Mongol invasion of China | Civil wars and Battle of Yamen 1278 | Mongols vs Song dynasty

Mongol invasion of China | Civil wars and Battle of Yamen 1278 | Mongols vs Song dynasty
===
Mongol invasion of China | Civil wars and Battle of Yamen 1278 | Mongols vs Song dynasty. The relationship between the Song Dynasty and the Mongols before the Mongols fully conquered the Southern Song was a rollercoaster of events, starting with early strategic cooperation and ending in fierce conflict. It all culminated in one of history’s largest naval battles, the Battle of Yamen in 1279, which brought about the fall of the Song Dynasty. To understand this battle, we need to explore the background and evolution of the relationship between the Mongols (Yuan Dynasty) and the Song.

Mongol invasion of China | Civil wars and Battle of Yamen 1278 | Mongols vs Song dynasty. Early Cooperation
It all began in 1115, when the Jurchens overthrew their overlords, the Liao Dynasty, and established the Jin Dynasty. They allied with the Song Dynasty, promising to return the Sixteen Prefectures in exchange for their cooperation. However, once the Liao fell, the Jin’s true ambitions were revealed: they refused to give back the land and turned against their former allies.
In 1125, the Jin launched a surprise attack with two armies invading Taiyuan and Kaifeng. The Song emperor abdicated in panic, but his surrender couldn’t save the capital. The Jin captured the Song royal family, splitting China into the Northern Song and Southern Song.

Mongol invasion of China | Civil wars and Battle of Yamen 1278 | Mongols vs Song dynasty. For the next century, the Song and Jin continued to clash until the rise of a mighty empire with an undefeated reputation: the Mongols. During this time, the usually harsh and cold steppes of Central Asia enjoyed a period of unusually mild and wet conditions, leading to a rapid increase in warhorses and livestock. This dramatic boost in resources greatly strengthened the Mongol war machine.
The Song-Mongol Alliance
Unsurprisingly, the Mongol Empire’s rise caught the attention of the Song, who were struggling against their Jin neighbors. Desperate for an advantage, the Song decided to ally with the Mongols. Their combined forces dealt the final blow to the Jin Dynasty in 1234, wiping it out entirely.
From Allies to Enemies
After the Jin Dynasty was wiped out, the relationship between the Song Dynasty and the Mongols quickly turned sour. The alliance broke down when the Song recaptured the former capitals of Kaifeng, Luoyang, and Chang’an, which had fallen into Mongol hands after the Jin’s collapse.
From then on, the Song became the next target in the Mongols' infamous campaign of conquest. Under the leadership of Ögedei Khan and later Möngke Khan, the Mongol Empire turned its attention southward, aiming to seize the wealth and territory of the Song.
===
#greathistoryen #greathistoryenchannel #battleof #battlehistory #battleofyamen