yuan Dynasty Emperors

The Yuan Dynasty was created by the Mongols who ruled parts, then eventually, the whole of China. They reigned from the 13th century until 1368, and their sovereignty expanded throughout most of Asia and Eastern Europe. However, the Yuan rulers rarely exercised much control over the distant lands they ruled over.

The Yuan Dynasty Under the Mongols

The Mongols battled with the Chinese for hundreds of years. When they united under Genghis Khan’s rule, they became a formidable clan.

The Mongols swept across China’s northern areas and destroyed a lot of cities along the way. With that, the Mongols and Chinese continued battling for years until Kublai Khan reigned over the Mongols.

Under Kublai Khan, they first associated themselves with the Chinese of the Southern Song. They did this to defeat the Jin Dynasty of the North. Once conquered, the Mongols attacked the Southern Song, which eventually led to Kublai Khan ruling over most of the country.

Eventually, Kublai Khan established his own empire, which he then called the Yuan Dynasty. Yet after his death, the empire started to weaken. The heir of Kublai Khan fought overpower while the government became corrupt, which led to its downfall.

Peasant uprisings continued throughout the 14th century until one led by the Red Turbans completely ended the Yuan Dynasty. The Yuan’s demise was what brought about a new empire, the Ming Dynasty.

Culture During the Yuan Dynasty

During the Yuan Dynasty, parts of the Chinese culture still flourished. Here, the rulers during the period encouraged the people to do art like painting, ceramics, drama, and more. With that, it can be said that the Mongols somehow became similar to the Chinese as time passed.

The Mongols were a small part of the entire Chinese population. However, a lot of them still tried to keep their own culture. They still lived in tents, married other Mongols, and drank fermented milk.

Genghis Khan

1206–1227 A.D

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Temujin or better known as Genghis Khan, was the ruler and first Great Khan or emperor of the Mongols. His empire became one of the biggest and most powerful empires of all time. The Mongol Empire emperor ascended to power by uniting a large number of Northeast Asian nomadic tribes.

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Tolui Khan

1227–1229 A.D

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Tolui Khan was Genghis Khan and Borte’s 4th son. He grew up while his father expanded his rule in Mongolia. Tolui never bothered using the reigning Khagan title, and neither did his father nor his immediate successors.

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Ögedei Khan

1229–1241 A.D

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Ogedei Khan, the Mongol Empire’s second Great Khan, was Ghengis Khan’s third son. After succeeding his father, he continued expanding the empire and eventually became a world figure. This was after conquering as far as the west and south areas during their invasion of East Asia and Europe.

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Güyük Khan

1246–1248 A.D

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Guyuk Khan was the Mongol Empire’s third Great Khan and the eldest son of Ogedei Khan. He was also the grandson of the great Mongol Emperor, Genghis Khan.

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Möngke Khan

1251–1259 A.D

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Mongke Khan, the fourth Khagan of the Mongol Empire. He was a leader who ruled from 1251 to 1259 and was the first Khagan coming from the Toluid line.

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Kublai Khan

1260–1294 A.D

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Kublai Khan was the 5th great Khan of the Mongols and was sometimes referred to as Emperor Shizu of Yuan. He ruled from 1260 to 1294 and was the founder of the Yuan Dynasty. Hence, Kublai was the very first emperor of the Yuan Empire.

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Temür Khan

1294–1307 A.D

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Temür Khan, better known as Emperor Chengzong of the Yuan Dynasty, was the empire’s 2nd ruler. He reigned from 1294 to 1307 and was also known as the 6th Great Khan of the Mongols. The Yuan Dynasty emperor was an adequate ruler who built the patterns of power for the future.

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Külüg Khan

1307–1311 A.D

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Kulug Khan was born with the name Khayishan. He became the emperor of the Yuan dynasty and was known as the 7th great Khan of the Mongol Empire. Also, he was called Emperor Wuzong of Yuan.

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Ayurbarwada Buyantu Khan

1311–1320 A.D

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Buyantu Khan, born Ayurbarwada Buyantu Khan, was also known as Emperor Renzong of Yuan. Aside from being the 4th Yuan dynasty emperor of China, he was the 8th Great Khan of the Mongols. He was the second son of Darmabala and Dagi from Khunggirat and Kublai Khan’s great-grandson.

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Gegeen Khan

1320–1323 A.D

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Gegeen Khan was Ayurbarwada’s successor when it came to ruling the Yuan Dynasty. Other than the Emperor of China, he was known as the ninth Great Khan of the Mongols.

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Yesün Temür

1323–1328 A.D

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Tugh Temur abdicated in April 1329, and then after a month, El Temur took the imperial seal to Emperor Mingzong who was in Mongolia. This was to announce the intentions of Dadu to welcome him.

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 Ragibagh Khan

1328 A.D

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Ragibagh Khan, the son of Yesun Temur, was concisely installed in Shangdu as the emperor of Yuan in 1328. He was supposed to be the 7th leader of the Yuan Dynasty, yet was dethroned by his rival, who ascended the throne by a coup.

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Jayaatu Khan Tugh Temür

1328–1329 and 1329–1332 A.D

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Jayaatu Khan Tugh Temur, also known as Emperor Wenzong of Yuan, was a ruler of the Yuan dynasty. He was also honored as the Mongol Empire’s 12th Great Khan. But because of its division, not everyone considered this.

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Khutughtu Khan Kusa

1329 A.D

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Khutughtu Khan Kusala was born and given the name Kusala. He was also known by the name Mingzong or Emperor Mingzong of Yuan. His father was Khayishan, the person who captured the Yuan Dynasty in 1329, yet died right after.

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Rinchinbal Khan

1332 A.D

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Rinchinbal Khan, or Emperor Ningzong of Yuan, was one of the sons of Kusala. He was concisely installed to the Yuan Dynasty throne, yet he died soon after. Aside from being China’s emperor, he was also the 14th Great Khan of the Mongol Empire.

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Toghon Temür

1333–1368 A.D

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Toghon Temur was known and respected under different names. These were Emperor Huizong or Emperor Shun of Yuan. He was the longest-ruling leader and the last Yuan Dynasty monarch, reigning from 1271 to 1368.

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