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Altan Khan and the Ming-Mongol Border

Type Event Region China Time 1561–1570

In the 1560s Mongol Altan Khan repeatedly raided the Ming frontier, reaching Beijing three times;…

Timeline

  1. 1561–1567Ming northern frontier · North ChinaAltan Khan's Mongol cavalry repeatedly broke through Ming frontier passes and reached Beijing three times in the 1560s; the Ming court defended with the Great Wall, beacon towers and the Nine Frontier garrisons, with heavy casualties on both sides and border civilians displaced.
  2. 1567–1570Datong · DatongAltan repeatedly sent envoys requesting tributary trade; after the Longqing Emperor's accession Ming policy became more pragmatic. In 1570 Altan's son Bähän Nangi defected to the Ming, prompting peace negotiations and paving the way for the opening of horse markets at Datong and Xuanfu in 1571.

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