Skip to main content

Mongol Empire vs Russian Empire

At their height the two were about the same size: the Mongol Empire about 24 million km² in 1270, the Russian Empire about 23 million km² in 1895. The Russian Empire lasted about 196 years (1721 to 1917), the Mongol Empire about 162 (1206 to 1368). They never existed at the same time: the Russian Empire began 353 years after the Mongol Empire ended.

Mongol EmpireRussian Empire
Began12061721
Ended13681917
Lastedabout 162 yearsabout 196 years
Largest extentabout 24 million km² (1270)about 23 million km² (1895)
Share of the world’s land16.1%15.3%
CapitalKarakorumSaint Petersburg

Mongol Empire

Founded when Temüjin was proclaimed Genghis Khan in 1206, it became the largest contiguous land empire in history. By the 1260s it had split into four khanates: the Yuan, the Golden Horde, the Chagatai Khanate and the Ilkhanate.

Began 1206: Temüjin is proclaimed Genghis Khan. Ended 1368: the Yuan dynasty is driven out of China.

On the history map: World map in 1279 CE, World map in 1300 CE

Mongol Empire on Wikipedia

Russian Empire

Proclaimed by Peter the Great in 1721, it stretched from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific, and for a time into Alaska, until the revolution of 1917.

Began 1721: Peter the Great is proclaimed emperor. Ended 1917: the revolution ends the monarchy.

On the history map: World map in 1783 CE, World map in 1878 CE, World map in 1914 CE

Russian Empire on Wikipedia

More comparisons

Compare empires · The interactive history atlas

Largest extents are the widely cited estimates by Rein Taagepera and others, as listed in Wikipedia’s List of largest empires. Dates are the conventional ones; several are debated. Shares are of the world’s land area, about 148.9 million km².