Shaybanid invasions of China (St. George's Night)

The Shaybanid invasions of China were a series of military conflicts between the Uzbek Shaymanid dynasty, the dominant successor to the Timurid Empire in Central Asia, and the Ming dynasty of China. The Shaybanids attempted to follow in the footsteps of Genghis Khan by conquering China, but faced a powerful, united Ming dynasty. Nevertheless, initial success prompted a series of raiding expeditions punctuated by occasional efforts at outright conquest. The Ming eventually decisively defeated the Shaybanids in the 1540s, partly through a policy of alliance with the Oirat Mongols and partly by adopting gunpowder weaponry. Ultimately, the united Shaybanid Empire collapsed and the Ming were left as central Asia's dominant influence, but were much weakened internally by the military effort of repelling the invasions.