Bayan of the Baarin facts for kids

Bayan of the Baarin (Mongolian: Баян; 1236 – January 11, 1295), also known as Boyan, was a famous Mongol general. He served Kublai Khan, who was the first emperor of the Yuan dynasty in China. Bayan led the army that conquered the Song dynasty of China, which helped the Yuan dynasty take control of all of China.

The name "Bayan" means "rich" in the Mongolian language. The famous traveler Marco Polo knew him as "Bayan Hundred Eyes."

Who Was Bayan?

Bayan came from the Baarin tribe of the Mongols. His great-uncle, Nayagha, was a general who served Genghis Khan, the founder of the Mongol Empire. Bayan's family had a long history of serving the Great Khans.

Bayan's Early Life

Bayan's grandfather, Alagh, was a governor in the Khorazm province of the Mongol Empire. Bayan's father died during a Mongol attack on a stronghold of a group called the Assassins.

Bayan first served in Persia with Hulegu's army. Later, Kublai Khan called him back to China. Kublai Khan liked Bayan, but he didn't immediately give him a high position in the Yuan army.

After the important Battle of Xiangyang in 1273, Kublai Khan recognized Bayan's skills. He made Bayan the main commander of the Yuan army. Bayan also married the niece of Kublai's wife, Chabi.

Conquering Southern China

In 1274, the Song Emperor Duzong died. His three-year-old son, Zhao Xian, became the new Emperor Gongdi. This was a difficult time for the Song dynasty.

The Mongols, led by Bayan, launched a huge attack against the Song. Bayan's army marched through many cities. Some Song generals surrendered to the Mongols. The Song regent, Grand Empress Dowager Xie, had to rely on a general named Jia Sidao to fight the Mongols.

Jia Sidao led a large army against the Mongols on the Yangtze River. But his army was defeated. Many people living near the Yangtze River left their homes because of the Mongol attacks. Jia Sidao tried to make a peace deal with Bayan, but Bayan refused to negotiate.

The Fall of the Song Capital

As the Mongols continued to advance, more Song generals surrendered. The Mongols took control of cities like Changzhou and Wuxi.

Kublai Khan sent people to the Song court to talk about peace. However, a Song general attacked them, killing one and capturing another. Bayan was upset by this. He sent another person to the Song court, but that person was also killed. After this, the Mongols stopped peace talks and continued their attacks.

The Song capital, Lin'an (Hangzhou), was in danger. Some Song officials wanted the court to move to islands off the coast. But the prime minister, Chen Yizhong, decided to surrender to the Mongols. He sent the imperial seal, a symbol of the emperor's power, to Bayan.

Bayan demanded that Chen Yizhong come in person, but Chen fled. In 1276, Bayan successfully took over Lin'an. He forced the dowager empress to officially surrender. Bayan then sent the Song royal family, including the young Emperor Gongdi, to Peking (modern-day Beijing).

Bayan's Later Military Actions

Bayan continued to serve Kublai Khan in other important military campaigns.

Dealing with Rebellions

Kublai Khan sent his sons and other generals to fight against Kaidu, a grandson of Ögedei Khan, who was causing trouble in the west. One of Kublai's relatives, Shiregi, rebelled and captured Kublai's son Nomukhan.

Kublai Khan then ordered Bayan to fight Kaidu and the rebellious princes. Bayan defeated Shiregi and his followers. Eventually, Nomukhan was released and returned to the Yuan dynasty.

Later, Kublai Khan called Bayan back to deal with another rebellion. This time, it was by a Mongol prince named Nai-yan. Bayan tried to persuade Nai-yan not to rebel, but he failed.

Kublai Khan himself led an army against Nai-yan. With the help of Chinese soldiers and clever tactics, Kublai's army defeated Nai-yan's army of 100,000 soldiers in a night attack. Nai-yan was captured and executed. This important battle was even reported by Marco Polo in Europe.

Bayan also helped fight against the remaining forces of Nai-yan, chasing them westward.

Fighting Kaidu Again

Bayan was later ordered to counter Kaidu again, who was attacking the city of Helin (Karakorum) in the west. Bayan continued to fight Kaidu for some time. However, some officials accused Bayan of not doing enough. Because of these accusations, he was sent away from Mongolia to China for a while.

Bayan's Final Years

Bayan remained loyal to Kublai Khan until Kublai's death in 1294. After Kublai's death, there was a short period of uncertainty about who would rule next. With Bayan's strong support, Kublai's grandson, Timur, became the next emperor, known as Emperor Chengzong.

Bayan died on January 11, 1295.