Mongol Invasions Timeline

(1206–1279)

The Mongol Invasions were a series of military campaigns launched by the Mongol Empire under Genghis Khan and his successors beginning in the early 13th century. These invasions swept across Asia and Eastern Europe, conquering China, Central Asia, Persia, and Kievan Rus, and creating the largest contiguous land empire in world history. The campaigns were marked by sophisticated military strategy, psychological warfare, and devastating destruction, but also by increased trade and cultural exchange along the Silk Road. More Less

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Rise of Genghis Khan

Birth of Temüjin, the future Genghis Khan

1162

With his wife Hö'elün, whom he had abducted from her previous Merkit husband, Yesugei had several children, including a boy named Temüjin (the future Genghis Khan) who was born c. 1162.

Image source: Genghis Khan

Birth of Temüjin, the future Genghis Khan

Jamukha decisively defeats Temüjin

1187

In 1187, Jamukha decisively defeated Temüjin, who took refuge in China.

Temüjin returns to the steppe and campaigns against the Tatars

1196

Sponsored by the Jin, he returned to the steppe in 1196 and led a successful campaign with Toghrul against the Tatars in 1196, which re-established his prestige.

Victory over Jamukha's coalition

1201

Temüjin and Toghrul steadily increased their power over the next five years, culminating in a 1201 victory over a coalition led by Jamukha.

Temüjin eradicates the Tatars

1202

In 1202, Temüjin eradicated the Tatars; this left the Mongols as the preeminent power in eastern Mongolia.

Temüjin subdues the Kerait after rupture with Toghrul

1203

Relations with Toghrul ruptured in 1203, but Temüjin managed to avoid defeat and subdued the Kerait.

Image source: Keraites

Genghis Khan unifies the Mongol tribes

1206

By 1206, Genghis Khan had conquered all Mongol and Turkic tribes in Mongolia and southern Siberia, founding the Mongol Empire.

Image source: Mongol Empire

Death of Genghis Khan in the Liupan Mountains

Aug 1227

He died in the Liupan Mountains in August 1227, during the final campaign against Western Xia.

Reign of Güyük Khan and official ideology of conquest

1246 - 1248

By the time of the rule of Güyük Khan (r. 1246–1248), as he stated to the papal envoy Carpini, world conquest had developed into official ideology.

Image source: Güyük Khan

Invasions of China

Raids on Western Xia border territories

1205 - 1207

Although the Kerait were soon expelled for plundering the natives, Genghis ordered raids on the border territories in retribution in 1205 and in 1207, sacking the town of Wuluhai on the Yellow River.

Full-scale invasion of Western Xia begins

Apr 1209

In April 1209, Genghis launched a full-scale invasion of the Western Xia, aiming to conquer 400 kilometres (250 mi) of territory and take the Xia capital of Zhongxingfu.

Genghis opens hostilities against the Jin dynasty

1210

Genghis had planned to attack the Jin dynasty since 1206, but had waited to secure his other borders first. Although his army was outnumbered by approximately ten-to-one, Genghis opened hostilities in 1210 by refusing to pay tribute.

First invasion of North China

1211 - Jan 1212

Mongol armies marched forth in spring 1211 in two divisions: the right wing under Jochi, Chagatai, and Ögedei captured several cities near modern Hohhot, while Genghis attacked the Jin's northern frontier. Forces under Jebe broke through the key Juyong Pass in October and pillaged Zhongdu's environs until January 1212.

Second campaign against the Jin

Aug 1212 - Oct 1212

Genghis began a second campaign in August–October 1212, continuing his strategy of plundering Jin territory and diminishing its control over North China.

Jebe captures Dongjing by feigned retreat

Jan 5, 1213

The only other battle was Jebe's capture of Dongjing (present-day Liaoyang) on 5 January 1213 using a feigned retreat, although his army soon withdrew.

Third siege campaign captures Xuandezhou and Dexingfu

Aug 1213

Mongol armies returned in August 1213 and besieged Xuandezhou and Dexingfu for a third time, capturing both.

Image source: Mongol conquest of the Jin dynasty

Jin–Mongol peace treaty signed

Apr 30, 1214

Hushahu had been overthrown in November 1213, and the new Jin administration was receptive to peace terms. The treaty was signed on 30 April 1214, with terms including expensive tribute and humiliatingly, the concession of a Jin princess for Genghis to marry.

Fall of Zhongdu to the Mongols

May 31, 1215

This time, the weakened city could not hold out and it surrendered on 31 May 1215. By 1215, Genghis Khan's aims included territorial conquest.

Image source: Sieges of Zhongdu

Punitive expedition against Western Xia

1217

In 1217, they outright refused, provoking a punitive Mongol expedition which surrounded Zhongxingfu for several months.

Image source: Mongol conquest of Western Xia

Xia offers troops for Muqali's campaigns

1222

While they did not provide troops for the forthcoming invasion of the Khwarazmian Empire in 1218, it was more likely because they were already heavily supporting the campaigns of Muqali. In 1222, the Xia even offered Muqali an extra 50,000 troops.

Western Xia breaks off relations with the Mongols

1222 - 1223

However, the Xia by then deeply resented the Mongols' dismissive attitude towards them, and in 1222–23 they broke off relations and re-allied with the Jin, who wanted to buy Xia horses.

Muqali fights the Jin and Xia until his death

1223 - 1224

Muqali fought both the Jin and Xia until his death in 1223, and his son Bo'ol continued until late 1224, when he travelled to Mongolia to greet the returned Genghis Khan.

Image source: Muqali

Final Mongol assault on Western Xia from Khara-Khoto

1226

In spring 1226 the Mongols attacked from the northwest at Khara-Khoto.

Crossing of the frozen Yellow River and sack of Lingzhou

Dec 1226

In late 1226 the Mongols crossed the frozen Yellow River, routed a large Xia relief force, sacked Lingzhou in December, and besieged Zhongxingfu.

Invasions of Asia and the Middle East

Jochi subjugates the Siberian forest peoples

1207

In 1207, his eldest son Jochi subjugated the Siberian forest people, the Uriankhai, the Oirats, Barga, Khakas, Buryats, Tuvans, Khori-Tumed, and Yenisei Kyrgyz according to chapter 5 of the Secret History of the Mongols.

Image source: Mongol invasions and conquests

Mongol invasions of the Indian subcontinent begin

1221 - 1327

From 1221 to 1327, the Mongol Empire launched several invasions into the Indian subcontinent. Centuries later, the Mughals, whose founder Babur had Mongol roots, established their own empire in India.

Siege of Baghdad ends Abbasid Caliphate

1258

The major battles included the siege of Baghdad, when the Mongols sacked the city which had been the center of Islamic power for 500 years.

Image source: Siege of Baghdad (1258)

Battle of Ain Jalut halts Mongol advance

1260

At the Battle of Ain Jalut in 1260 in southeastern Galilee, the Muslim Bahri Mamluks defeated the Mongols and decisively halted their advance for the first time.

Image source: Battle of Ain Jalut

Mongol raids reach Gaza; empire begins to fragment

1260 - 1300

The Mongols conquered, by battle or voluntary surrender, the areas of present-day Iran, Iraq, the Caucasus, and parts of Syria and Turkey, with further Mongol raids reaching southwards into Palestine as far as Gaza in 1260 and 1300. As the empire began to fragment from 1260, conflict between the Mongols and Eastern European polities continued for centuries.

Mongol invasions of Sakhalin Island

1264 - 1308

The Mongols also invaded Sakhalin Island between 1264 and 1308.

Image source: Mongol invasions of Sakhalin

Yuan official appointed judge of Kyrgyz and Tuvan lands

1270

In 1270, Kublai Khan sent a Chinese official, with a new batch of settlers, to serve as judge of the Kyrgyz and Tuvan basin areas.

Image source: Yuan dynasty

Kaidu occupies portions of central Siberia

1275

Ogedei's grandson Kaidu occupied portions of central Siberia from 1275 on.

Image source: Kaidu

First invasion of Burma succeeds against Pagan Kingdom

1277 - 1287

Kublai Khan's Yuan dynasty was initially successful invading Burma between 1277 and 1287, leading to the capitulation and disintegration of the Pagan Kingdom, but failed to hold it as the Burmese revolt quickly overthrew the Mongol puppet government and rallied under the new Myinsaing dynasty.

Tutugh reoccupies the Yenisei Kyrgyz lands

1293

The Yuan dynasty army under Kublai's Kipchak general Tutugh reoccupied the Yenisei Kyrgyz lands in 1293.

Image source: Külüg Khan

Failed invasion retakes Burma; ambitions abandoned

1301

The invasion of 1301 to retake Burma was defeated and the Mongols abandoned all ambitions towards Burma.

Invasions of Russia and Europe

Mongols raze the major cities of Russia

1237 - 1240

Over the course of three years (1237–1240), the Mongols razed all the major cities of Russia with the exceptions of Novgorod and Pskov.

Image source: Mongol invasion of Kievan Rus'

Carpini travels through devastated Kiev

Feb 1246

Giovanni da Pian del Carpine, the Pope's envoy to the Mongol Great Khan, traveled through Kiev in February 1246 and wrote that the Mongols had made great havoc in Russia, destroying cities and fortresses and slaughtering men, and had taken Kiev after a long siege, putting its inhabitants to death.

Image source: Giovanni da Pian del Carpine

Key Facts

Genghis Khan united the Mongol tribes in 1206 and began the conquests that would create the largest contiguous empire in history.
The Mongols destroyed the Khwarezmian Empire (1219–1221) after the execution of Mongol envoys, demonstrating their brutal retaliation policies.
Mongol forces invaded Kievan Rus in 1237–1240, sacking major cities such as Kiev and establishing the Golden Horde's dominance over Russia for over two centuries.
The Mongols conquered the Jin Dynasty and later the Southern Song Dynasty, completing the conquest of China in 1279 under Kublai Khan, who founded the Yuan Dynasty.
Despite their reputation for destruction, Mongol rule fostered the 'Pax Mongolica,' which secured trade routes and enabled greater cultural and technological exchange between East and West.

Source

This Mongol Invasions timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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