Chronology of Later Han
A Biographical Dictionary of later Han to the Three Kingdoms (23-220 AD)
| Wang Mang 王莽 [reg. 9-23 AD] | ||
| before 18 | development of the Red Eyebrows rebellion in the east | |
| 22 | winter | Han rebellion in Nanyang led by Liu Bosheng, joined by refugee troops |
| The Gengshi 更始 Emperor Liu Xuan 劉玄 [reg. 23-25] | ||
| 23 | spring | Liu Xuan proclaimed as Emperor of the restored Han dynasty |
| summer | Wang Mang's forces defeated at Kunyang | |
| Liu Bosheng executed by the Gengshi regime | ||
| autumn | fall of Chang'an and death of Wang Mang | |
| 24 | Liu Xiu, commissioner in the north, destroys the rebellion of Wang Lang | |
| 25 | Red Eyebrows enter the passes and take Chang'an | |
| summer | Gongsun Shu claims the imperial title in Shu | |
| autumn | Liu Xiu claims the imperial title in Changshan | |
| winter | the Gengshi Emperor captured and killed by the Red Eyebrows | |
| Emperor Guangwu 光武帝 Liu Xiu 劉秀 [reg. 25-57] | ||
| 26-27 | defeat of Red Eyebrows by Wei Ao; they surrender to Guangwu | |
| 26-30 | Guangwu's forces conquer the North China plain and the southeast | |
| Guangwu's forces conquer Luoyang, Nanyang and Nan commandery | ||
| 26-29 | restoration of the Imperial University at Luoyang | |
| 29 | alliance with Dou Rong in the northwest | |
| 30 | abolition of compulsory military training within the empire | |
| from 30 | warfare in the north against Liu Fang and the Xiongnu | |
| 30-33 | destruction of Wei Ao in Hanyang | |
| 35-36 | destruction of Gongsun Shu in the west; Guangwu undisputed emperor of the restored Han dynasty | |
| 42 | Ma Yuan defeats the rebellion of the Cheng [Tr'ung] sisters in Jiaozhi | |
| 43 | Guangwu's son Liu Zhuang proclaimed Heir in place of his half-brother Liu Qiang | |
| 47-49 | rebellion of non-Chinese in Wuling | |
| 50 | Southern Shanyu Bi accepts Chinese suzerainty, settled in Xihe | |
| 56 | Feng and Shan sacrifices carried out at Mount Tai | |
| Emperor Ming 明帝 Liu Zhuang 劉莊 [reg. 57-75] | ||
| Late 50s | raiding by Shaodang Qiang under war-leader Dianyu, obliged to surrender in 59 | |
| 65 | office of the General on the Liao established to keep the Northern and Southern Xiongnu apart | |
| 66 | establishment of the Palace School for Noble Families | |
| 69 | accession of the Ailao people of the far southwest | |
| 70 | repair of the Vast Canal network and dykes on the Yellow River | |
| alleged conspiracy of Liu Ying, King of Chu; widespread arrests and executions | ||
| 73 | unsuccessful punitive attack on the Northern Xiongnu; Dou Gu enters the Western Regions | |
| Emperor Zhang 章帝 Liu Da 劉炟 [reg. 75-88] | ||
| 75 | Chinese outposts in Turfan destroyed; major withdrawal from the Western Regions, though Ban Chao remains at Shule [Kashgar] | |
| 77-101 | Qiang wars against Miyu and then Mitang | |
| 79 | imperial conference on Confucian doctrine at the White Tiger Hall | |
| 84 | Northern Xiongnu ask for peaceful trade | |
| Emperor He 和帝 Liu Zhao 劉肇 [reg. 88-105] | ||
| 88 | regency of the Dowager Dou for the young emperor | |
| 89-92 | Northern Xiongnu regime destroyed by Dou Xian | |
| 92 | summer | destruction of the Dou family by Emperor He |
| Ban Chao proclaimed Protector-General of the Western Regions | ||
| 93 | destruction of the Southern Shanyu Anguo by a Chinese army; prince Fenghou escapes to the north | |
| 97 | Ban Chao sends Gan Ying to explore the far west | |
| 102 | Ban Chao returns from the Western Regions, succeeded by Ren Shang | |
| Emperor Shang 殤帝 [the Young Emperor] Liu Long 劉隆 [reg. 105-106] | ||
| 105 | regency of the Dowager Deng for the short-lived infant Liu Long | |
| Emperor An 安帝 Liu You 劉祐 [reg. 106-125] | ||
| 106 | the regent Dowager Deng brings the youthful Liu You to the throne; she controls her government until her death in 121 | |
| summer rebellion in the Western Regions | ||
| 107 | withdrawal ordered from the Western Regions; mutiny among auxiliaries in the northwest, developing into full-scale rebellion of the Qiang within China | |
| 107-118 | the great Qiang rebellion | |
| 108 | main imperial army defeated in Hanyang; Qiang leader Dianlian proclaimed emperor in Beidi | |
| 110-111 | commandery administrations withdrawn from the north and northwest; Qiang rebels control Liang province and attack further | |
| 112 | imperial forces successful in Hanyang; Dianlian dies at Lingzhou in Beidi | |
| 114 | Chinese troops recover Jincheng | |
| 115 | Ren Shang on the offensive against the rebel Qiang | |
| 117 | winter | decisive victory at Fuping in Beidi |
| 118 | end of the Qiang rebellion; Ren Shang executed for corruption | |
| 121 | death of the Dowager Deng; Emperor An destroys the Deng family | |
| 121-133 | trouble with Xianbi war-leader Qizhijian in the northeast | |
| 122 | beginning of gradual reconstruction in the northwest | |
| 123-127 | Ban Yong in the Western Regions | |
| 124 | In fluenced by his Empress Yan, Emperor An dismisses his only son Liu Bao as Heir | |
| The Little Emperor 少帝 Liu Yi 劉懿 [reg. 125] | ||
| 125 | spring | death of Emperor An; the Lady Yan, now regent Dowager, brings the child Liu Yi to the throne |
| winter | death of Liu Yi; eunuchs led by Sun destroy the Yan group and place Liu Bao upon the throne | |
| Emperor Shun 順帝 Liu Bao 劉保 [reg. 125-144] | ||
| 126. -c.135 | Yu Xu, Zuo Xiong and others attempt to establish Confucian reforms of government | |
| 129-137 | encouraged by Yu Xu, accelerated resettlement in the northwest | |
| 131-132 | restoration of the Imperial University | |
| 132 | the Lady Liang Na appointed Empress | |
| c.133 | death of Qizhijian, but Xianbi raiding continues in the northeast | |
| 135 | Liang Na's father Liang Shang named General-in-Chief | |
| 140-144 | rebellion of Southern Xiongnu, later joined by the Qiang; permanent withdrawal of commandery administrations from the northwest | |
| 141 | death of Liang Shang, succeeded by his son Liang Ji | |
| 142 | commissioners against corruption sent out, with inconclusive results | |
| Emperor Chong 沖帝 Liu Bing 劉炳 [reg. 144-145] | ||
| 144 | death of Emperor Shun, succeeded by his infant son Liu Bing; the Lady Liang Na becomes regent Dowager | |
| Emperor Zhi 質帝 Liu Zuan 劉纘 [reg. 145-146] | ||
| 145 | spring | death of Liu Bing; Liang Na and Liang Ji bring the youthful Liu Zuan to the throne |
| 146 | summer | Liu Zhi is called to the capital and betrothed to Liang Nüying, younger sister of the Dowager; Liu Zuan dies soon afterwards and Liu Zhi is named emperor |
| Emperor Huan 桓帝 Liu Zhi 劉志 [reg. 132-168] | ||
| 147 | unsuccessful rebellion in favour of Liu Suan the King of Qinghe; the Excellency Li Gu, who had earlier supported his claim, is destroyed | |
| 148 | popular religious rebellions led by Chen Jing and Guan Bo; imperial sponsorship of a temple to Laozi | |
| 154-165 | extensive rebellion about Taishan | |
| 159 | death of the Empress Liang Nüying; aided by Ju Yuan and other eunuchs, Emperor Huan destroys Liang Ji and takes personal power; appointment of the Empress Deng Mengnü | |
| 159-167 | government dominated by the emperor's eunuch favourites; increasing opposition from Confucianist reformers | |
| 160-165 | widespread rebellion in southern Jing province | |
| 160-167 | warfare with the Western Qiang beyond the frontier | |
| 165 | disgrace of the eunuchs Hou Lan, Zuo Guan and Ju Yuan; the Empress Deng is dismissed, replaced by the Lady Dou Miao; establishment of the Laozi ming stele | |
| 166 | imperial worship of Huang-Lao and the Buddha at Luoyang; Xiang Kai memorialises against misrule and extravagance; self-proclaimed ambassadors from the Roman empire come to the imperial court arrest and execution of the anti-eunuch officials Liu Zhi and Cheng Jin; arrest of Li Ying and two hundred others: the First Faction Incident | |
| 167 | men of Faction released from prison but proscribed from office | |
| winter | Emperor Huan dies; his Dowager Dou takes the regency, guided by her father Dou Wu and the senior Confucian official Chen Fan; men of Faction restored to office | |
| Emperor Ling 靈帝 Liu Hong 劉宏 [reg. 168-189] | ||
| 168 | Liu Hong brought to the throne by the Dowager and Dou Wu | |
| Autumn | eunuchs led by Wang Fu destroy Dou Wu and Chen Fan | |
| 168-169 | Duan Jiong's campaign of extermination against the Eastern Qiang | |
| 169-181 | continual raiding in the north by the Xianbi under Tanshihuai | |
| 169 | reformist opposition to the eunuch control of government | |
| Autumn | arrest of Zhang Jian and others on charge of conspiracy: the Second Faction Incident | |
| winter | arrest and execution of Li Ying and others: the great Proscription | |
| 171-185 | recurrent and widespread outbreaks of pestilence | |
| 172 | purge of anti-eunuch students at the Imperial University | |
| 175 | The Confucian classics inscribed in stone | |
| 176 | proscription of men of Faction reinforced | |
| 178 | the School at the Gate of the Vast Capital established as an alternative route of entry into the imperial civil service; widespread sale of offices | |
| 179-184 | rebellions in Yi and Jing provinces and in the far south from c.180 numbers of popular sects, including the Yellow Turbans led by Zhang Jue in the north, largely inspired by faith-healing against the regular epidemics | |
| 181 | death of Tanshihuai and easing of Xianbi raiding | |
| 184 | spring | rebellion of the Yellow Turbans ravages the north and east |
| winter | rebellion in Liang province in the northwest | |
| 185 | imperial palace damaged by fire; special taxes levied for rebuilding | |
| 188 | first appointments of Governors to unify provincial administrations | |
| The Little Emperor 少帝 Liu Bian 劉辯 [reg. 189] | ||
| 189 | summer | death of Emperor Ling; the Dowager He and her brother He Jin set her son Liu Bian upon the throne and establish a regency government |
| autumn | the eunuchs kill He Jin and are themselves massacred; the general Dong Zhuo takes power at Luoyang and deposes Liu Bian in favour of his half-brother Liu Xie | |
| Emperor Xian 獻帝 Liu Xie 劉協 [reg. 189-220] | ||
| 189 | alliance in the east against Dong Zhuo, led by Yuan Shao | |
| 190 | Dong Zhuo shifts the imperial capital to Chang'an as the alliance breaks up, local officials set themselves up as warlords | |
| 191 | Zhang Lu establishes a religious state in Hanzhong | |
| 192 | Dong Zhuo killed by Wang Yun, who is in turn destroyed by Dong Zhuo's officers Li Jue, Guo Si and others Cao Cao takes over in Yan province | |
| 195 | Emperor Xian escapes from Chang'an | |
| Sun Ce south of the Yangzi | ||
| 196 | the emperor comes to Xu city under Cao Cao's control | |
| 197 | Yuan Shu takes the imperial title but is driven south by Cao Cao | |
| 198 | Sun Ce independent in the lower Yangzi | |
| 199 | Yuan Shao destroys Gongsun Zan in You province death of Yuan Shu | |
| 200 | Yuan Shao attacks Cao Cao but is defeated at Guandu death of Sun Ce, succeeded by his brother Sun Quan | |
| 202 | death of Yuan Shao, succeeded by his younger son Yuan Shang | |
| 203-206 | Cao Cao takes over north China | |
| 207 | Cao Cao defeats the Wuhuan at White Wolf Mountain | |
| 208 | death of Liu Biao in Jing province; Cao Cao takes over, but is then defeated at the Red Cliffs on the Yangzi by the forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei | |
| 210 | Liu Bei occupies the south of Jing province | |
| 211 | Cao Cao defeats the warlords of the northwest at the battle of Huayin Liu Zhang invites Liu Bei into Yi province | |
| 214 | Liu Bei takes Yi province from Liu Zhang | |
| 215 | Zhang Lu surrenders Hanzhong to Cao Cao | |
| 219 | spring | Liu Bei defeats Cao Cao's general Xiahou Yuan at Dingjun Mountain and takes Hanzhong |
| autumn | Liu Bei takes title as King of Hanzhong Liu Bei's general Guan Yu attacks north in Jing province | |
| Liu Bei's general Guan Yu attacks north in Jing province | ||
| winter | Sun Quan's general Lü Meng attacks Guan Yu and seizes the south of Jing province | |
| 220 | spring | Cao Cao dies at Luoyang, succeeded by his son Cao Pi |
| winter | Cao Pi receives the abdication of Emperor Xian of Han and proclaims himself Emperor of the Wei dynasty |
| TABLE 1: THE EMPERORS OF THE TWO HAN DYNASTIES | |||
| Part I: Former Han 1 | |||
| Dynastic name | Personal name | Acceded | Died |
| Gao 高 2 | Bang 邦 | 202 | 195 |
| Hui 愚 3 | Ying 盁 | 195 | 188 |
| [Empress-Dowager Lü 呂 of Emperor Gao] 4 | 187 | 180 | |
| Wen 文 | Heng 恆 | 180 | 157 |
| Jing 景 | Qi 啓 | 157 | 141 |
| Wu 武 | Che 徹 | 141 | 87 |
| Zhao 昭 | Fuling 弗陵 | 87 | 74 |
| Xuan 玄 | Bingyi 病已 | 74 5 | 49 |
| Yuan 元 | Shi 奭 | 49 | 33 |
| Cheng 成 | Ao 驁 | 33 | 7 |
| Ai 哀 | Xin 欣 | 7 | 1 |
| Ping 平 | Jizi 箕子; later Kan 衎. | 1 BC | AD 6 |
| [Wang Mang 王莽] | AD 6/9 6 | AD 23 |
| Part II: Later Han 7 | ||||
| Dynastic name | Personal name | Born | Acceded | Died |
| The Gengshi 更始 Emperor | Xuan 玄 | [?] | 11 Mar 23 | Dec 25 |
| Guangwu 光武 | Xiu 秀 | 5 BC | 5 Aug 25 | 29 Mar 57 |
| Ming 明 | Zhuang 莊 8 | 28 | 29 Mar 57 | 5 Sep 75 |
| Zhang 章 | Da 炟 | 57 | 5 Sep 75 | 9 Apr 88 |
| He 和 | Zhao 肇 | 79 | 9 Apr 88 | 13 Feb 106 |
| Shang 殤 "Young" | Long 隆 | 105 | 13 Feb 106 | 21 Sep 106 |
| An 安 | You 祐 | 94 | 23 Sep 106 | 30 Apr 125 |
| Shao 少 "Little" 9 | Yi 懿 | [?] | 18 May 125 | 10 Dec 125 |
| Shun 順 | Bao 保 | 115 | 16 Dec 125 | 20 Sep 144 |
| Chong 沖 | Bing 炳 | 143 | 20 Sep 144 | 15 Feb 145 |
| Zhi 質 | Zuan 纘 | 138 | 6 Mar 145 | 26 Jul 146 |
| Huan 桓 | Zhi 志 | 132 | 1 Aug 146 | 25 Jan 168 |
| Ling 靈 | Hong 宏 | 156 | 17 Feb 168 | 13 May 189 |
| Shao 少 "Little" 9 | Bian 辯 | 176 | 15 May 189 10 | 26 March 190 |
| Xian 獻 | Xie 協 | 181 | 28 Sep 189 11 | 21 April 234 |
View image TABLE 2: THE IMPERIAL INHERITANCE OF LATER HAN Part I: Emperor Guangwu to the Young Emperor
View image TABLE 2: THE IMPERIAL INHERITANCE OF LATER HAN Part II: The Successors of Emperor Zhang
1 All dates in Part I are BC unless otherwise specified.
2 The first emperor of Han is commonly referred to as Gaozu 高祖, a combination of his dynastic title Gao "High" and his temple name Taizu 太祖 "Grand Founder:" e.g. Dubs 38:145
3 All emperors of Han except the two founders Gaozu and Guangwu had the prefix Xiao 孝 "Filial" to their posthumous dynastic names. It is customary to ignore this common factor.
4 The Dowager Lü exercised her power nominally on behalf of two infant emperors.
5 Liu He 劉賀 reigned for 27 days in 74, but was deposed for bad conduct. He received no dynastic title.
6 Wang Mang initially took title as "Acting" 假 or "Regent" 攝 Emperor on behalf of the infant Liu Ying 劉嬰 (AD 5-25), who was declared Heir in AD 6, but never reigned. In 9 Wang Mang demoted Liu Ying and proclaimed his own Xin dynasty. On Liu Ying, known as the "Young Prince" 孺子, see sub voce.
7 All dates in Part II are AD unless otherwise specified.
8 Emperor Ming initially had the personal name Yang 陽, but it was changed after he became Heir in 43.
9 Liu Yi and Liu Bian, below, each reigned for less than a year. The term Shao "Little" describes such a minor ruler; it was not strictly a dynastic title.
10 On 28 September 189 Dong Zhuo deposed Liu Bian in favour of his half-brother Liu Xie…
11 On 25 November 200 Liu Xie abdicated the throne in favour of Cao Pi of Wei. He was thereafter known as the Duke of Shanyang 山陽公.
Rafe de Crespigny