- Also Known by the Nickname: Setsen Khan or the Wise Khan
- Lifespan: 1215 - 1294
- Date of Birth: Kublai Khan was born in 1215
- Family connections : He was the Grandson of the infamous Genghis Khan
- The Mongol Empire was separated into four Khanates, each ruled by a separate Khan
- He was elected Khan on May 5, 1260. The Great Khanate controlled Mongolia and also China
- Dates he begins his reign as Khan of the Mongols: May 5, 1260 – December 17, 1271
- Dates he begins his reign as Emperor of Yuan China: December 18, 1271 – February 18, 1294
- Early Life and Education:
- Career: In 1251 Kublai became the governor of Southern territories of Mongol Empire - his brother Mongke was the Khan
- Kublai Khan conquered China and established the Chinese Yuan Dynasty. Kublai Khan became an emperor in the Chinese tradition and established a court at Peking
- In his search for gold Kublai Khan twice attempted to invade Japan in 1274 and 1281
- Date of Death: Kublai Khan died in 1294
- Accomplishments or why Kublai Khan was famous:
- Kublai Khan also introduced paper currency in China
- The life story and autobiography of Marco Polo was called 'The Travels of Marco Polo' which also details the relationship between Marco polo and Kublai Khan. The Travels of Marco Polo describes Kublai Khan in battle against his uncle Nayan
Kublai Khan
The story and biography of Kublai Khan which contains interesting information, facts & the history about the life of this Medieval person of historical importance
1271 - Marco Polo meets Kublai Khan in Peking
In 1271, when Marco Polo (1254-1324) was seventeen years old, he accompanied his father and uncle on a 3 year journey through the Holy Land, Persia and Tartary, and at length to the Empire of China, then called Cathay. The emperor of Cathay was a monarch named Kublai Khan who lived in Peking. Marco Polo's father and uncle had been in Cathay once before and had entertained Kublai Khan by telling him about the manners and customs of Europe. So when the two Venetian merchants again appeared in Peking, Kublai Khan was glad to see them and welcomed the young Marco Polo, whom he invited to the palace at Peking. The Kublai Khan gave important positions at the Chinese court to the Polo family who lived in the country for some years. Marco Polo studied the Chinese language, and it was not very long before he could speak it and converse with Kublai Khan.
Marco Polo works as an envoy for Kublai Khan
When Marco Polo was about 21 Kublai Khan sent him on very important business to a distant part of China. He did the work well and from that time was often employed as an envoy of the Chinese monarch. His travels were sometimes in lands never before visited by Europeans and Marco Polo had many strange adventures among the almost unknown tribes of Asia. Step by step he was promoted by Kublai Khan. For several years he was governor of a great Chinese city. Finally Marco Polo and his father and uncle desired to return to Venice. They had all served Kublai Khan faithfully and he had appreciated it and given them rich rewards; but Kublai Khan did not wish to let them go.
Kublai Khan allows Marco Polo to leave China
While the matter was being talked over between Kublai Khan and the Polo family an embassy arrived in Peking from the King of Persia. This monarch wanted to marry the daughter of Kublai Khan who was called the Princess Cocachin. The embassy had been sent to ask her father, Kublai Khan, for her hand in marriage. Consent was given, and Kublai Khan fitted out a fleet of fourteen ships to carry the wedding party to Persia. The Princess Cocachin was a great friend of Marco Polo, and urged Kublai Khan to allow him to go with the party. Finally Kublai Khan gave his consent. Marco Polo's father and uncle were also allowed to go, and the three Venetians left Kublai Khan and China.
Marco Polo dictates an account of his travels and Kublai Khan
For a year Marco Polo was confined in a Genoese prison. Marco Polo dictated a fellow prisoner an account of his travels and Kublai Khan. This account was carefully written out. Copies of the manuscript exist to this day. One of these is in a library in Paris. Another copy is preserved in the city of Berne. It is said that the book was translated into many languages, so that people in all parts of Europe learned about the adventures. of Marco Polo and the relationship between Marco polo and Kublai Khan.
