Kublai Khan vs Li Cunxu

Kublai Khan appointed the Tibetan lama Drog

Kublai Khan officially proclaimed the Yuan dynasty, adopting a Chinese-style dynastic name. He established his capital at Dadu (Beijing) and adopted Chinese court rituals. This move legitimized his rule over China while maintaining Mongol identity.

Kublai Khan launched two naval invasions of Japan, in 1274 and 1281. Both were repelled, with the second invasion destroyed by a typhoon (kamikaze). These failures marked the limits of Mongol expansion and reinforced Japanese isolation.

Kublai Khan's Mongol forces defeated the Song navy at the Battle of Yamen. The last Song emperor drowned, ending the Song dynasty. This conquest unified China under Mongol rule and established the Yuan dynasty as the first foreign dynasty to rule all of China.

Under Kublai Khan, the Mongol Empire secured the Silk Road, facilitating trade and cultural exchange between East and West. Marco Polo visited his court. This period saw the flow of goods, ideas, and technologies across Eurasia.

Li Cunxu inherited the title Prince of Jin from his father Li Keyong. He continued the struggle against Later Liang, consolidating the Jin state as a major power in northern China.

Li Cunxu's Jin army defeated the Later Liang forces under Zhu Wen at Baixiang. This victory established Jin as the dominant military power in the north and marked a turning point in the war.

Li Cunxu led a successful campaign against Later Liang, capturing its capital Kaifeng and ending the dynasty. He then proclaimed himself emperor, founding the Later Tang dynasty.

Li Cunxu declared himself emperor of the Later Tang dynasty, claiming legitimacy as the restorer of the Tang lineage. He established his capital at Luoyang and reunified much of northern China.

Li Cunxu faced a mutiny by his own troops at Xingyuan during a campaign against the Khitans. He was killed in the fighting, leading to the collapse of Later Tang and the rise of Later Jin.