Middle Ages

Northern Yuan

Period
AD 1375 – AD 1439
Duration
approx. 64 years
Greatest extent
around AD 1375
Area (max.)
approx. 3.4 million km²
Northern Yuan at its greatest extent (around AD 1375) · Borders: Cliopatria
▶ View on the interactive map

Profile

Strength

The Mongol state lived on in the steppe after being driven out of China and remained a constant opponent of the Ming.

Famous figures

  • Toghon Temür
  • Esen Tayisi
  • Dayan Khan
  • Ligdan Khan

Wars & battles won

  • Battle of Tumu (1449): capture of the Ming emperor

Wars & battles lost

  • Defeat by the Ming at Buir Nor (1388)
  • Defeat by the Later Jin / Manchus (1634)

Languages

  • Mongolian

Period and duration

Northern Yuan — according to the map data from AD 1375 to AD 1439, roughly 64 years. The dates refer to the time the empire is drawn as its own territory on the world map; historians sometimes date its founding and end differently.

Greatest extent

Northern Yuan — greatest extent around AD 1375: the mapped borders then cover about 3.4 million km², roughly 2.3% of Earth's land area. The area is calculated from the border lines of the map and is therefore an approximation.

AD 1375Area according to the map data (max. 3.4 million km²)AD 1439

Predecessors and successors

States that ruled the same territory directly before and after:

Before (AD 1374)

After

Neighbours around AD 1375

The largest states in the region at the same time:

Learn more

Borders and dates: Cliopatria / Seshat Global History Databank (CC BY 4.0). Coastlines: Natural Earth. Text: Centaurian.