Campaigners › Commanders
Meng Gong
Southern Song general who took Caizhou with the Mongols in 1234, ending Jin, and later defended Jiangling
Mural of the event “Song–Mongol War on Jin”, which this person took part in.
In late Jin, the dynasty in the north was struck devastatingly by the newly risen Mongol Empire and was forced to move the capital south, the geographic survival space compressed. The Jin absurdly decided to compensate for lost lands by invading Southern Song.
Also known as Meng Puyu · Zhongwu · Duke of Hanyang
Meng Gong, courtesy name Puyu, from Zaoyang in Suizhou, was a Southern Song general born in 1195. In February 1234 he led Song troops who joined the Mongols in taking Caizhou, where Emperor Aizong of Jin died and the Jin state ended. He then commanded the Jinghu and Jiangling defences for many years, drove the Mongols back at Jiangling in 1236 and repeatedly checked their advance south. He died at Jiangling in 1246, was granted the title of grand tutor and received the posthumous name Zhongxiang.
Life and times
- 1195 CEBorn
Song
- 1233Song Forces Supply the Mongol Alliance
age 38In 1233 Meng Gong led Song troops and grain to meet the Mongol agreement, beginning the operational phase of the joint war on Jin.
- 1233Song and Mongol Armies Encircle Caizhou
age 38In 1233 Meng Gong joined the Mongol commander Tachar to encircle Caizhou, the Jin dynasty's final stronghold.
- 1234Song–Mongol War on Jin
Took partage 39The high-stakes diplomatic move that brought Song into direct contact with Mongol power.
- 1246 CEDied