The Storm That Sank an Empire: The Disappearance of Kublai Khan’s Fleet (1281)

In 1281, Kublai Khan — grandson of Genghis Khan and ruler of the Mongol Empire — launched an ambitious invasion of Japan.
His force included over 140,000 soldiers aboard 4,400 ships, making it the largest naval fleet in history at the time.

But off the coast of Japan, a "kamikaze" — a divine wind — struck. A massive typhoon obliterated nearly the entire Mongol fleet.
This ended Mongol expansion eastward and altered the course of East Asian history.

Fun fact: The wreckage of Kublai Khan’s ships was only discovered underwater in the 21st century — confirming a disaster so great that the Japanese believed it was an act of the gods.