Part 5/12:
Kublai Khan’s Failed Invasions of Japan
The 13th-century ambitions of Kublai Khan, the Mongol ruler, to conquer Japan met with disastrous consequences. After initial attempts at diplomacy failed, Kublai launched an invasion in 1274 with a fleet of around 900 ships. Landing on Tsushima and Iki, the Mongols quickly slaughtered locals before moving towards Hakata Bay.
Unexpectedly, the skilled Samurai mounted fierce resistance, catching the Mongols off guard. As fortune would have it, a massive typhoon, later deemed "kamikaze" (divine wind), decimated the invaders’ fleet, leaving Kublai's dreams in tatters.