Kublai Khan's campaigns

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Kublai Khan's Campaigns
Part of Mongol invasions and conquests
Yuen Dynasty 1294 - Goryeo as vassal.png
The Yuan dynasty under Kublai Khan after the conquest of the Southern Song dynasty.
Date1266-1293
Location
South China, Japan, Vietnam, Burma, Java
Result
Territorial
changes
  • Southern China and Upper Burma added into the Yuan dynasty
    • Belligerents

    Yuan dynasty

  • Kamakura shogunate
  • Song dynasty
  • Đại Việt under the Trần dynasty
  • Champa
  • Pagan Empire
  • Majapahit
    • 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[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, and Mongol invasion of Champa.

    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. ^ Jump up to: a b Kallie, Szczepanski. "Mongol Invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281". abouteducation. 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.
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