June 14: Kublai Khan destroyed the forces of Nayan and other princes of Mongolia and Manchuria in 1287.

A painting of Shizu, better known as Kublai Khan, as he would have appeared in the 1260s (although this painting is a posthumous one executed shortly after his death in February of 1294, by a Nepalese artist and astronomer Anige). The painting is done in the Chinese portrait style. It is now located in the National Palace Museum in Taipei, Taiwan.

In 1274, Kublai appointed Lian Xixian to investigate abuses of power praise Mongol holders in Manchuria and the region was immediately taken over by the control of Kublai Khan in 1284 and eliminates the Mongolian autonomy there.

The English translation of the catalogue notes on this 700 year old map are reproduced below (thanks to James Fletcher for translating).

Additionally, threatened by the advance of bureaucratization of Kublai, a descendant known as Nayan instigated a revolt in 1287. Nayan attempted to join forces but were destroyed by the army of Kublai Khan.

Yuan dynasty: extent of empire under Kublai Khan

Kublai was the fourth son of Tolui and grandson of Genghis Khan. Discrepancies with his younger brother Arik Böke Toluid led to the Civil War which lasted until 1264. The real power was limited to China and Mongolia.

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

The Mongol Empire of the time stretched from the Pacific Ocean to the Black Sea, and from Siberia to the current Afghanistan.

The Mongol Empire and Kublai Khan