The Mongol Conquest of Song China: Khubilai's Longest War

While the Mongol Empire is famous for swift conquests, the war against the Song Dynasty in southern China took over four decades. This episode follows Khubilai Khan's methodical campaign that began with his brother Möngke's invasion in 1258 and culminated in the 1279 Battle of Yamen. We explore key turning points like the siege of Xiangyang, where Chinese engineers and Persian artillerymen worked side by side, and the tragic end of the Song loyalist prime minister Lu Xiufu, who leaped into the sea holding the child emperor. Lucas and Luna unpack how the Mongols adapted to riverine warfare, why the Song naval forces initially held out, and how this conquest transformed China into a unified Yuan Dynasty. The episode also touches on the controversial figure of the Muslim architect Yeheidie'erding, who oversaw the construction of Khanbaliq (modern Beijing) as the new capital. A story of patience, adaptation, and the cost of empire. #MongolEmpire #SongDynasty #KhubilaiKhan #YuanDynasty #BattleOfYamen #SiegeOfXiangyang #LuXiufu #Yeheidieerding #ChineseMilitaryHistory #MedievalWarfare #Khanbaliq #MNgkeKhan #NavalWarfare #GlobalMiddleAges #History #FexingoHistory #Conquest #Asia #GenghisKhan #KublaiKhan Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo