. put your units in the forest, it protects them from arrows and is a disadvantage to calvary. Your infantry units (ghazi, Ottomans)will beat up Mongol calvary in the woods - spear units are not very good in the woods either.
2. use foot archers like Ottoman Infantry to counter horse archers, they will win every time.
3. In the open, saracens can hold up Mongol heavy calvary until you can get your calvary in position to charge the engaged Mongols from the flank/rear
4. Mongols like to be the agressor, even when you attack them, so set your troops up in the best ground possible - heights and forests.
5. I find that a strong defensive formation with all my units close in support of each other is the best method for fighting mongols. dont fall into having several small skirmishes on the battlefield or the Mongol calvary will be at an advantage. Make them come to you and fight your whole army.

Once you get it down, they are not that tough and you'll be able to beat them even when their numbers are twice yours.

I like that you took Constantinople early, its a great prov. Good move IMO.

[Theodoret]

There is a good thread on the main forum describing how to defeat Horse Archers. Apart from the advice given there, I always employ a static 'shield wall' defence preferably on a hill when I am attacked by Mongols. Pavaise crossbowmen, arbalests and similiar missile troops will tear ragged holes in any Mongol cavalry charge, and spearmen supported by ordinary infantry will destroy the rest. When faced with horse archers always use dispersed formation unless you fear a melee attack. Horse archers are no match for foot archers in a missile duel. As other contributors have mentioned here, melee troops are far more effective against cavalry when fighting in woodland. Probably not much help when fighting in Greece and the Anatolian peninsula but very useful when fighting in Khazar.