- "Enter into friendly relations with each other from now on. We think all countries belong to one family."
Kublai Khan (23 September 1215 – 18 February 1294), also known as Emperor Shizu of Yuan, was the fifth Great Khan of the Mongols, ruling from 1260 until his death. He also founded the Yuan dynasty in 1271 after his conquest of China, ruling as its first emperor. He leads both the Chinese and the Mongolians in Civilization VI: Rise and Fall.[1]
Kublai Khan, unlike his grandfather, focuses on establishing Trade Routes and using the accompanying Eurekas and Inspirations to fuel a Science Victory.
Intro[]
Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan, you will amass an empire to rival his. You know when to bend and when to strike to gain the advantage. Your wit and political prowess will serve you, as will your martial skill in your conquests.
In-Game[]
Kublai Khan's unique agenda is Pax Mongolica. He likes civilizations who have a strong military and high Gold yield per turn, and hates those who have a weak military or low income.
His leader ability is Gerege. All of his governments receive an additional Economic policy slot, and he gains a random Eureka and Inspiration when he first establishes a Trading Post in another major civilization's city.
Detailed Approach[]
With an extra Economic Policy slot available, Kublai Khan is well-positioned for a number of different victories. His Trade Routes need to keep running, though, so he should be careful about planning new wars. Kublai is always looking for new friends, as he receives Eurekas and Inspirations from the first successful Trading Post in a foreign Civilization, advances that might assist a Science or Culture Victory.
Lines[]
Kublai Khan is voiced by Erdenechuluun Tumurbaatar. He speaks Mongolian.
According to Andrew Alan Johnson, the writer of Civilization VI from Firaxis Games, "Some of KK's lines come out of the Yuan-era poetry that he loved. Others were meant to sort of invoke it."[2]
Voiced[]
Codename | Quote (English translation) | Quote (Mongolian) | Notes |
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Agenda-based Approval | You show wisdom and might working in harmony, like well-alloyed steel. | Мэргэн ухаан хийгээд хүч чадал чинь зангидсан гар лугаа нэгдмэл аж!
Mergen ukhaan khiigeed huch chadal chine zangidsan gar lugaa negdmel aj. |
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Agenda-based Disapproval | If you cannot rule well, a better ruler will come and overthrow you. All of history teaches us this. | Хэрвээ чи сайн удирдаж чадахгүй бол илүү сайн удирдагч ирж чамайг унагах болой. Бүхий л түүх бидэнд үүнийг зааж өгдөг.
Hervee chi sain udirdaj chadakhgui bol iluu sain udirdagch irj chamaig unagakh boloi. Buhii l tuukh bidend uuniig zaaj ugdug. |
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Attacked | I have gathered soldiers from every corner of my realm. Be honored that I take such pains to go to war with you. | Би эзэнт гүрнийхээ өнцөг булан бүрээс их цэргийг хуралдуулсан. Та нартай дайтах гэж ийн биеэ чилээсэн минь та нарын хувьд нэр төрийн хэрэг ажгуу.
Bi ezen gurniikhee untsug bulan burees ikh tsergiig khuralduulsan. Ta nartai daitakh gej iin biye chileesen mine ta nariin khuvid ner turiin khereg ajguu. |
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Declares War | The clouds of dust on the horizon are thousands of horsemen, coming with war. Prepare yourself! | Тулаанд бидний мянга мянган морьт цэрэг тэнгэрийн үй түмэн үүлс лугаа хуйлран орж ирэх бөлгөө. Өөрийгөө бэлдтүгэй.
Tulaand bidnii myanga myangan morit tsereg tengeriin ui tumen uuls lugaa khuilran orj irekh bulguu. Uuriiguu beldtugei. |
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Defeated | Now go; leave me to my sorrow. | Одоо яв. Намайг уй гашуутай минь үлдээгтүн.
Odoo yav. Namaig ui gashuutai mine uldeegtun. |
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Greeting | I am Kublai. In time, the whole world shall know me as emperor and great khan. | Би бээр Хубилай бөлгөө. Намайг эзэнт гүрнийг удирдагч, агуу хаан гэдгийг бүх дэлхий мэдэх ажгуу.
Bi beer Khublai bulguuu. Namaig ezent gurniig udirdagch, aguu khagan gedgiig bukh delkhii medekh ajguu. |
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Quote from Civilopedia | Enter into friendly relations with each other from now on. We think all countries belong to one family. | Одооноос эхлэн бие биетэйгээ найрсаг харилцаатай байгтун. Бид бүх улс орнууд нэгэн гэр бүл гэж үздэг болой.
Odoonoos ekhlen bie bieteigee nairsag hariltsaatai baigtun. Bid bukh uls ornuud negen ger bul gej uzdeg boloi. |
This is quote from a letter written in Classical Chinese sent by Kublai Khan to Japan in 1266, demanding for Japan to become a vassal and send tribute under a threat of conflict.[3] |
Unvoiced[]
Delegation: A camel train approaches your borders, bearing silks and spices, horse milk and mutton, and tales of the great Khan.
Accepts Delegation from Player: I challenged your delegates to a wrestling match. They may be a bit bruised today.
Rejects Delegation from Player: We have poetry, composite bows, and horse milk. We don't need your leftovers.
Accepts Player's Declaration of Friendship: Oh, prince of friends! The grasses sing of you.
Rejects Player's Declaration of Friendship: I have enough friends.
Requests Declaration of Friendship: Come, enjoy good wine and low-voiced songs, let us drink and let the sun and moon come and go!
Player Accepts Declaration of Friendship: Oh, prince of friends! The grasses sing of you.
Player Rejects Declaration of Friendship: You have rejected the Khan's offer of friendship. Let that sink in.
Accepts Deal: Yes. May profits pour from both sides.
Denounced by Player: Whether you acted through ignorance or intent, the result is the same. You have annoyed me for too long, and I will no longer stand your insolence.
Denounces Player: A day is coming when your kingdom will be consumed like grass in a wildfire. On that day, I shall rejoice.
Invitation to Capital: In my capital, I have arranged a wrestling match between our two strongest warriors. Come and drink fermented mare's milk with me!
Invitation to City: May I tell you of the pearl of the Silk Road? And might you tell me of your lands?
Civilopedia entry[]
If anyone could expand and unite the Mongolian Empire, it would be the grandson of Genghis Khan. Kublai Khan reigned from 1260 to 1294 AD and created an empire that ran from the Korean Peninsula to the very edges of modern-day Baghdad.
Kublai was born in 1215 AD and was the fourth son of Tolui. Even as a child, he proved to be a skilled horseman and warrior. He joined his father on campaign and gained a reputation even as a teenager for being a respectable fighter. Kublai also spent time educating himself, especially in Chinese arts and literature, which would help him later as he became the Yuan Emperor.
After his father died, Kublai watched the line of succession. Finally, the title of Great Khan passed to Kublai’s older brother Möngke. Initially, he supported his older brother's rule, and his loyalty earned him the position of ilkhan, or viceroy. He used this time to learn from his brother, make allies, gather his advisors, and serve as a warrior on the field when needed. However, following his brother’s death in 1259, AD, he was forced to fight against his younger brother, Ariq Böke (who was far less patient than Kublai had been), for the title of Great Khan. Despite Ariq Böke’s popularity, Kublai commanded more resources and the support of multiple princes from across Central Asia, giving him the edge needed to secure the title.
Being “Great Khan” wasn’t enough, though. Kublai wanted more. Looking at the bigger picture, Kublai saw a split empire—the remnants of his grandfather’s legacy—and he sought to unite it once more, and to take it even further. He set his eyes on China.
The initial foray in to China took five years, but Kublai steadily captured Chinese cities, beginning with Hsiang-yang and Fan-ch’eng before moving on to take the capital of Song, Lin-an, in 1276 AD. He was merciful and spared the Chinese boy-emperor and his mother, keeping the two as political prisoners within his court. In 1278, Kublai achieved his goal of being declared Emperor after defeating the final prince that stood in his way via a decisive naval battle. With his victory, he became the first Mongol to rule all of China. He started the Yuan Dynasty, and served as its first ruler.
Kublai strategically styled himself in the traditional garb of Chinese emperors. Rather than forcing himself and Mongolian ways on his new subjects, he slipped them in like a splinter—noticeable, but not that much of a pain. Kublai made sure, of course, that Mongolians maintained power, especially within the higher brackets of government, but he didn’t repress his new subjects. Merchants, artisans, central Asians, and Mongolian aristocracy ranked high within the new empire. The Han Chinese were relegated to middle and lower-class citizens and were unable to hold state office. Some were allowed to hold administrative positions, however, particularly those who were well-educated. He tolerated other religions and promoted Confucian ideals, and ruled in a manner that was closer to what the Han Chinese were accustomed to than traditional Mongol kingship.
Kublai made several economic and class changes during his reign as Emperor. He promoted the use of paper money for transactions and encouraged trade with the West including, surprisingly, accepting Western missionaries, being in direct contact with Pope Gregory X. Kublai also knew Niccolo Polo’s son, Marco. Marco Polo spoke positively about Kublai in his journals, and the two maintained a close relationship for at least seventeen years. Merchants and artisans received a tax break under the new regime in part due to Kublai’s appreciation for the fine porcelain created in China. The economy grew under Kublai’s direction thanks to the Mongols’ ability to control and protect valuable trade routes.
Although Kublai was generally well-received and seen as a benevolent emperor, not everyone agreed with him or his policies. Han Chinese citizens were less than thrilled with the new class structure and higher taxes that accompanied it. His cousin Kaidu served as a constant threat throughout Kublai’s reign. Kaidu never succeeded, however, in his attempts to unseat the Great Khan and Emperor.
Kublai fought to further expand his already vast empire throughout his time as Emperor. Some regions submitted quickly, while others resisted, sometimes, it would seem, with luck more than battle prowess. He tried to invade Japan twice, but both invasions failed because of the Japanese superior naval forces or well-timed storms – the kamikaze, or “divine wind.”
Kublai’s productive reign ended after thirty-four years when he died in 1294. The loss of his (favorite) wife and eldest son drove him into a depression. He had lived to be seventy-nine years old.
Trivia[]
- Kublai Khan's leader ability is the name of special tablets marking high office and special privileges carried by nobles, envoys and merchants in the Mongol Empire, the use of which under Kublai Khan was famously described by Marco Polo, while his leader agenda is a historiographical term used to describe the period of peace and stability brought by the conquests of the Mongol Empire during the 13th and 14th centuries.
- The introduction of Kublai Khan in New Frontier Pass marks the second time since Civilization IV that he and his grandfather Genghis Khan have appeared in the same Civilization game.
- Kublai Khan recycles some animations from Jayavarman VII.
- Like Eleanor of Aquitaine before him, Kublai Khan's appearance changes depending on what civilization he is leading: he wears a white silk robe with golden trimmings when leading China, and an orange velvet robe with fur lining when leading Mongolia.
- His diplomacy background also changes: it depicts the Taiye Lake in Khanbaliq (the winter capital of the Yuan dynasty) when leading China, and a steppe with a river and soaring eagles when leading Mongolia.
Gallery[]
Videos[]
References[]
- ↑ Players can always play Kublai Khan with China but need to own Rise and Fall in order to play him with Mongolia.
- ↑ https://forums.civfanatics.com/threads/language-translations-for-leader-sayings.572324/page-43#post-16014129
- ↑ wikipedia:Mongol invasions of Japan#Contact
Related achievements[]
For he on honey-dew hath fed
Win a regular game as Kublai Khan.
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Crouching Tiger Hidden Cannon
Playing as China, end a turn with 5 Crouching Tigers on Great Wall tiles.
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See also[]
- Kublai Khan in other games