Bayan

Commanded the Yuan army that conquered the Song, entering Lin'an without bloodshed.

Life

Envoy from the West

Bayan came from the Baarin tribe of Mongolia. In his early years he served with Hulagu in West Asia; in 1265 he was sent as an envoy to the court of Kublai Khan, where Kublai, impressed by him, kept him in office.

Led the army against Song

In 1274 he led an army of 200,000 south against the Song. After taking Xiangyang he advanced down the Yangtze, inflicted a crushing defeat on the main army of the Southern Song chancellor Jia Sidao at Dingjiazhou, and took city after city.

Without bloodshed

In 1276 he reached Lin'an, and Empress Dowager Xie of the Southern Song and Emperor Gong of Song surrendered. He kept his troops under tight control, and they entered the city without harming anyone. He later suppressed rebellions in the north and died in 1295.

Legacy

Bayan was the key commander in the Yuan dynasty's unification of China, and on entering Lin'an he enforced military discipline, limiting the destruction in Jiangnan.

Major works & achievements

• Led the Yuan army to destroy the Southern Song

Did you know? In the late Yuan there was another powerful minister also named Bayan (Toghto's uncle), who was a different person.

Key dates

• 1265Sent as envoy to the Yuan and kept in service by Kublai Khan
• 1274Led the army against Song
• 1275Routed Jia Sidao at Dingjiazhou
• 1276Entered Lin'an; the Southern Song surrenders
• 1295Died