Timeline of the Mongol Empire

This is the timeline of the Mongol Empire from 1206, when Temüjin received the title of Genghis Khan, to the death in 1370 of the last emperor of Yuan dynasty in China, who had been deposed in 1368. The Yuan emperors used the title of Khagan (Great Khan, or Emperor) of the Mongols as successors to Genghis as overlord of all the Mongol dominions, though after the death of Kublai Khan in 1294, their suzerainty over the other divisions of the Mongol Empire (initially the Chagatai Khanate, the Golden Horde, and the Ilkhanate) was almost notional. The Mongol Empire is usually considered to have come to an end in 1368, though the title of Khagan continued to be used by the rulers of the Northern Yuan dynasty, a far less powerful successor entity, until 1634.

Eurasia on the eve of the Mongol invasions, c. 1200.

1206: Upon domination of Mongolia, Temüjin from the Orkhon Valley received the title Genghis Khan, thought to mean Universal Ruler or, Oceanic Ruler or Firm, Resolute Ruler
1207: The Mongols' operations against the Western Xia, which comprised much of northwestern China and parts of Tibet. This campaign lasted until 1210 with the Western Xia ruler submitting to Genghis Khan. During this period, the Uyghur Turks also submitted peacefully to the Mongols and became valued administrators throughout the empire. The creation of classic Mongolian script.
1211: Genghis Khan led his armies across the Gobi Desert against the Jin dynasty of northern China.
1215: The Mongols captured the Jin capital of Zhongdu in the Battle of Zhongdu.
1218: The execution of Mongol envoys by the Khwarezmian Shah Muhammad set in motion the first Mongol westward thrust.
1219: The Mongols crossed the Jaxartes (Syr Darya) and begin their invasion of Transoxiana.
1219–1221: While the campaign in southern China was still in progress, the Mongols waged a war in central Asia and destroyed the Khwarezmid Empire. One notable feature was that the campaign was launched from several directions at once. In addition, it was notable for special units assigned by Genghis Khan personally to find and kill Ala al-Din Muhammad II, the Khwarazm shah who fled from them, and ultimately ended up hiding on an island in the Caspian Sea.
1223: The Mongols gained a decisive victory at the Battle of the Kalka River, the first engagement between the Mongols and the East Slavic warriors.
1227: Genghis Khan's death; Mongol leaders returned to Mongolia for kuriltai. The empire at this point covered nearly 24 million km², about four times the size of the Roman or Macedonian Empires.

Mongol Empire in 1227 at Genghis' death

1229: Ögedei elected as Great Khan
1231: The Mongols begin their invasion of Korea.
1232: Mongol siege of Kaifeng. Missile-rockets were used by Jurcheds for the first time in history
1234: Caizhou fell to the Mongols and the Jin Emperor Aizong committed suicide. The Mongols conquered the Jurchen (Jin) dynasty
1236: The beginning of the Mongol invasion of Europe
1236-1237: The Mongol-Song war began
1237: Under the leadership of Batu Khan, the Mongols returned to the West and began their campaign to subjugate Kievan Rus'
1236-1239: The Mongol invasion of Georgia and Armenia under Chormaqan
1240: The Mongols sacked Kiev
1241: Hungarians and Croatians at the Battle of Sajo and Poles, Templars and Teutonic Knights at the Battle of Legnica are beaten.
1241 and 1242: The Mongols under Batu and Kadan invaded Bulgaria and forced them to pay annual tribute as vassals.
1243: Western army made Seljuks of Anatolia a part of Mongol empire. The Lesser Armenians and the Empire of Trebizond surrendered to the Mongol Empire.
1246: Güyük elected as Great khan.
1247: The first registration of the population of the empire.
1248: Great khan Güyük died.
1251: Möngke, the elder son of Tolui, elected as Great khan. The great purge of the Ogedied and Chagataid families.
1253: Mongol control over Yunnan. The Administration of Monetary Affairs was established in Karakorum.
1256: Hulagu exterminated the order of Hashshashins, whose leader was known as Old Man of the Mountain. The foundation of Ilkhanate. Baiju crushed the rebellion of the Seljuks in Turkey.
1257: The first Mongol invasion of Đại Việt (Vietnam) which put the country in temporary humiliated vassalage. Mongols sacked Thăng Long (Hanoi). Deadly heat forced them to leave Vietnam.
1258: The Mongols occupied Baghdad. The fate of Abbasid Caliphate. Incursion against Lithuania.
1259: Mongol invasion of Syria. The death of Möngke. Rebellions of ruling aristocracies in Georgia and Armenia. Second incursion against Poland, led by Burundai.
1260: The Battle of Ain Jalut and the First Battle of Homs. Mongol defeated by Egyptian Mamluks.
1260: Two Great Khans in Mongol Empire: Kublai Khan and Ariq Böke. The Toluid Civil War had begun, which marked the end of a united empire.
1260: The end of the direct rule of Goyreo as a result of the peace treaty. Goryeo became a tributary client kingdom of the Mongol Yuan dynasty.
1262: The war between Golden Horde and Ilkhanate in Caucasus: Berke–Hulagu war.
1264: Kublai won the supporters of Ariq Böke.
1269: Kaidu, with support from Chagatai Khanate and Golden Horde, held an assembly to oppose Kublai.
1269: The School of Mongolian language studies was established by Kublai Khan's decree. 'Phags-pa script was introduced by Phagspa lama, who became the Imperial Preceptor.
1271: The establishment of Yuan dynasty by Kublai Khan.
1273: Paper money known as Chao issued by the decree of Kublai Khan within the Yuan dynasty.
1274: The first Mongol invasion of Japan (Battle of Bun'ei). The second full scale census in the Golden Horde and its vassals Russian principalities. Smolensk, the last of Russian major city-states became subject to the Golden Horde.
1276: The fall of Song dynasty to the Yuan dynasty.
1279: Mongols of Yuan dynasty became supreme lords of all China.
1281: The second Mongol invasion of Japan (Battle of Kōan).
1281: The Second Battle of Homs. Mongol defeated by Egyptian Mamluks.
1284: Failed second Mongol invasion of Vietnam.
1287: Pagan Kingdom falls to Mongols of Yuan dynasty who installed a puppet king. Third incursion against Poland.
1288: Failed third Mongol invasion of Vietnam (Battle of Bạch Đằng (1288)), which made Đại Việt and Champa tributary vassals of the Yuan dynasty.
1293: Mongol raid on Java.

The Mongol Empire, ca. 1300. The gray area is the later Timurid empire.

1294: Kublai Khan died. His grandson Temür Khan became his successor of the Yuan dynasty.
1295: Islamization of Ilkhanate. The rulers of Thai states visited the court of the Yuan to show their respects.
1299: The Battle of Wadi al-Khazandar (also known as the Third Battle of Homs). A Mongol victory over the Mamluks.
1303: The Battle of Marj al-Saffar. Mongols are defeated by Mamluks. The end of the Mongol invasion to Syria.
1304: Peace negotiation between Mongol khanates. However, the fighting between Duwa and Chapar, the son of Kaidu, broke out shortly afterwards.
1305: The yam and trade routes between Mongol Khanates were reopened.
1307: the Mongol conquest of Gilan region.
1310: Chapar submitted to the emperor of Yuan dynasty.
1315: Islamization of Golden Horde. Ozbeg Khan persecuted non-Muslim Tatar-Mongols in Russia.
1323: The Ossetian or Asud guard under Tegshi murdered Gegeen Khan of the Yuan dynasty on his way from the summer palace Shangdu to the capital at Dadu. The Ilkhanate made a truce with the Mamluks, ending the half century long Mamluk-Ilkhanid war.
1327: The large rebellion in Tver against Mongol rule. Ozbeg punished them harshly with the assistance of the Muscotives and sent Russian prisoners to his nominal suzerain Jayaatu Khan Tugh Temür of the Yuan.
1335: Last effective Ilkhan Abu Said died, followed by the disintegration of Ilkhanate.
1353: Last of the powerful Ilkhanid contender, Togha Temür, was assassinated.
1356 Jani Beg conducted a military campaign in Azerbaijan and conquered the city of Tabriz, destroying Chupanid Dynasty and compelled the Jalayirids to surrender (two successor states of the Ilkhanate). He also asserted Jochid dominance over the Chagatai Khanate, attempting to unite three khanates of the Mongol Empire.
1359: The assassination of Berdi Beg. The age of Great Troubles began.
1368: Yuan dynasty overthrown by the Ming dynasty. The last Yuan ruler, Toghon Temür fled north to Shangdu.
1370: Toghon Temür died in Yingchang. His son Ayushiridara retreated to Karakorum in Mongolia, which became known as the Northern Yuan dynasty. Timur became the Emir of Chagatai Khanate.

Timeline of the Mongol Empire

See also