Throughout time, there are a few instances where the weather became a determining factor in the outcome of a battle. The Mongol invasions of Japan in 1274 and 1281 AD have often been cited as salient examples of this phenomenon. Many attest that on each occasion the Japanese were handed victory by the gods, who sent two destructive typhoon storms to exterminate both Mongol incursions. A closer examination reveals this is only part of the truth, and that the effectiveness of the samurai as a fighting force, and their role in these glorious victories, should not be ignored or overlooked.
The Mongol Invasion of Japan: From Korea to Rich Japan?
By the middle of the 13th century, and thanks to the conquests of Genghis Khan and his descendants, the Mongolian empire had become the largest ever in history, stretching from Hungary in the west to the rocky coasts of eastern Siberia. In 1259 the grandson of Genghis Khan, Kublai Khan , acceded to the throne in China, and sought to continue the expansionist drive of his forebears, this time to the east in Korea, China, and Japan.
After decades of forays, the Mongols finally established firm control over Korea in 1270, when they crushed the last stronghold of rebels, who fled to the remote Jeju Island in the southern part of the country. By 1273, the Korean crown prince was married to Kublai’s daughter, and although the Mongols appeared initially to be fair overlords, this impression quickly changed as Kublai assumed command of Korean military resources, to be used in the coming conflict.
