List of emperors of the Yuan dynasty

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Template:Short description Template:Featured list Template:Infobox former monarchy The Yuan dynasty was an imperial dynasty of China, proclaimed on 18 December 1271 by Kublai Khan, which succeeded the Song dynasty and preceded the Ming dynasty. It also functioned as a continuation of the Mongol Empire, which was founded by Genghis Khan in 1206, but which subsequently split into four autonomous states. The emperors of the Yuan dynasty thus comprise both Kublai's successors as rulers of China and his predecessors up to his grandfather Genghis, who was retrospectively presented as the founder of the dynasty.

The rulers of the Yuan dynasty were nominally superior to those of the other three post-Mongol states, but each was de facto independent of the others and occupied with their own territories. The Yuan dynasty adopted Han political traditions, including the use of posthumous names, temple names and era names. Aside from the title of emperor, Yuan rulers also concurrently held the title of khagan.

Although the reigns of Kublai and his successor Temür were generally peaceful, weaknesses in the Yuan administration became apparent and led to a gradual breakdown of political stability. By the mid-14th century, the Yuan state became impossible to govern, and in 1368 the last emperor, Toghon Temür, was forced to flee China proper. His descendants continued to rule a rump state in Inner Mongolia, known as the Northern Yuan, until 1634.

Background

Template:See also Through years of campaigning, Genghis Khan (Template:Circa – 1227) unified the tribes of the Mongolian steppe and was crowned khan of the Mongol Empire, or Template:Transliteration, in 1206. The campaigns of the following decades saw Mongol armies invade and conquer China, Central Asia, Persia and much of the Middle East, and Russia.Template:Sfnm However, different branches of Genghis Khan's line became dominant in differing areas. As a result, by 1265, the once-united empire had begun to split into four independent states: the Golden Horde in modern-day Russia, the Chagatai Khanate in Central Asia, the Ilkhanate in the Near East, and a regime in China which was ruled by Genghis's grandson Kublai Khan and which was nominally superior to the rest.Template:Sfnm

To appease his Han Chinese-majority population, Kublai declared the foundation of a new imperial dynasty titled Template:Transliteration. Essentially a way to convey the Template:Transliteration in Chinese conventions, the Yuan was officially proclaimed on 18 December 1271.Template:Sfnm As the dynasty was regarded as a continuation of the Mongol Empire, contemporary writers retroactively described Genghis Khan as the dynastic founder;Template:Efn the post-1271 emperors styled themselves as Mongol khans.Template:Sfnm They continued the tradition, dating from the Qin dynasty (221–206 BC), of the ruling head of state being known as huangdi, or emperor.Template:Sfnm In Chinese historical texts, emperors of the Yuan dynasty, along with the Tang and Song dynasties, are referred to by their temple names; they also had posthumous names and normally multiple era names.Template:Sfn

Kublai presided over the final conquest of the Song dynasty, which had preceded the Yuan. Although his reign was generally long and prosperous, weaknesses in the Yuan's economy, society, and administration became apparent after the death of his successor Temür in 1307, culminating in two decades of near-anarchy between 1320 and 1340.Template:Sfn Although the emperor Toghon Temür then managed to set up a stable government, an economic crisis led to a breakdown of the social order, and the powerful warlord Zhu Yuanzhang, having forced Toghon Temür to flee, established the Ming dynasty in 1368.Template:Sfnm Members of the Yuan dynasty continued to rule a rump state in the Mongol heartland, commonly known as the Northern Yuan, until 1634.Template:Sfn

List of rulers

Template:Legend

Yuan dynasty (大元; 1271–1368)
Portrait Khan nameTemplate:Sfn Personal name Reign Succession Life details
Genghis Khan Genghis Khan
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Collapsible list
lang}} 1206 – 25 August 1227
(Template:Age in years years)
Son of Yesugei and Hö'elün Template:Circa – 25 August 1227Template:Efn
(aged around 65)
Unified the Mongol tribes, founded the Mongol Empire in 1206, initiated the Mongol conquests. Died in uncertain circumstances.Template:Sfnm
Tolui None, known by his personal name
Template:Collapsible list
Tolui
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
1227 – 1229
(Template:Age in years years)
(regency)
Fourth son of Genghis Template:Circa – September/October 1231
(aged around 40)
Commanded armies in Central Asia and in China, and was a candidate to succeed his father as khan. Died in controversial circumstances.Template:Sfnm
Ögedei Khan None, known by his personal name
Template:Collapsible list
Ögedei Khan
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
13 September 1229 – 11 December 1241
(Template:Age in years, months and days)
Third son of Genghis 1186 – 11 December 1241
(aged Template:Age in years)
Presided over the conquests of the Jin dynasty and Kievan Rus' and the invasion of Europe, refined the imperial administration, and built Karakorum as a capital city. Died from excessive drinking.Template:Sfnm
Töregene Khatun None, known by her personal name
Template:Collapsible list
Töregene Khatun
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
1242 – 1246
(Template:Age in years years)
(regency)
Wife of Ögedei Late 1180s – late 1246
Her five-year regency on behalf of her son Güyük was noted for its political intrigues and her excessive taxation demands, but after it ended she quickly lost influence and died.Template:SfnmTemplate:Efn
Güyük Khan None, known by his personal name
Template:Collapsible list
Güyük Khan
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
24 August 1246 – April 1248
(Template:Age in years and months)
Son of Ögedei and Töregene 1206 – April 1248
(aged Template:Age in years)
Reversed his mother's economic policies and removed her associates from power; quarrelled with his cousin Batu and may have intended to campaign against him. Died of ill health.Template:Sfnm
Oghul Qaimish None, known by her personal name Oghul Qaimish
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
1248 – 1251
(Template:Age in years years)
(regency)
Wife of Güyük Early 1200s – summer 1252
(aged around 50)
An ineffective regent, she was outflanked by her political enemies who proclaimed Tolui's son Möngke as khan. After a coup attempt led by her sons failed, she was judged complicit and guilty of witchcraft, and executed.Template:Sfnm
Möngke Khan None, known by his personal name
Template:Collapsible list
Möngke Khan
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
1 July 1251 – 11 August 1259
(Template:Age in years, months and days)
First son of Tolui 10 January 1209 – 11 August 1259
(aged Template:Age in years)
Purged those who had opposed his accession in the Toluid Revolution; sent his brother Hulegu to campaign in the Middle East, and himself led the invasion of the Song dynasty, during which he died of fever.Template:Sfnm
Kublai Khan Setsen Khan
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
better known as
Kublai Khan
Template:Collapsible list
lang}} 5 May 1260 – 18 February 1294
(Template:Age in years, months and days)
Template:Collapsible list
Second son of Tolui 23 September 1215 – 18 February 1294
(aged Template:Age in years)
Established the Yuan dynasty in 1271, completed the conquest of the Song dynasty, won the Toluid Civil War, and moved the capital to Khanbaliq. Died of natural causes.Template:Sfnm
Öljeytü Khan Öljeytü Khan
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Collapsible list
lang}} 10 May 1294 – 10 February 1307
(Template:Age in years, months and days)
Template:Collapsible list
Grandson of Kublai 15 October 1265 – 10 February 1307
(aged Template:Age in years)
His reign was prosperous yet conservative, implementing policies intended to ensure stability, but he failed to resolve increasing ineffiency in the Yuan administration. Died of natural causes.Template:Sfnm
Külüg Khan Külüg Khan
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Collapsible list
lang}} 21 June 1307 – 27 January 1311
(Template:Age in years, months and days)
Template:Collapsible list
Great-grandson of Kublai 4 August 1281 – 27 January 1311
(aged Template:Age in years)
Disregarded established systems, rapidly expanded the bureaucracy, and caused immense fiscal difficulties. Died of natural causes.Template:Sfnm
Buyantu Khan Buyantu Khan
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Collapsible list
lang}} 7 April 1311 – 1 March 1320
(Template:Age in years, months and days)
Template:Collapsible list
Brother of Külüg 9 April 1285 – 1 March 1320
(aged Template:Age in years)
Reversed most of his brother's policies, reintroduced the Confucian examination system, and codifed laws, but failed to restore fiscal order and was undermined by factional struggles. Died of natural causes.Template:Sfnm
Gegeen Khan Gegeen Khan
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Collapsible list
lang}} 19 April 1320 – 4 September 1323
(Template:Age in years, months and days)
Template:Collapsible list
Son of Ayurbarwada 22 February 1302 – 4 September 1323
(aged Template:Age in years)
Attempted to reduce the power of the minister Template:Ill and instituted monetary reforms after the latter's death, but was killed in a coup by Temuder's supporters.Template:Sfnm
Borjigin Yesün Temür None, known either by his personal or era name Borjigin Yesün Temür
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
4 October 1323 – 15 August 1328
(Template:Age in years, months and days)
Template:Collapsible list
Great-Grandson of Kublai 28 November 1293 – 15 August 1328Template:Efn
(aged Template:Age in years)
Acceded through assassination but achieved stability by purging those who had brought him to power; restored religious impartiality in the administration. Died of natural causes.Template:Sfnm
Borjigin Ragibagh None, known either by his personal or era name Borjigin Ragibagh
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
October 1328 – 14 November 1328
(Template:Age in years and months)
Template:Collapsible list
Son of Yesün 1320 – 14 November 1328
(aged Template:Age in years)
Child emperor; probably murdered amid the War of the Two Capitals.Template:Sfnm
Jayaatu Khan Jayaatu Khan
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Collapsible list
lang}} 16 October 1328 – 26 February 1329
(Template:Age in years, months and days)
Template:Collapsible list
Son of Külüg 16 February 1304 – 2 September 1332
(aged Template:Age in years)
Abdicated in favor of his brother Khutughtu Khan.Template:Sfnm
Khutughtu Khan

Khutughtu Khan

Khutughtu Khan
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
Template:Collapsible list
lang}} 27 February 1329 – 30 August 1329
(Template:Age in years, months and days)
Template:Collapsible list
Son of Külüg 22 December 1300 – 30 August 1329
(aged Template:Age in years)
Briefly ruled before being killed by El Temür.Template:Sfnm
Jayaatu Khan Jayaatu Khan
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
(second reign)
lang}} 8 September 1329 – 2 September 1332
(Template:Age in years, months and days)
Template:Collapsible list
Son of Külüg 16 February 1304 – 2 September 1332
(aged Template:Age in years)
A patron of the arts and scholarship, his reign was dominated by the ministers El Temür and Bayan of the Merkid. Died of natural causes.Template:Sfnm
Borjigin Rinchinbal None, known by his personal name
Template:Collapsible list
Borjigin Rinchinbal
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
23 October 1332 – 14 December 1332
(Template:Age in years, months and days)
Template:Collapsible list
Son of Khutughtu 1 May 1326 – 14 December 1332
(aged Template:Age in years)
Child emperor; died of sudden illness.Template:Sfnm
Borjigin Toghon Temür lang}}
Template:Collapsible list
Borjigin Toghon Temür
{{#invoke:Lang|lang}}
19 July 1333 – 10 September 1368
(Template:Age in years, months and days)
Template:Collapsible list
Son of Khutughtu 25 May 1320 – 23 May 1370
(aged Template:Age in years)
Restored stable government, but an economic crisis led to a breakdown of the social order; was forced to flee to Karakorum in 1368 by the warlord Zhu Yuanzhang, and founded the Northern Yuan dynasty in Inner Mongolia. Died of natural causes.Template:Sfnm

Timeline

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 from: 1206 till: 1271 color:ME text:Mongol Empire
 from: 1271 till: 1368 color:YU text:Yuan dynasty
 
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 from: 1206 till: 1227 color:ME text:"Genghis Khan (1206–1227)"
 from: 1227 till: 1229 color:ME text:"Tolui (regent; 1227–1229)"
 from: 1229 till: 1241 color:ME text:"Ögedei Khan (1229–1241)"
 from: 1241 till: 1246 color:ME text:"Töregene Khatun (regent; 1241–1246)"
 from: 1246 till: 1248 color:ME text:"Güyük Khan (1246–1248)"
 from: 1248 till: 1251 color:ME text:"Oghul Qaimish (regent; 1248–1251)"
 from: 1251 till: 1259 color:ME text:"Möngke Khan (1251–1259)"
 from: 1260 till: 1294 color:YU text:"Kublai Khan (1260–1294)"
 from: 1294 till: 1307 color:YU text:"Temür Khan (1294–1307)"
 from: 1307 till: 1311 color:YU text:"Külüg Khan (1307–1311)"
 from: 1311 till: 1320 color:YU text:"Ayurbarwada Buyantu Khan (1311–1320)"
 from: 1320 till: 1323 color:YU text:"Gegeen Khan (1320–1323)"
 from: 1323 till: 1328 color:YU text:"Yesün Temür (1323–1328)"
 from: 1328 till: 1328 color:YU text:"Ragibagh Khan (1328)"
 from: 1328 till: 1332 color:YU text:"Jayaatu Khan Tugh Temür (1328–1332)"
 from: 1329 till: 1329 color:YU text:"Khutughtu Khan Kusala (1329)"
 from: 1332 till: 1332 color:YU text:"Rinchinbal Khan (1332)"
 from: 1333 till: 1368 color:YU text:"Toghon Temür (1333–1368)"
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See also

References

Notes

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Citations

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Bibliography

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