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Events on Sunday 19 March 1279 3
1236 – 1279Lu Xiufu (1236-1279)Died 19 March 1279, aged 43Lu Xiufu was a Southern Song chancellor who continued resistance against the Mongols after the fall of the capital. Facing defeat at the Battle of Yamen, he carried the boy emperor Zhao Bing into the sea and drowned with him rather than surrender. His death became a lasting symbol of loyalist sacrifice in Chinese history.
1272 – 1279Zhao Bing (1272-1279)Died 19 March 1279, aged 7Zhao Bing was the last emperor of the Song dynasty, enthroned as a child after his predecessor died fleeing the Mongol invasion. At the Battle of Yamen his chancellor Lu Xiufu carried him into the sea rather than allow his capture. His death ended three centuries of Song rule over China.
1279Battle of YamenMongol fleet destroys the last Song loyalist navyThe Yuan fleet under Zhang Hongfan crushed the remaining Southern Song navy off Yamen in Guangdong, ending organized Song resistance to the Mongols. Chancellor Lu Xiufu drowned the child emperor Zhao Bing rather than let him be captured, and thousands of loyalists followed by jumping into the sea. The defeat completed the Mongol conquest of China and secured Yuan rule.