5 Nov: Kublai Khan’s Kamikaze Climbdown
The Mongols attempted to invade Japan on 5th November, 1274. Despite having a fleet of 900 ships, they failed – in part due to a ‘kamikaze’ typhoon that whooshed their boats back to Korea.
Then they tried again – and failed again.
In this episode, Arion, Rebecca and Olly consider how a gunpowder-armed Army was defeated by the Samurai; reveal the brutal (yet unambiguous) response the Japanese gave to the Chinese diplomats who attempted to talk things through; and unearth the surprising connection between Kublai Khan and Lionel Blair…
Further Reading:
• ‘Kublai Khan – Biography, Death & Achievements’ (HISTORY, 2009): https://www.history.com/topics/china/kublai-khan
• Japan’s Kamikaze Winds, the Stuff of Legend, May Have Been Real (National Geographic, 2014): https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/article/141104-kamikaze-kublai-khan-winds-typhoon-japan-invasion
• ‘Mongol Invasion of Japan: Maps, Animation and Timelines’ (Past To Future, 2020):