The Khan Who Defied Khubilai: Kaidu's War That Broke Mongol Unity

This episode digs into the story of Kaidu, the Ögedeid prince who spent three decades fighting Khubilai Khan for control of the Mongol Empire. After the Toluid Civil War, Kaidu refused to accept Khubilai's claim as Great Khan and rallied the Chagatai and Jochid lineages against the Yuan. We walk through the key battles—like the Irtysh River and the siege of Beshbalik—and Kaidu's clever use of the kurultai to legitimize his own rival khanate. His rebellion locked the Mongol world into a permanent split between east and west, forcing Khubilai to abandon any hope of reconquering Central Asia. Along the way, we also explore how the conflict reshaped trade routes, local allegiances, and the identity of the Chagatai Khanate. If you've followed our series on Mongol disunity, this is the missing piece that explains why unity was never restored. #Kaidu #Ögedeid #KhubilaiKhan #MongolEmpire #YuanDynasty #ChagataiKhanate #GoldenHorde #BattleOfIrtysh #Beshbalik #Kurultai #CentralAsia #SteppeHistory #MongolCivilWar #TarimBasin #GreatKhan #FexingoHistory #History #Podcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo