Mongol invasions of Korea

Long ago, the Mongols came to Korea.

They wanted to rule the land. The people in Korea fought back. They were very strong.

The Korean leaders moved to an island. They stayed there to be safe. The Mongols were very powerful. They had many horses and soldiers.

Even though things were hard, people stayed brave. They worked to protect their homes. This was a very long struggle. It changed their land forever.

Between 1231 and 1270, the Mongol Empire attacked Korea. Korea was ruled by the Goryeo kingdom.

The Mongols were very strong. They moved very fast across many lands. But the people of Goryeo fought back with great strength. They did not give up easily.

In 1231, Mongol leaders led troops across the Yalu River. They attacked many cities. In one place, a city called Kuju was attacked. The defenders used mud and water to stop fires. They even used catapults to fight back.

The Mongols were very tough. They even used big machines to break the walls.

To stay safe, the Korean leaders moved to Ganghwa Island.

They hoped the water would protect them. The fighting lasted for many years. Eventually, Goryeo signed a peace treaty. They became a part of the Yuan dynasty. This lasted for about 80 years. Even then, some people in Korea still fought for their freedom.

Between 1231 and 1270, the Mongol Empire launched several campaigns against the Korean kingdom of Goryeo.

The Mongols were known for moving at a lightning pace across Eurasia. Many lands were crushed quickly by their strength. However, Goryeo and the Song Dynasty in China showed much more stubborn resistance. This meant the fighting in Korea lasted for a very long time. Eventually, Goryeo signed a peace treaty with the Mongol Yuan dynasty. This agreement made Goryeo a vassal state for about 80 years.

Before the main wars, there were many smaller conflicts near the borders. In 1216, Khitan rebels crossed the Yalu River into Goryeo territory. They moved south through the peninsula for a year. A Korean General named Kim Ch'wiryŏ helped defeat them and force a retreat. Later, in the winter of 1218, Mongol and Jurchen troops entered from the northeast. Heavy snowfall blocked the roads and stopped their advance. The Mongols asked Goryeo for food and supplies. Goryeo sent one thousand bushels of rice and one thousand troops to help.

The first major Mongol invasion began on August 26, 1231.

A Mongol force led by Saritai crossed the Yalu River. They surrounded the city of Hamsin-chin, which soon surrendered. The Mongols then split up to attack different areas. Some groups moved toward Sakju, while others moved toward Chongju. In the city of Ch'ŏlchu, people chose to die rather than submit. The Mongols bypassed the Western Capital of Pyongyang. They eventually reached the gateway to the capital at Chabi Pass.

One of the most famous battles was the Siege of Kuju. Leaders like Pak Sŏ led the defense of the city walls. The Mongols used large catapults and towers to attack. The defenders used molten iron to set fire to the Mongol machines. They also used mud and water to put out fires. The Mongols breached the walls in 50 different places. However, the people of Kuju kept repairing the damage. After 40 days, the Mongols withdrew, but they later returned with more troops.

To stay safe from the fighting, Goryeo leaders moved their capital. Ch'oe U suggested moving the government to Ganghwa Island in 1232.

The royal family moved to the island to use the water for protection. During the second invasion, a monk named Kim Yun-hu shot an arrow that killed the Mongol leader Saritai. This caused the Mongol army to retreat for a time. Even after peace was made, internal struggles continued in Goryeo. Some people rebelled against the rule of the Yuan dynasty.

The Mongol invasions of Korea were a series of military campaigns fought between 1231 and 1270. These wars were waged by the Mongol Empire against the Korean kingdom of Goryeo.

While many regions across Eurasia were quickly conquered by the Mongols, Goryeo and the Song Dynasty of China provided much more stubborn resistance. This resistance meant the conflicts in Korea lasted for many years. Eventually, Goryeo signed a peace treaty with the Mongol Yuan dynasty. This treaty turned Goryeo into a vassal state, a relationship that lasted for about 80 years.

Before the primary invasions began, several smaller conflicts occurred near the borders. In 1211, a Goryeo envoy was killed by Mongol soldiers while visiting the Jin dynasty. Later, the Mongols entered Goryeo while pursuing Khitan rebels. These Khitans were a group of people fleeing from the Jin. In 1216, approximately 90,000 Khitan men crossed the Yalu River and entered Goryeo. They spent much of 1217 pillaging the peninsula until Korean General Kim Ch'wiryŏ defeated them. In 1218, 10,000 Mongol troops and 20,000 Eastern Jurchen troops entered from the northeast. A heavy snowfall eventually stopped their advance, and Goryeo sent 1,000 bushels of rice and 1,000 troops to assist the Mongols.

The first major Mongol invasion began on August 26, 1231. A Mongol force led by Saritai crossed the Yalu River and surrounded the city of Hamsin-chin. After the city surrendered, the Mongol forces split into different groups. One group moved north toward Sakju, while another moved south toward Chongju. In the city of Ch'ŏlchu, some people chose to die rather than submit to the invaders. The Mongols bypassed the Western Capital, which was Pyongyang, but they eventually reached Chabi Pass. This pass was the gateway to the Goryeo capital, Kaesong.

During this first invasion, Goryeo leaders organized the Three Armies to defend the kingdom. In October, Yi Chasŏng led these troops to defend against a surprise attack by 8,000 Mongol soldiers. Although the Goryeo army was defeated at Anju, the court continued to resist. The Mongols eventually surrounded Kaesong in late December, leading to an official submission. However, fighting continued in many cities. One famous event was the Siege of Kuju, where leaders like Pak Sŏ defended the walls.

The Siege of Kuju showed the intense nature of the warfare. The Mongols used large catapults and wooden towers to attack the city walls. To defend themselves, the Goryeo soldiers used molten iron to burn the Mongol siege machines. They also used mud and water to extinguish fires caused by inflammatory projectiles. The Mongols managed to breach the city walls in 50 different places. Despite this, the defenders repaired the damage and drove attackers away during sorties. After a 40-day siege, the Mongols withdrew temporarily, though they later returned with more reinforcements.

Following the initial clashes, Goryeo leaders changed their strategy to survive. In 1232, the leader Ch'oe U suggested moving the capital to Ganghwa Island.

The royal family and high officials relocated to the island to use the surrounding water for protection. This move caused tension, as some officials in the Western Capital feared Mongol retaliation. In the summer of 1232, a second Mongol invasion began. During this campaign, the Mongol leader Saritai was killed by an arrow shot by a monk named Kim Yun-hu. This event caused the Mongol army to retreat for a period.

Even after peace was established, the relationship between Goryeo and the Yuan dynasty remained complex. The Yuan dynasty extracted wealth and tributes from the Goryeo kings. Despite being a vassal state, Goryeo experienced internal conflicts and rebellions. One notable instance was the Sambyeolcho Rebellion. Even after the wars ended, the political landscape of the peninsula had changed significantly.

The history of these invasions demonstrates how Goryeo managed to maintain its identity through long periods of resistance and difficult diplomacy.