KRÓLESTWO GORYEO WOBEC NAJAZDU MONGOLSKIEGO W XIII WIEKU
THE KINGDOM OF GORYEO AND THE MONGOL INVASION IN THE THIRTEENTH CENTURY

Summary/Abstract: In the thirteenth century, vast areas of Eurasia witnessed the Mongols’ destructive expansion initiated by Chinggis Khan and continued by his successors. It also extended to the Kingdom of Goryeo, which was founded in 918 by Wang Geon. For almost three centu- ries, the country in question conducted a skilful foreign policy towards its more powerful neighbours, but from 1170 it was in an incessant internal crisis caused by a military revolt. Subsequently, in 1196, General Choe Chungheon took over the reins of government, mar- ginalising the king. From 1231, Goryeo became the target of a Mongol invasion, which lasted intermittently until 1259. As the court fled to Ganghwa Island, the main burden of fighting rested on the shoulders of the province’s inhabitants, who used guerrilla methods to combat the invaders. The situation was only normalised by the removal of the Choe family from power and the agreement between King Wonjong and Kublai Khan, who afterwards also became the Chinese Emperor. Thus, China exerted a significant influence on the events taking place on the Korean Peninsula till the end of the fourteenth century.

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