This is a timeline of the Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD).
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
202 BC | 28 February | Liu Bang becomes emperor of the Han dynasty (posthumously known as Emperor Gaozu of Han) [1] |
Emperor Gaozu of Han moves the capital from Luoyang to Chang'an [2] | ||
201 BC | Battle of Baideng: Emperor Gaozu of Han's army is defeated by the Xiongnu [3] | |
Xin, King of Han defects to the Xiongnu [3] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
197 BC | The Xiongnu invade Dai Commandery with the help of Chen Xi and Han Xin [4] | |
196 BC | Emperor Gaozu of Han replaces nine of the ten Kings of the Han dynasty with his brothers and sons [5] | |
The Xiongnu invade Dai Commandery with the help of Han Xin [4] | ||
195 BC | 1 June | Emperor Gaozu of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Ying (posthumously Emperor Hui of Han) [6] |
The Xiongnu invade You Province with the help of Lu Wan [5] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
188 BC | Emperor Hui of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Gong (posthumously Emperor Qianshao of Han) [7] | |
184 BC | Emperor Qianshao of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Hong (posthumously Emperor Houshao of Han) | |
182 BC | The Xiongnu invade Longxi Commandery and Tianshui [8] | |
181 BC | Nanyue invades Changsha [8] | |
The Xiongnu invade Longxi Commandery [4] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
180 BC | Lü Clan Disturbance: Empress Lü dies and her clan is slaughtered [8] | |
Emperor Houshao of Han is deposed and succeeded by Liu Heng (posthumously Emperor Wen of Han) [9] | ||
179 BC | Earliest archaeological evidence of paper [10] | |
The Xiongnu invade Yunzhong Commandery [4] | ||
177 BC | The Xiongnu invade Ordos [11] | |
176 BC | The kingdoms of Liang, Zhao, Qi, Dai, and Huainan are split up [12] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
169 BC | The Xiongnu raid Han [4] | |
166 BC | A 140,000 strong Xiongnu force invade near Chang'an [13] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
160 BC | A system of beacon and lookout stations is deployed [13] | |
158 BC | A 30,000 strong Xiongnu force attacks Yunzhong Commandery and Dai Commandery [4] | |
157 BC | Emperor Wen of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Qi (posthumously Emperor Jing of Han) [14] | |
154 BC | Rebellion of the Seven States: Liu Pi and six other kings rebel but are defeated [15] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
148 BC | The Xiongnu attack Yan Province [4] | |
144 BC | The Xiongnu raid Yanmen Pass for horses [4] | |
142 BC | The Xiongnu attack Yanmen Pass [4] | |
141 BC | Emperor Jing of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Che (posthumously Emperor Wu of Han) [16] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
139 BC | Zhang Qian sets off for the Western Regions [17] | |
136 BC | Official posts are created for academicians [18] | |
135 BC | Han campaigns against Minyue: A puppet king is installed in Minyue [19] | |
133 BC | June | Battle of Mayi: The Han army fails to ambush the Xiongnu [17] |
132 BC | Yellow River dikes burst [20] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
129 BC | Han forces (40,000) under Wei Qing, Gongsun Ao, Gongsun He, and Li Guang engage in combat with the Xiongnu [21] | |
128 BC | The Xiongnu attack Liaoxi and engage in combat with Han forces (40,000) under Wei Qing and Li Xi [22] | |
Nan Lü of Dongye surrenders to Han and the Canghai Commandery is created [22] | ||
127 BC | The Xiongnu raid Liaoxi and Yanmen | |
Han forces under Wei Qing, Hao Xian, and Li Xi plunder the Xiongnu for livestock [21] | ||
126 BC | The Canghai Commandery is abandoned [22] | |
The Xiongnu army (900,000) raids Han territory | ||
124 BC | Han forces (100,000) under Wei Qing attack the Xiongnu [21] | |
123 BC | Han forces (100,000) under Wei Qing attack the Xiongnu [21] | |
122 BC | The Prince of Huainan rebels and is defeated [23] | |
The Xiongnu raid Shanggu | ||
121 BC | Han forces under Huo Qubing, Zhao Ponu, Zhang Qian, and Li Guang attack the Xiongnu [21] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
120 BC | The Xiongnu raid Youbeiping and Xingxiang, taking 1,000 captives | |
119 BC | June | Battle of Mobei: Han generals Huo Qubing and Wei Qing defeat the Xiongnu [17] |
Introduction of the iron and salt monopoly [11] | ||
New taxes are levied on market transactions, vehicles, and property [24] | ||
Zhang Qian goes on another trip to the Western Regions [17] | ||
116 BC | The Xiongnu raid Liang Province | |
113 BC | Reign names are introduced [25] | |
112 BC | State monopoly on minting is enacted [26] | |
A Han force of 20,000 attack the Qing in eastern Tibet | ||
111 BC | Han conquest of Nanyue: Han annexes Nanyue [27] | |
Han campaigns against Minyue: Âu Việt is defeated but the Han evacuate the Yue area rather than annex it; with the exception of Dongye at the mouth of the Min River, modern Fujian would not see significant colonization until 200 AD [28] | ||
Han forces (25,000)) under Gongsun He and Zhao Ponu try to attack the Xiongnu but can't find them [21] | ||
Modern Guizhou is incorporated into the empire [29] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
110 BC | Emperor Wu of Han personally leads Han forces (180,000) against the Xiongnu but their chanyu decides to retreat [21] | |
Han secures a marriage alliance with the Wusun through Liu Jieyou [30] | ||
109 BC | Han conquest of Dian: The Dian Kingdom becomes a Han vassal [31] | |
108 BC | Han conquest of Gojoseon: Han annexes Gojoseon [32] and sets up the Lelang, Lintun, Xuantu, and Zhenfan commanderies [33] | |
Battle of Loulan: Han subjugates Qiemo and the Jushi Kingdom [34] | ||
106 BC | Thirteen regional inspectors are appointed to be directly answerable to the central government [35] | |
105 BC | Cai Lun improves on paper using a combination of rags and plant fibers [36] | |
Aboriginals rebel in the southwest [29] | ||
104 BC | War of the Heavenly Horses: Li Guangli fails to make it to Dayuan [37] | |
103 BC | Han forces (20,000) under Zhao Ponu attack the Xiongnu but are defeated [21] | |
102 BC | The Xiongnu raid Jiuquan and Zhangye, capturing several thousand people | |
101 BC | War of the Heavenly Horses: Li Guangli forces Dayuan to provide horses [37] | |
Han vassalizes Fergana [30] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
99 BC | Battle of Tian Shan: Han forces (35,000) under Li Guangli and Li Ling are defeated by the Xiongnu [38] | |
98 BC | State monopoly on liquor is enacted [26] | |
97 BC | Han forces (140,000) under Li Guangli attack the Xiongnu without results [21] | |
94 BC | Summer | Han forces under Xu Xiangru kill the king of Suoju (around modern Yarkant County) and capture 1,500 people [39] |
91 BC | Factional strife in Chang'an results in the deaths of thousands [40] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
90 BC | Han forces (79,000) under Li Guangli are defeated by the Xiongnu but another Han army (30,000) under Shang Qiucheng manages to force the Xiongnu to flee [38] | |
Han forces under Cheng Wan conquer Jushi Kingdom [21] | ||
87 BC | Han forces under Wen Zhong capture a city near modern Islamabad [41] | |
29 March | Emperor Wu of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Fuling (posthumously Emperor Zhao of Han) [42] | |
86 BC | Liu Dan's coup fails [43] | |
Rebellion occurs in the southwest [44] | ||
83 BC | Rebellion occurs in the southwest [44] | |
82 BC | Zhenfan and Lintun commanderies are abandoned [45] | |
Hainan is abandoned for a time [27] | ||
81 BC | Discourses on Salt and Iron | |
State monopoly on liquor is abolished [26] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
80 BC | Liu Dan attempts another coup, which also fails [46] | |
78 BC | Han forces under (20,000) under Fan Mingyou attack the Wuhuan | |
77 BC | After several Han envoys are killed in or near the Loulan Kingdom, supreme general Huo Guang has an envoy named Fu Jiezi assassinate the Loulan King Angui [47] | |
75 BC | Goguryeo attacks Xuantu Commander [48] | |
74 BC | 18 July | Emperor Zhao of Han dies and the Marquis of Haihun is enthroned [49] |
14 August | The Marquis of Haihun is deposed and replaced by Liu Bingyi (posthumously Emperor Xuan of Han) [49] | |
71 BC | The Han, Wusun, Dingling, and Wuhuan coalition defeats the Xiongnu [50] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
69 BC | Han forces under Chang Hui retaliate against Qiuci for killing Colonel Laidan [51] | |
67 BC | Battle of Jushi: Han forces conquer the Jushi Kingdom [50] | |
65 BC | Han forces under Feng Fenshi force the king of Suoju to commit suicide and enthrone another king [52] | |
Han vassalizes Qiuci [30] | ||
The Qiang revolt in eastern Tibet | ||
64 BC | The people of the Jushi Kingdom are moved to Quli to work the land [52] | |
The Xiongnu attack Jiaohe in the aftermath of the Battle of Jushi | ||
61 BC | Han forces under Zhao Chongguo advance into Qinghai and establish colonies |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
60 BC | The Protectorate of the Western Regions is established under Zheng Ji [30] | |
53 BC | Wusun submit to Han suzerainty and are split into Greater and Lesser Kunmi [53] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
49 BC | Emperor Xuan of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Shi (posthumously Emperor Yuan of Han) [54] | |
46 BC | Hainan is abandoned for a time [27] | |
44 BC | The state monopoly on salt and iron is temporarily abolished [55] | |
42 BC | Qiang tribes revolt in the west [56] | |
41 BC | The state monopoly on salt and iron is restored [57] | |
Han forces (60,000) under Feng Fengshi crush the Qiang rebels |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
39 BC | Yellow River dikes burst [58] | |
38 BC | Emperor Yuan of Han deposes Liu Yuan, King of Hejian, disestablishing his kingdom [59] | |
36 BC | Battle of Zhizhi: Han forces defeat the Xiongnu [60] | |
33 BC | Emperor Yuan of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Ao (posthumously Emperor Cheng of Han) [61] | |
32 BC | The Hejian Kingdom is re-established [59] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
29 BC | Yellow River dikes burst [58] | |
27 BC | Aboriginals rebel in the southwest [29] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
7 BC | 7 May | Emperor Cheng of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Xin (posthumously Emperor Ai of Han) [61] |
3 BC | The cult of the Queen Mother of the West spreads throughout China [62] | |
1 BC | 15 August | Emperor Ai of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu JIzi (posthumously Emperor Ping of Han [63] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
1 | Earliest extant blast furnaces [64] | |
3 | The Yellow River floods and changes course [65] | |
6 | 2 February | Emperor Ping of Han dies and Ruzi Ying becomes heir apparent but Wang Mang becomes acting emperor [66] |
7 | Wang Mang is accused of murdering Emperor Ping of Han [67] | |
9 | 10 January | Wang Mang declares his own Xin dynasty (literally "new dynasty") [68] |
The slave trade is outlawed [69] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
12 | Wang Mang extends Xin territory into Qinghai [70] | |
Xin forces defeat Goguryeo in battle [71] | ||
Aboriginals in Zangke Commandery ( Guizhou) rebel [29] | ||
The slave trade ban is rescinded [26] | ||
13 | Karasahr rebels [70] | |
14 | Aboriginals in Yi Province rebel [29] | |
16 | A Xin expeditionary army under Guo Qin massacres the population of Karasahr [70] | |
17 | Red Eyebrows: Rebellion erupts in modern Shandong [20] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
22 | Lulin: Rebellion erupts in Nanyang [72] | |
11 March | Liu Xuan (later known as the Gengshi Emperor) is enthroned by the rebels [73] | |
Red Eyebrows: Xin forces are defeated by the rebels [20] | ||
23 | January | Lulin: Xin forces are defeated by rebels [73] |
7 July | Battle of Kunyang: Xin forces are defeated by rebels [74] | |
6 October | Lulin: Rebels take Chang'an and kill Wang Mang; Luoyang falls soon after [75] | |
Koreans raid the Lelang Commandery and take slaves [19] | ||
The Protectorate of the Western Regions is abandoned [56] | ||
24 | March | The Gengshi Emperor relocates to Chang'an [76] |
25 | July | Red Eyebrows: The Red Eyebrows enthrone their own emperor, Liu Penzi [77] |
5 August | Liu Xiu proclaims himself emperor (posthumously Emperor Guangwu of Han) [78] | |
October | Red Eyebrows: The Red Eyebrows take Chang'an and strangle the Gengshi Emperor [77] | |
27 November | Emperor Guangwu of Han takes Luoyang [78] | |
Wang Diao takes over Lelang Commandery [79] | ||
27 | 15 March | Red Eyebrows: Rebels surrender to Emperor Guangwu of Han [80] |
29 | Emperor Guangwu of Han pacifies the northern Central Plains and Nanyang [80] | |
The Taixue is created [81] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
30 | Emperor Guangwu of Han pacifies the Lelang Commandery, southern Central Plains and Shandong [80] | |
31 | Du Shi uses waterwheels to power piston- bellows for blast furnaces [82] | |
32 | Ban Gu is born | |
34 | Emperor Guangwu of Han defeats Wei Ao and pacifies the northwest [80] | |
36 | 25 December | Emperor Guangwu of Han defeats Gongsun Shu and takes Chengdu, restoring the Han [80] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
40 | Trung sisters' rebellion: Yue tribes rebel in Jiaozhi [83] | |
43 | Trung sisters' rebellion: The Trưng Sisters are decapitated [83] | |
44 | Han forces under Ma Yuan are defeated by Xiongnu | |
45 | Ban Zhao is born | |
Aboriginals rebel in the southwest [84] | ||
Xiongnu raid Changshan | ||
48 | Aboriginals rebel in Wuling Commandery (northwestern Hunan) [85] | |
49 | Wuhuan settle in the northwest and north of the Central Plain [86] | |
Qiang tribes retake the Qinghai region [87] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
51 | An Ailao tribe defects to Han [88] | |
57 | 29 March | Emperor Guangwu of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Yang (posthumously Emperor Ming of Han) [89] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
63 | The Xiongnu gain control of the Western Regions and start raiding Han [90] | |
65 | Liu Ying becomes the first documented sponsor of Buddhism in China [89] | |
69 | An Ailao tribe defects to Han [88] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
70 | The southern flow of the Yellow River is eliminated [20] | |
73 | Battle of Yiwulu: Han general Dou Gu defeats the Xiongnu and restores the Protectorate of the Western Regions [91] | |
74 | Han forces capture Jushi Kingdom | |
75 | 5 September | Emperor Ming of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Da (posthumously Emperor Zhang of Han) [92] |
77 | The Protectorate of the Western Regions is abandoned [93] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
88 | 9 April | Emperor Zhang of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Zhao (posthumously Emperor He of Han) [94] |
89 | Battle of the Altai Mountains: Han general Dou Xian defeats the Xiongnu [95] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
90 | The Protectorate of the Western Regions is restored [93] | |
92 | Ban Gu dies | |
93 | The Xiongnu settle in southern Shaanxi [96] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
106 | 13 February | Emperor He of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Long (posthumously Emperor Shang of Han) [97] |
21 September | Emperor Shang of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Hu (posthumously Emperor An of Han) [97] | |
Goguryeo invades Xuantu Commandery [19] | ||
107 | The Protectorate of the Western Regions is abandoned [93] | |
Aboriginals rebel in the southwest [84] | ||
108 | Qiang tribes raid the Central Plains [87] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
111 | The Book of Han is finished by Ban Zhao | |
116 | Ban Zhao dies | |
Aboriginals rebel in the southwest [84] | ||
117 | Han forces under Ren Shang defeat the Qiang |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
123 | Aboriginals rebel in the southwest [84] | |
125 | 30 April | Emperor An of Han dies and is succeeded by the Marquess of Beixiang [98] |
16 December | Eunuch loyalists overthrow the Marquess of Beixiang and enthrone Liu Bao (posthumously Emperor Shun of Han) [98] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
132 | Han retakes some of Xuantu Commandery from Goguryeo [19] | |
Zhang Heng invents the seismometer [99] | ||
137 | Rebellion erupts in Rinan [100] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
140 | The Xiongnu overrun the Tiger's Teeth encampment near Chang'an [101] | |
The Qiang rebel | ||
142 | The Qiang rebellion is defeated | |
144 | 20 September | Emperor Shun of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Bing (posthumously Emperor Chong of Han) [102] |
December | Rebellion erupts in Jiujiang [103] | |
145 | 15 February | Emperor Chong of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Zuan (posthumously Emperor Zhi of Han) [102] |
Rebels attack Guangling and Jiujiang [103] | ||
Xianbei raid Dai Commandery [103] | ||
Hua Meng declares himself the Black Emperor and gets killed [103] | ||
146 | 26 July | Emperor Zhi of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Zhi (posthumously Emperor Huan of Han) [102] |
Policy of assimilation in the southwest is implemented through education programs [44] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
156 | Aboriginals rebel in the southwest [84] | |
159 | Aboriginals rebel in the southwest [84] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
166 | The Xianbei raid Han territory | |
167 | Han forces under Duan Jiong massacre the Qiang | |
168 | 25 January | Emperor Huan of Han dies and is succeeded by Liu Hong (posthumously Emperor Ling of Han) [104] |
169 | Duan Jiong defeats the Xianlian Qiang [105] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
176 | Aboriginals rebel in the southwest [84] | |
177 | Han forces (20,000) under Xia Yu and Tian Yan are defeated by the Xianbei |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
184 | spring | Yellow Turban Rebellion: The Yellow Turbans ravage the north and east and are defeated [106] [107] |
winter | Liang Province rebellion: A rebellion occurs in Liang province (Liangzhou; 涼州; roughly present-day Wuwei, Gansu) [106] | |
185 | The imperial palace is damaged by fire and special taxes are levied for rebuilding [106] | |
188 | Governors are appointed to unify provincial administrations [106] | |
189 | summer | Emperor Ling of Han dies; Empress He and her brother He Jin enthrone Liu Bian and establish a regency government [106] |
winter | The Ten Eunuchs kill He Jin and are themselves massacred by Yuan Shao; [107] Dong Zhuo takes control of Luoyang and deposes Liu Bian in favor of his half-brother Liu Xie, Emperor Xian of Han [106] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
190 | Campaign against Dong Zhuo: An anti- Dong Zhuo alliance forms in the east, led by Yuan Shao [106] | |
Dong Zhuo burns Luoyang, loots the imperials tombs, and relocates to Chang'an; [107] the coalition breaks up and local officials set themselves up as warlords [106] | ||
Cai Yong dies [107] | ||
191 | Zhang Lu sets up a theocracy in Hanzhong [106] | |
192 | Wang Yun and Lü Bu kill Dong Zhuo and Wang Yun himself is killed by Dong Zhuo's officers Li Jue and Guo Si [106] | |
Cao Cao takes over Yan Province [106] | ||
195 | Emperor Xian of Han escapes from Chang'an [106] | |
Sun Ce sets up south of the Changjiang [106] | ||
196 | Emperor Xian of Han relocates to Xuchang under Cao Cao's control [106] | |
197 | Campaign against Yuan Shu: Yuan Shu takes the imperial title but is driven south by Cao Cao [106] | |
199 | Battle of Yijing: Yuan Shao eliminates Gongsun Zan in You Province [106] | |
Yuan Shu dies [106] |
Year | Date | Event |
---|---|---|
200 | Battle of Guandu: Yuan Shao is defeated by Cao Cao northeast of modern Zhongmou, Henan [106] | |
Sun Ce dies and is succeeded by his brother Sun Quan [106] | ||
Zheng Xuan dies [107] | ||
202 | Yuan Shao dies and is succeeded by his younger son Yuan Shang [106] | |
203 | Cao Cao's campaigns to unify northern China begin [106] | |
207 | Battle of White Wolf Mountain: Cao Cao defeats the Wuhuan and unites northern China [106] | |
208 | Liu Biao dies in Jing Province and Cao Cao takes over [106] | |
Battle of Red Cliffs: Cao Cao is defeated on the Changjiang, west of modern Jiangxia, Hubei, by Sun Quan and Liu Bei [106] | ||
210 | Liu Bei occupies the south of Jing Province [106] | |
211 | Battle of Tong Pass: Cao Cao defeats Ma Chao and Han Sui and starts campaigning in northwestern China [106] | |
Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province: Liu Zhang invites Liu Bei to Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing) [106] | ||
214 | Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province: Liu Bei takes control of Yi Province from Liu Zhang [106] | |
215 | Battle of Yangping: Zhang Lu surrenders Hanzhong to Cao Cao [106] | |
216 | Cao Cao declares himself King of Wei [108] | |
219 | spring | Battle of Mount Dingjun: Liu Bei defeats Cao Cao's general Xiahou Yuan and takes Hanzhong [106] |
autumn | Liu Bei becomes King of Hanzhong [106] | |
Battle of Fancheng: Liu Bei's general Guan Yu attacks north in Jing Province [106] | ||
winter | Lü Meng's invasion of Jing Province: Sun Quan's general Lü Meng attacks Guan Yu and seizes the south of Jing Province [106] | |
220 | Guan Yu is executed by Sun Quan [108] | |
spring | Cao Cao dies at Luoyang and is succeeded by his son Cao Pi [106] | |
The Nine-rank system is implemented [108] | ||
winter | Cao Pi forces Emperor Xian of Han to abdicate and declares himself Emperor of the Wei dynasty; so ends the Han dynasty [106] |