Mongol

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Revision as of 15:13, 10 November 2004 by Simoncursitor (talk | contribs) (Cross-ref to Prester John)
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In the 13th Century, Mongols under Genghis Khan conquered and ruled over Eastern Europe and most of Asia, establishing a Mongolian dynasty in China. They reportedly reached Vienna, Poland and Egypt. After the death of Genghis' successor in 1241 the military leaders returned to Mongolia to fight over the leadership. This helped stop the expansion and lessened the power of the armies.

In 1260, Genghis' grandson, Kublai Khan, became leader and proceeded to reconquer China to create history's largest empire. Marco Polo claimed to have visited his court. In the 14th century the Mongolian power began to wane, losing territories throughout the empire.

Some people have claimed to see, in the Mongol advance against mainly Moslem nations in the Middle and Near East, the background to some of the legends regarding the supposed Christian monarch Prester John

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