Kublai Khan, the Mongolian emperor and founder of the Yuan dynasty in China, faced various military confrontations throughout his reign. However, he was not definitively defeated in battle during his lifetime. Instead, his empire began to experience significant weaknesses after his death in 1294.
One of the most notable challenges to his reign came from the rising strength of the Chinese and the growing hostility from the Southern Song Dynasty. While Kublai Khan was successful in his campaign against the Song, which lasted from 1268 to 1279, the struggles within his empire revealed underlying vulnerabilities.
After Kublai’s death, the Yuan Dynasty continued to decline, eventually leading to the establishment of the Ming Dynasty in the mid-14th century. The Ming forces, led by Zhu Yuanzhang, revolted against the Mongol rule and ultimately toppled the Yuan. Thus, while Kublai Khan himself was never defeated in battle, it was the forces that arose in response to Mongol rule that ultimately led to the downfall of the empire he established.