Mongol Empire

Definition

The Mongol Empire (1206-1368) was founded by Genghis Khan (r. 1206-1227), first Great Khan or 'universal ruler' of the Mongol peoples. Genghis forged the empire by uniting nomadic tribes of the Asian steppe and creating a devastatingly effective army with fast, light, and highly coordinated cavalry. Eventually, the empire dominated Asia from the Black Sea to the Korean peninsula.

More about: Mongol Empire

Timeline

  • c. 1162 - 1227
    Life of Genghis Khan, founder of the Mongol Empire.
  • 1205
    The Mongols attack the Jurchen Jin state in northern China.
  • 1205 - 1255
    Life of the Mongol military commander and grandson of Genghis Khan, Batu Khan.
  • 1206 - 1368
    The Mongol Empire rules in Central and East Asia.
  • 1206
    A great Mongol conference of tribal leaders (khuriltai) awards Temujin the title of Genghis Khan ('universal ruler').
  • 1206 - 1227
    Reign of Genghis Khan as the ruler of the Mongol Empire.
  • 1209
    The Mongols attack the Jurchen Jin state in northern China.
  • 1209
    The Mongols attack the Tangut state of Xi Xia.
  • 1209
    The Mongols attack the Jurchen Jin state in northern China.
  • 1211
    The Mongols attack the Jurchen Jin state in northern China.
  • 1212 - 1215
    The Mongols attack Song China, sacking over 90 cities.
  • 1214
    The Jurchen Jin state signs a short-lived peace treaty with the Mongol Empire and is obliged to pay tribute.
  • 1215
    The Mongols attack the Tangut state of Xi Xia.
  • 1215
    The Mongols sack Beijing.
  • 1215
    The Mongols attack the Jurchen Jin state in northern China.
  • 1218 - 1220
    The Mongols attack the Khwarazm Empire in Central Asia.
  • 1219
    A Goryeo army allies with the Mongols to attack the Khitan in northern Korea.
  • 1221
    The Mongols attack northern Afghanistan.
  • 1223
    The Mongols defeat an army of the Kievan Rus at Kalka.
  • c. 1227 - 1363
    The Mongol Chagatai Khanate rules in Central Asia.
  • c. 1227 - 1242
    Reign of Chagatai Khan, ruler of the Mongol Chagatai Khanate named after him.
  • 18 Aug 1227
    Death of Genghis Khan from illness.
  • 1228 - 1240
    Composition of the Secret History of the Mongols.
  • 1229 - 1241
    Reign of Ogedei Khan as the ruler of the Mongol Empire.
  • 1230 - 1231
    The Mongols attack the Jurchen Jin State.
  • 1231 - 1232
    Ogedei Khan leads a Mongol invasion into Korea.
  • 1233
    Kaifeng, capital of the Jurchen Jin State, falls after a lengthy siege by the Mongols.
  • 1234 - 1236
    Ogedei Khan orders a census to be conducted for tax purposes across northern China.
  • Feb 1234
    The Mongols attack and conquer the Jurchen Jin State in northern China.
  • 1235
    Ogedei Khan orders the construction of a new capital of the Mongol Empire at Karakorum, Mongolia.
  • 1235
    The Mongols invade northern Iraq and western Asia
  • 1235 - 1263
    Karakorum is capital of the Mongol Empire.
  • 1236 - 1242
    Multiple Mongol armies attack western Asia, Russia, Poland, and Hungary.
  • 21 Dec 1237
    The city of Ryazan (Riazan) is besieged and captured by the Mongols.
  • 1238
    The Mongols invade Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Armenia.
  • 7 Feb 1238
    The Mongols capture the city of Vladimir.
  • 23 Mar 1238
    The Mongols capture the city of Torshok.
  • 1240
    The Mongols sack Halych.
  • 6 Dec 1240
    The Mongols capture Kiev.
  • 9 Apr 1241
    The Mongols defeat an army led by Henry the Pious, the Duke of Silesia, near Liegnitz (Legnica).
  • 10 Apr 1241 - 11 Apr 1241
    The Mongols defeat an army led by Bela IV, king of Hungary, at the Battle of Mohi.
  • Dec 1241
    The Mongols capture Buda and Pest.
  • Dec 1241
    The Mongols capture the great city of Gran (Esztergom) in Hungary.
  • 11 Dec 1241
    Ogedei Khan, ruler of the Mongol Empire, dies at the capital Karakorum.
  • 1242
    Death of Chagatai, ruler of the Chagatai Khanate.
  • 1246 - 1248
    Reign of Guyuk Khan as ruler of the Mongol Empire.
  • 1251
    Batu Khan and the Jochid-Toluid kurultai declare Mongke Great Khan of the Mongols.
  • 1251 - 1259
    Reign of Mongke Khan, ruler of the Mongol Empire.
  • 1253 - 1255
    The Franciscan missionary and chronicler William of Rubruck visits the Mongol Empire, including the capital Karakorum.
  • 1253 - 1260
    A Mongol army led by Hulegu invades Persia and the Middle East.
  • 1256
    The Mongols defeat the Ismailis (aka the Assassins) in Persia.
  • 1257
    The Mongols invade Vietnam.
  • 1257
    The Mongols conquer the Dali kingdom in southern China.
  • 1258
    An uprising restores the monarchy in Korea and makes peace with the Mongol Empire.
  • 1258
    The Mongols conquer the Abbasid Caliphate. During this campaign there is the infamous sacking of Baghdad and murder of the caliph.
  • 11 Aug 1259
    Death of Mongke Khan, ruler of the Mongol Empire.
  • Dec 1259
    The Mongols besiege and capture Aleppo in Syria.
  • 1260 - 1265
    Hulegu rules the Ilkhanate.
  • 1260 - 1335
    The Mongol Ilkhanate rules in Iran and neighbouring territories.
  • 1260 - 1294
    Reign of Kublai Khan, ruler of the Mongol Empire.
  • 1260 - 1264
    Kublai Khan fights a civil war with his brother Ariq Boke for control of the Mongol Empire.
  • 1262
    Kublai Khan captures Karakorum after his rival nAriq Boke (1219-1266 CE) used it as his base.
  • 1263 - 1273
    Xanadu is the capital of the Mongol Empire.
  • 1265 - 1282
    Abaqa rules the Ilkhanate.
  • 1268
    Kublai Khan resumes the Mongol attacks on Song Dynasty China.
  • 1270
    Abaqa, ruler of the Ilkhanate, defeats Baraq, ruler of the Chagatai Khanate, at the battle of Herat.
  • 1270
    Part of northern Korea is conquered by the Mongol Empire.
  • 1271
    The Ilkhanate signs a trade agreement with Venice.
  • 1271 - 1368
    The Mongol Yuan Dynasty, founded by Kublai Khan, rules China.
  • 1272 - 1301
    The Mongol leader Qaidu II dominates Central Asia and nominates khans to rule the Chagatai Khanate.
  • 1273
    Abaqa, ruler of the Ilkhanate, sacks the city of Bukhara in the Chagatai Khanate.
  • 1273
    Xiangyang falls into Mongol hands.
  • 1274 - 1364
    Xanadu is the summer capital of the Mongol Empire.
  • c. 1275 - 1292
    Marco Polo serves Kublai Khan in Mongol Yuan Dynasty China.
  • 1275 - 1279
    The Mongols led by Kublai Khan attack and conquer the last remnants of Song China.
  • 28 Mar 1276
    Lin'an, the capital of the Song Dynasty, is captured by a Mongol army.
  • 1277
    The Ilkhanate defeats a Mamluk army in Lesser Armenia.
  • 1277
    The Mongols/Yuan Dynasty invade Burma.
  • 19 Mar 1279
    The Mongols complete their conquest of Song Dynasty China with victory at the naval battle at Yaishan.
  • 1281
    The Mongols/Yuan Dynasty China invade Vietnam for a second time.
  • 1282 - 1284
    Ahmad Teguder rules the Ilkhanate.
  • 1284 - 1291
    Arghun rules the Ilkhanate.
  • 1286
    The Mongols/Yuan Dynasty China re-invade Vietnam.
  • 1287
    The Mongols/Yuan Dynasty China re-invade Burma.
  • Dec 1288
    The Ilkhanate agrees a trade deal with Genoa.
  • 1291 - 1295
    Gaikhatu rules the Ilkhanate.
  • 1292
    A Mongol/Yuan Dynasty naval force attacks Java.
  • 1295
    Baidu rules the Ilkhanate.
  • 1295 - 1304
    Ghazan rules the Ilkhanate.
  • 1295
    Ghazan, ruler of the Ilkhanate, converts to Islam.
  • Nov 1299
    The Ilkhanate briefly captures Mamluk-controlled Aleppo and Damascus.
  • 1303
    The Mamluks defeat an Ilkhanate army in Syria at Marj al-Suffar.
  • 1304 - 1316
    Oljeitu rules the Ilkhanate.
  • 1316 - 1335
    Abu Said rules the Ilkhanate.
  • 1322
    The Ilkhanate and Mamluk Sultanate sign a peace treaty.
  • 1335
    The Ilkhanate disintegrates into smaller states following dynastic disputes.
  • 1347 - 1363
    Tughlugh Timur rules as the last Khan of the Chagatai Khanate. Upon his death, the state disintegrates.
  • 1370
    The last Yuan Dynasty emperor, Toghon Temur (r. 1333-1368 CE), dies at Karakorum.
  • 1430
    The city of Xanadu, once the capital of the Mongol Empire, is definitively abandoned.
Membership