Subjugating the State of Western Xia
2 min readNo sooner had the Mongol Empire been established than it began its territorial expansion, and the Western Xia Kingdom of the Tangut people in northwest China became its first target of attack.
Actually, as early as 1205 Temujin had carried out a tentative military operation against the Western Xia. After ascending the throne he made two large-scale incursions from 1207 to 1209; the 1209 invasion forced the Tanguts to sue for peace as the Mongol soldiers channeled water from the Yellow River to submerge the Xia capital of Zhongxingfu (present Yinchuan City of Ningxia). The Mongols eventually subjugated the Western Xia in 1227, though Temujin died a sudden death that very year and was not able to see this achievement with his own eyes.
The captured Tangut craftsmen introduced firearms into the Mongol cavalry, which created favorable conditions for the empire’s further expansion in the future.
A Yuan Dynasty Porcelain Vase with a Pierced Base, Produced by the Junzhou Kiln Attacking the Kin Kingdom In 1208, Emperor Zhangzong(Wanyan Jing by name) of the Kin Dynasty died of illness, and his uncle Wanyan Yongji succeeded to the throne. Temujin took this opportunity to stop paying tribute to the Kin emperor, and personally commanded a huge army to march south in 1211,–a prologue to the 24-year long Mongol-Kin wars.
In 1214, the Mongol army besieged the Kin “Central Capital”(present Beijing). Temujin didn’t lift the siege until the Kin Dynasty accepted harsh terms under duress.
Going on a Campaign Against the Khwarezmian Empire In 1218, Temujin sent a 450-man caravan to Khwarezml2], trying to establish trade ties with this empire on the Silk Road. However, when the caravan arrived at the town of Otrar, Governor Inalchuq gave orders to kill all merchants whilst confiscating their goods. Temujin then sent three emissaries to see Sultan Muhammad II. The Sultan unwisely had the chief envoy beheaded, whilst burning off the beards of his two assistants(a humiliating act) to further aggravate the situation. This event eventually touched off the multi-pronged Mongol invasion of the Khwarezmian Empire.
