Kublai Khan facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Kublai Khan (23 Sept. 1215 - 18 Feb. 1294) was a Mongol khan, or military ruler, who brought the Mongol Empire to its greatest height. He finished the invasion of China and founded the Yuan Dynasty. He lived during the 13th century AD. Kublai Khan was the grandson of the great Mongol king Genghis Khan.

Kublai Khan was born to Tolui Khan, and his wife Sorghaghtani. While growing up, he participated in campaigns with his father, until he was 17 when his father died. He had also participated in campaigns with his older brother. When his brother died in 1259, Kublai had to fight against his younger brother to become Great Khan even though he was next in line to rule.

Kublai led led armies against the Song Dynasty and took over most of China and much of Asia. As the first foreigner to rule all of China, he established the Yuan Dynasty, which had Chinese ideas but Mongolian roots.

Images for kids

  • Qubilai Setsen Khaan

    Portrait of young Kublai by Anige, a Nepali artist in Kublai's court

  • Liu-Kuan-Tao-Jagd

    Painting of Kublai Khan on a hunting expedition, by Chinese court artist Liu Guandao, c. 1280.

  • ArghunLetterToPhilippeLeBelExtract1289

    Extract of the letter of Arghun to Philip IV of France, in the Mongolian script, dated 1289. French National Archives.

  • Yuan Dynasty 1294

    The Yuan Dynasty of China, c. 1294

  • Theatre actors, Yuan Dynasty

    Chinese opera flourished during Yuan China.

  • Trebuchet2

    The "Muslim trebuchet" (Hui-Hui Pao) used to breach the walls of Fancheng and Xiangyang.

  • Yuan chinese gun

    A Yuan dynasty hand cannon

  • Mirror with Dragons Chasing Flaming Pearls LACMA M.2000.15.181

    Two dragons chasing a flaming pearl was a symbol associated with Goryeo and later influenced Yuan dynasty's preferences for dragons.

  • Kubilai

    B. Sumiyabaatar/ Б. Сумьяабаатар, "Хубилай Их Хааны үеийн Монгол - Сонгосын харилцаа", "Relationship between Mongolia and Korea during Kubilai Khan rule", 439p, 2015, ISBN 978-99973-302-5-3

  • KangnidoMap

    The Gangnido reflects the Chinese geographical knowledge during the Mongol Empire about countries in the West.

  • Mōko Shūrai Ekotoba 2

    The samurai Suenaga facing Mongol arrows and bombs. Mōko Shūrai Ekotoba (蒙古襲来絵詞), circa 1293.

  • Takezaki suenaga ekotoba3

    Japanese samurai boarding Yuan ships in 1281.

  • Kublai giving support to the Venetians

    Kublai gives financial support to the Polo family.

  • VoyagesOfRabbanBarSauma

    Rabban Bar Sauma, ambassador of Great Khan Kublai and Ilkhan Arghun, travelled from Dadu to Rome, Paris, and Bordeaux to meet with European rulers in 1287–88.

  • Miaoyingsi baita

    The White Stupa of Dadu (or Khanbaliq; now Beijing)

  • Belt plaque with dragon design

    A Yuan dynasty jade belt plaque featuring carved designs of the Azure Dragon, highly regarded as a symbol of Yuan dynasty China's maritime strength.

  • GhazanConversionToIslam

    In Ilkhanate Persia, Ghazan converted to Islam and recognized Kublai Khan as his suzerain.

  • Summer Palace, Beijing, China

    Longevity Hill in Beijing, where Kublai Khan wrote his poem.

  • YuanEmpressAlbumChabi

    Chabi, Khatun of Kublai and Empress of the Mongol Empire

  • Khubilai statue

    Statue of Kublai Khan in Sükhbaatar Square, Ulaanbaatar. Together with Ögedei Khan's, and the much larger Genghis Khan's statues, it forms a statue complex dedicated to the Mongol Empire.

  • MokoShuraiE-Kotoba I

    Mongol soldiers, second version

  • MokoShuraiE-Kotoba III

    Mongol ships, second version

  • YuanJunk(14thcentury)

    Painting of a 14th-century prized Yuan dynasty junk


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Kublai Khan Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.