Battle of Xiangyang
The Battle of Xiangyang () was a protracted series of battles between the invading Mongols of the Yuan dynasty and Chinese Southern Song forces from AD 1267 to 1273. The battle was a significant victory for the Mongol Empire and ended a 30 year defensive campaign waged by the Song dynasty, allowing the Mongols to advance into the Chinese heartland. The capture of Xiangyang also allowed the Mongols to take control of the Han and Yangtze rivers, thereby depriving the Song dynasty of two formidable natural barriers. The defeat devastated the Song dynasty, which collapsed several years later at the Battle of Yamen.