Koan invasion
1281 · Hakata Bay area (modern Kyushu, Japan) · World · Medieval
The coalition was held up by the coastal stone walls and failed to break through; while lingering at sea it was devastated by a powerful typhoon, and with most of the fleet destroyed it was forced to retreat.
Belligerents
Yuan dynasty and Goryeo
- Commanders
- Alaqan, Fan Wenhu
- Strength
- Yuan-Goryeo coalition and Jiangnan army: reportedly over 100,000
Kamakura shogunate
- Commanders
- Kyushu gokenin
- Strength
- Japanese samurai and stone wall defenses
Background
Unwilling to accept defeat in the Bun'ei Invasion, Kublai Khan mustered two great armies, from Jiangnan and Goryeo, for another expedition.
Course of the battle
- Joining forcesThe Jiangnan army and the Yuan-Goryeo coalition joined forces at sea and closed in on the coast of Kyushu.
- CheckedThe coalition was held up by the newly built stone walls along the Japanese coast and failed to break through.
- TyphoonThe fleet lingering at sea was struck by a powerful typhoon, and most of it was destroyed.
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 1281 |
|---|---|
| Place | Hakata Bay area (modern Kyushu, Japan) |
| Result | The coalition was held up by the coastal stone walls and failed to break through; while lingering at sea it was devastated by a powerful typhoon, and with most of the fleet destroyed it was forced to retreat. |
| Winner | Kamakura shogunate |
| Casualties | The Yuan-Goryeo coalition suffered heavy losses from the typhoon and the fighting. |
| Territorial change | Once again the Japanese home islands were not lost, and the Yuan dynasty abandoned plans for a third invasion of Japan. |
Impact
The Japanese regarded the typhoon as a "divine wind"; after this campaign the Yuan dynasty abandoned plans for a third invasion of Japan.
See the world in 1281 on the map →