Kublai Khan's campaigns

Kublai Khan's Campaigns
Part of Mongol invasions and conquests

The Yuan dynasty under Kublai Khan after the conquest of the Southern Song dynasty.
Date1266–1293
Location
South China, Japan, Vietnam, Korea, Burma, Java
Result
Territorial
changes		 Southern China, Korea and Upper Burma added into the Yuan dynasty
Belligerents
Yuan dynasty Kamakura shogunate
Song dynasty
Đại Việt (Trần dynasty)
Champa
Sambyeolcho rebels
Bagan Kingdom
Majapahit
Goryeo
Commanders and leaders
Strength
Total: 581,000+[citation needed]
  • 450,000 Mongols
  • 100,000 Chinese
  • 40,000 Koreans
 Total: 1,610,000+[citation needed]
  • 1,500,000+ Chinese
  • 120,000+ Japanese
Casualties and losses
Total: 250,000+ dead[citation needed] Total: Over 10,000,000 including Chinese civilians killed[citation needed]

Kublai Khan, founder of the Yuan dynasty, led several campaigns during the Mongol invasions and conquests. These included the Mongol invasions of Japan, First Mongol invasion of Burma, Mongol invasion of Java, second and third Mongol invasions of Vietnam, Mongol invasion of Champa and putting down the Sambyeolcho Rebellion.

Campaigns against Song dynasty

Main article: Mongol conquest of Song China
Mongol warrior on horseback, preparing a mounted archery shot.

The campaign for Kublai Khan to conquer southern China under the Southern Song dynasty were specified under the years between 1266 and 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 Han and Mongol 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]

Campaign against Korea

Main article: Kublai Khan § Kublai's annexation of Goryeo
Further information: Mongol invasions of Korea

Campaigns against Japan

Main article: Mongol invasions of 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

Main articles: First Mongol invasion of Burma, Mongol invasion of Java, and Mongol invasions of Vietnam

Besides the Song dynasty 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 Yuan dynasty annexed Upper Burma. However, Yuan 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. ^ a b Kallie, Szczepanski. "Mongol Invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281". abouteducation. Archived from the original on 16 October 2014. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  2. ^ "Kublai Khan". Encyclopedia.com. Encyclopedia of World Biography. Retrieved 11 October 2014.
  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.