One of the biggest empires in history, the Mongol Empire spanned from Europe to Asia and was established by Genghis Khan at the beginning of the 13th century. The Mongols conquered enormous areas with their better military strategies and horseback combat, leaving a lasting impression on the areas they occupied. This timeline shows some of the most significant conquests, rulers, and outcomes of the Mongol Empire.
No. | Key Conquests | Years | Leaders | Consequences |
1 | Conquest of Khwarezmia | 1219-1221 | Genghis Khan | Acquisition of new territory and wealth |
2 | Conquest of Northern China | 1211-1234 | Genghis Khan, Subutai | Expansion of Mongol Empire in East Asia |
3 | Conquest of Central Asia | 1219-1225 | Genghis Khan | Establishment of Silk Road trade routes |
4 | Conquest of Eastern Europe | 1237-1242 | Batu Khan | Devastation of Kiev and other cities |
5 | Conquest of Baghdad | 1258 | Hulagu Khan | Destruction of the Abbasid Caliphate |
6 | Conquest of Persia | 1219-1230 | Subutai, Jebe | Subjugation of the Islamic world |
7 | Conquest of Russia | 1237-1240 | Batu Khan | Incorporation of Russian lands into empire |
8 | Conquest of Korea | 1231-1270 | Kublai Khan | Establishment of Mongol suzerainty in Korea |
9 | Conquest of Japan | 1274, 1281 | Kublai Khan | Failed attempts at invading Japan |
10 | Conquest of Song Dynasty | 1279 | Kublai Khan | Establishment of the Yuan Dynasty in China |
11 | Conquest of Kievan Rus’ | 1237-1240 | Batu Khan | Destruction of Kiev, decline of Kievan Rus’ |
12 | Conquest of Georgia | 1236-1245 | Batu Khan, Subutai | Incorporation of Georgia into Mongol Empire |
13 | Conquest of Armenia | 1235-1240 | Chormaqan | Incorporation of Armenia into Mongol Empire |
14 | Conquest of Baghdad | 1258 | Hulagu Khan | Destruction of the Abbasid Caliphate |
15 | Conquest of Syria | 1260 | Hulagu Khan | Defeat of the Ayyubid dynasty, establishment of Mongol rule in Syria |
16 | Conquest of Korea | 1231-1259 | Subutai | Establishment of tributary relationship between Korea and Mongol Empire |
17 | Conquest of Hungary | 1241-1242 | Subutai | Devastation of Hungary, spread of Black Death to Europe |
18 | Conquest of Vietnam | 1257-1288 | Kublai Khan | Incorporation of Vietnam into Mongol Empire |
19 | Conquest of Java | 1293-1294 | Mongke Temur | Incorporation of Java into Mongol Empire |
20 | Conquest of Japan | 1274, 1281 | Kublai Khan | Failed invasions of Japan, establishment of trade relations with Japan |
21 | Conquest of Jin Empire | 1211-1234 | Genghis Khan, Ögedei Khan | Mongol rule established in northern China |
22 | Conquest of Khwarezmian Empire | 1219-1221 | Genghis Khan | End of the Khwarezm-Shah dynasty |
23 | Conquest of Western Xia | 1209-1227 | Genghis Khan, Ögedei Khan | Mongol rule established in western China |
24 | Conquest of Volga Bulgaria | May-03 | Subutai, Jebe | Subjugation of the Bulgarian people |
25 | Conquest of Georgia | 1220s-1230s | Subutai, Chormaqan | Incorporation into the Mongol Empire |
26 | Conquest of Tibet | 1236-1253 | Güyük Khan, Möngke Khan | Subjugation of Tibetans and Buddhists |
27 | Conquest of Baghdad | Jun-03 | Hulagu Khan | Destruction of the Abbasid Caliphate |
28 | Conquest of Syria | Jun-03 | Hulagu Khan, Kitbuqa | End of Ayyubid dynasty |
29 | Conquest of the Golden Horde | 1237-1242 | Batu Khan, Subutai | Mongol rule established in Russia |
30 | Conquest of Koryo | 1231-1259 | Subutai, Chormaqan | Mongol rule established in Korea |
31 | Conquest of Song China | 1235-1279 | Kublai Khan | End of the Song dynasty |
32 | Conquest of Dali Kingdom | 1253-1254 | Möngke Khan, Kublai Khan | Mongol rule established in Yunnan, China |
33 | Conquest of Burma | 1277-1287 | Kublai Khan, Bayan | Mongol rule established in Burma |
34 | Conquest of Vietnam | 1257-1288 | Trần Thủ Độ, Kublai Khan | Mongol rule established in Vietnam |
35 | Conquest of Sakhalin Island | 1264-1308 | N/A | Incorporation into the Mongol Empire |
36 | Conquest of Java | 1293-1294 | Mongol princes, Jayakatwang | Failed attempt to conquer Java |
37 | Conquest of Japan | 1274, 1281 | Kublai Khan, Arakhan | Failed attempts to invade Japan |
38 | Conquest of Champa | 1282-1283 | Togan, Kublai Khan | Mongol rule established in central Vietnam |
39 | Conquest of Siam | 1278-1281 | Mengrai, Kublai Khan | Mongol rule established in northern Thailand |
40 | Siege of Damascus | 1395-1405 | Timur | Weakened Timurid Dynasty, allowed the rise of Ottoman power |
41 | Battle of Legnica | 1241 | Subutai, Batu Khan | Devastating defeat for European knights and Polish monarchy |
42 | Invasion of Korea | 1231-1259 | Subutai, Jebe | Mongol conquest of Korea and establishment of Goryeo as a vassal state |
43 | Mongol conquest of Tibet | 1240-1247 | Godan Khan, Chagatai Khan | Establishment of a Mongol protectorate over Tibet |
44 | Mongol invasion of Japan | 1274, 1281 | Kublai Khan | Failed invasions and retreat of Mongol forces |
45 | Fall of the Abbasid Caliphate | 1258 | Hulagu Khan | Destruction of Baghdad, end of the Abbasid Caliphate and Islamic Golden Age |
46 | Mongol invasion of Vietnam | 1257-1288 | Kublai Khan | Mongol conquest of Vietnam and establishment of the Trần dynasty |
47 | Battle of Ain Jalut | 1260 | Qutuz, Baibars | Decisive Mamluk victory against Mongol forces in Syria |