The Mongols conquer China

The Song dynasty meets a watery end at the battle of Yamen

- Danny Bird

In the waters around Yamen, the Song fleet prepared for what would be its final confrontation. Once a mighty dynasty, the Song had been pushed to the brink by the Mongol forces under Kublai Khan, head of the Yuan dynasty. After years of defeats, they now found themselves cornered along the coastline of southern China, their last stronghold defended by the fleet gathered in the bay. Among them was the boy emperor Zhao Bing, only seven years old, and his loyal chancellor, Lu Xiufu, who had taken charge of the desperate resis