Been reading about it lately, and IMO the failed Mongol/Chinese Yuan invasion of Java is perhaps a more interesting story overall than their invasion of Japan (which gets more notice). Would make a great tv series.
The conflict began when Kertanegara, a colorful Javanese king who styled himself an avatar of both the Hindu god Shiva & the Buddha, responded to Kublai Khan's demand to accept his sovereignty by branding his envoy's face w a hot iron, cutting his ears, & sending him back.
The Khan sent a massive punitive expedition of 1,000 war junks in response. Meanwhile, expecting an invasion, Kertanegara scrambled to consolidate his own power, invading neighboring regions to strengthen himself, & dealing w betrayals & rebellions along the way. Eventually, he
was killed by his own vassal Jayakatwang, who attacked his capital while his army was spread thin. Kertanegara's son-in-law, Raden Wijaya, fled to the island of Madura. He allied w the Yuan against Jayakatwang, & after their victory, turned on the Yuan himself & defeated them.
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