Kublai Khan's Great Khan Succession Crisis

After the death of Möngke Khan in 1259, the Mongol Empire teetered on the brink of civil war as Kublai and his younger brother Ariq Böke both claimed the title of Great Khan. This episode unpacks the four-year struggle (1260–1264) that pitted Kublai's Chinese-style administration against Ariq Böke's conservative steppe loyalists. We follow the key players: Kublai's Chinese advisor Liu Bingzhong, who urged a swift proclamation at Shangdu; the rival kuriltai at Karakorum that elevated Ariq; the shifting allegiances of Chagatai Khan Alghu; and the decisive Battle of Xiping in 1261. The conflict exposed deep fractures in the Mongol Empire—between sedentary and nomadic lifestyles, between Buddhist and Muslim patronage, and between brothers. We also explore how Kublai's victory came at a cost: the permanent split of the empire into four khanates and a legacy of distrust that shaped Yuan rule in China. Includes lesser-known details like the role of Kublai's wife Chabi in brokering peace and the fate of Ariq Böke after his surrender. #KublaiKhan #AriqBöke #MongolEmpire #YuanDynasty #SuccessionCrisis #Karakorum #Shangdu #Kuriltai #LiuBingzhong #Chabi #Alghu #BattleOfXiping #CivilWar #SteppePolitics #CentralAsia #History #FexingoHistory #MongolHistory Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo