Kublai Khan's Campaigns

Kublai Khan's Campaigns
Part of Mongol invasions and conquests

The Yuan dynasty under Kublai Khan after the conquest of Southern Song dynasty.
Date1266-1293
LocationSouth China, Japan, Vietnam, Burma, Java
Result
  • Rise of the Yuan dynasty
  • South China and Upper Burma added into the Yuan dynasty
  • Decisive victory for Japan, Java, Đại Việt & Champa
Belligerents

Yuan dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Strength

Total: 581,000+

  • 450,000 Moguls
  • 100,000 Chinese
  • 40,000 Koreans

Total: 1,610,000+

  • 1,500,000+ Chinese
  • 120,000+ Japanese
Casualties and losses
Total: 250,000+ dead Total: Over 10,000,000 including Chinese Civilians

This is a list of campaigns of Kublai Khan, founder of the Yuan dynasty.

Campaigns against Song China

Mongol warrior on horseback, preparing a mounted archery shot.

The campaign for Kublai Khan to conquer China under the Song dynasty were specified under the years between 1266-1276. This included the declaration of Kublai Khan as the new emperor of China in the year 1271[1] This was the start of the Yuan dynasty that was a rule incorporated with elements of both Mongul and Chinese influences.[2] After successfully eliminating all resistance to the new Yuan dynasty, Kublai Khan wanted to expand his empire by attacking Japan and built around 300-600 vessels in preparation for the assault on Japan.[1]

Campaigns against Japan

Kublai Khan's armada in 1274 made a tactical mistake by sailing into open seas that became targets for the Japanese cannons. Suffering heavy losses, the remaining fleet retreated and prepared for next assault again on 1281. Again on 1281, the Japanese samurais were more than prepared to hold off an invasion attempt by the Kublai Khan's fleet, and which they did so with great success.[3] Even though the campaign failed in the end due to stiff Japanese resistance, Kublai Khan's campaigns saw the development of gunpowder as a form of weaponry.[4]

Campaigns against Burma, Java and Vietnam

Besides Song China and Japan, Kublai Khan also launched campaigns against Burma, Java and Vietnam. A series of military conflicts between the Yuan dynasty and the Pagan Empire took place between 1277 and 1287, collectively known as the First Mongol invasion of Burma. The invasion toppled the 250-year-old Pagan Empire and the Mongols occupied Upper Burma. However, Mongol invasions of both Java and Vietnam resulted in failure. Nevertheless, both the Trần dynasty (Đại Việt) and Champa decided to accept the nominal supremacy of the Yuan dynasty in order to avoid further conflicts.

References

  1. 1 2 Kallie, Szczepanski. "Mongol Invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281". abouteducation. Retrieved 2014-10-11.
  2. ↑ "Kublai Khan". Encyclopedia.com. Encyclopedia of World Biography. Retrieved 2014-10-11.
  3. ↑ Winters, Harold et al. (2001). Battling the Elements, p. 14., p. 14, at Google Books
  4. ↑ Stephen Turnbull (19 February 2013). The Mongol Invasions of Japan 1274 and 1281. Osprey Publishing. pp. 41–42. ISBN 978-1-4728-0045-9. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
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