1259Reputable sourceWell documented
The Death of Möngke Khan
On the timeline · around 1259 ·
What happened
In 1259, while campaigning against Song China, the Great Khan Möngke died suddenly — of illness, or perhaps dysentery or a battle wound. With no clear successor and the ruling brothers scattered across three continents, the vast empire was thrown into a succession crisis.
Why it matters
Möngke's death was a turning point. It pulled his brothers home to fight over the throne, halted campaigns from China to the Middle East, and set in motion the permanent fragmentation of the empire.
Sources
- World History Encyclopedia. Möngke Khan · Reputable source