--- title: Yuan Dynasty Emperors and the Mongol Great Khans url: https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/ language: en description: The Mongol Great Khans and Yuan emperors in order, from Genghis Khan and Kublai Khan to Toghon Temür, and how the Mongols conquered, ruled and lost China. alternates: zh-Hant: https://realrareantiques.com/zh-hant/yuan-dynasty-emperors/ zh-Hans: https://realrareantiques.com/zh-hans/yuan-dynasty-emperors/ --- # Yuan Dynasty Emperors The Yuan Dynasty was created by the Mongols, who ruled part and then eventually the whole of China. They reigned from the 13th century until 1368, and as Great Khans they claimed sovereignty over much of Asia and Eastern Europe. However, the Yuan rulers rarely exercised much control over these distant lands. **Dates:** 1271 to 1368 **Rulers:** 16 ## **The Yuan Dynasty Under the Mongols** The peoples of the northern steppe had fought the Chinese for centuries. When the Mongols united under Genghis Khan's rule, they became a formidable power. The Mongols swept across northern China and destroyed many cities along the way. The Mongols and Chinese continued fighting for years until Kublai Khan reigned over the Mongols. Before Kublai Khan's reign, the Mongols allied themselves with the Chinese of the Southern Song to defeat the Jin Dynasty of the north, which fell in 1234. Once the Jin were conquered, the Mongols attacked the Southern Song, which eventually led to Kublai Khan ruling over the whole country. In 1271, Kublai Khan proclaimed his own dynasty, which he called the Yuan. Yet after his death, the empire started to weaken. Kublai Khan's heirs fought over power while the government became corrupt, which led to its downfall. Peasant uprisings continued throughout the 14th century until rebels who emerged from the Red Turban movement brought the Yuan Dynasty to an end. The Yuan's demise brought about a new empire, the Ming Dynasty. ## **Culture During the Yuan Dynasty** During the Yuan Dynasty, parts of Chinese culture still flourished. The rulers of the period encouraged the arts, including painting, ceramics and drama. In time, the Mongols came to resemble the Chinese in some respects. The Mongols were a small part of the population of China. However, many of them still tried to keep their own culture. They still lived in tents, married other Mongols and drank fermented milk. ## Timeline of reigns, 1206–1368 1. [Genghis Khan](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/genghis-khan/) 2. [Tolui Khan](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/tolui-khan/) 3. [Ögedei Khan](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/ogedei-khan/) 4. [Güyük Khan](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/guyuk-khan/) 5. [Möngke Khan](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/mongke-khan/) 6. [Kublai Khan](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/kublai-khan/) 7. [Temür Khan](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/temur-khan/) 8. [Külüg Khan](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/kulug-khan/) 9. [Ayurbarwada Buyantu Khan](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/ayurbarwada-buyantu-khan/) 10. [Gegeen Khan](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/gegeen-khan/) 11. [Yesün Temür](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/yesun-temur/) 12. [Ragibagh Khan](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/ragibagh-khan/) 13. [Jayaatu Khan Tugh Temür](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/jayaatu-khan-tugh-temur/) 14. [Khutughtu Khan Kusala](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/khutughtu-khan-kusala/) 15. [Rinchinbal Khan](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/rinchinbal-khan/) 16. [Toghon Temür](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/toghon-temur/) ### Mongol Empire - [Genghis Khan1206–1227United the Mongol tribes in 1206 and began the conquests that his grandson Kublai completed in China.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/genghis-khan/) - [Tolui Khan1227–1229Regent after Genghis Khan's death and father of Möngke and Kublai.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/tolui-khan/) - [Ögedei Khan1229–1241Destroyed the Jin dynasty in 1234 and built the Mongol capital at Karakorum.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/ogedei-khan/) - [Güyük Khan1246–1248Elected Great Khan after a long regency, he died two years later.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/guyuk-khan/) - [Möngke Khan1251–1259Launched the campaigns against the Song and died during the siege of Diaoyu Fortress.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/mongke-khan/) ### Yuan Dynasty - [Kublai Khan1260–1294 · 中統 至元Proclaimed the Yuan dynasty in 1271 and completed the conquest of the Song, uniting China under Mongol rule.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/kublai-khan/) - [Temür Khan1294–1307 · 元貞 大德Kept the peace his grandfather Kublai had won and made terms with the western khanates.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/temur-khan/) - [Külüg Khan1307–1311 · 至大A former frontier commander whose generous spending strained the treasury.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/kulug-khan/) - [Ayurbarwada Buyantu Khan1311–1320 · 皇慶 延祐Restored the civil service examinations in 1315 and favoured Confucian government.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/ayurbarwada-buyantu-khan/) - [Gegeen Khan1320–1323 · 至治A reforming young emperor assassinated in the Nanpo incident of 1323.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/gegeen-khan/) - [Yesün Temür1323–1328 · 泰定 致和Came to the throne after Shidebala's murder, and his death set off the War of the Two Capitals.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/yesun-temur/) - [Ragibagh Khan1328 · 天順A child enthroned at Shangdu who disappeared when his faction lost the War of the Two Capitals.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/ragibagh-khan/) - [Jayaatu Khan Tugh Temür1328–1329, 1329–1332 · 天曆 至順A patron of painting and calligraphy who ruled twice, stepping aside briefly for his brother Kusala.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/jayaatu-khan-tugh-temur/) - [Khutughtu Khan Kusala1329Reigned for only a few months before dying suddenly, probably poisoned.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/khutughtu-khan-kusala/) - [Rinchinbal Khan1332A six-year-old emperor who died less than two months after his enthronement.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/rinchinbal-khan/) - [Toghon Temür1333–1368 · 元統 至元 至正The last Yuan emperor in China; mature Yuan blue and white of the Zhizheng type dates from his reign.](https://realrareantiques.com/yuan-dynasty-emperors/toghon-temur/) ## Pieces from this period - Yuan Dynasty Porcelain [Blue and White Barbed-Rim Charger with Two Phoenixes, Yuan Dynasty](https://realrareantiques.com/shop/barbed-rim-yuan-dynasty-blue-and-white-antique-porcelain-charger-plate-with-phoenix/)Yuan DynastyPrice on request - Yuan Dynasty Porcelain [Blue and White Jar with a Fish and Lotus, Early Yuan Dynasty](https://realrareantiques.com/shop/early-yuan-dynasty-blue-and-white-porcelain-jar-with-fish-and-lotus-carving/)Early YuanPrice on request - Yuan Dynasty Porcelain [Blue and White Vase with Qilin Panels and Incised Flowers, Early Yuan Dynasty](https://realrareantiques.com/shop/early-yuan-dynasty-antique-porcelain-vase-qilin-with-incised-design/)Early YuanPrice on request - Yuan Dynasty Porcelain [Blue and White Jar with Two Mounted Warriors, Yuan Dynasty](https://realrareantiques.com/shop/antique-chinese-yuan-dynasty-blue-and-white-porcelain-jar-warriors-with-sword-and-spear/)Yuan DynastyPrice on request Looking for something specific? 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