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Period: 184 to 205
Yellow Turban Rebellion
Agrarian peasants protested their corrupted government after the Yellow River flooded, resulting in famine. -
189
Emperor Ling died
He left his 13 year old son, Lui Bian, in charge, which created a power vacuum. His mother and uncle fought with the eunuchs (also known as the Ten Attendants, were powerful advisors to the emperor) for control of the Empire. -
190
Eunuchs killed and Dong Zhuo placed prince as emperor
Warlord Dong Zhuo killed the eunuchs, throwing them in the yellow river, and saved the young emperor and prince. Dong Zhuo then placed The Prince of Chenliu (aka Emperor Xian) in charge of China at age 9. He then sends the new emperor away for "his safety" and placed himself as "chancellor of state" allowing himself to become -
Period: 190 to 192
Resistance to Dong Zhuo
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192
Dong Zhuo's death
A coalition, led by his own foster son, assissinated the Chancellor and his clan. -
Period: 192 to 196
provincial warlords expand
While imperial court fights for power, provincial warlords spread their territories for personal interests
Imperial court fights, Li June & Zhuo Si killed Fan Chou together, then turned on each other. They finally agreed to follow Emperor Xiam.
The internal fighting left the government very poor. -
196
Cao Cao campaign to power
Cao Cao led the Emperor to his province's capital, which became the new empire's capital.
Cao Cao became head of the imperial government, while Emperor Xiam served only in name.
Cao Cao implemented agriculture plans, where soldiers grew food which was shared between the government and civilians, to help fight the government's poverty. -
Period: 197 to 207
Warlords continue to fight for power
Cao Cao continued to suppress their armies -
207
Battle of White Wolf Mountain
reunited much of northern China after Cao Cao defeated local warlords. -
208
Southern Chinese Allies
Sun Quan and Liu Bei (southern warlords) formed an alliance to defeat Cao Cao, who claimed to have an army of 800,000 (reality estimate of 220,000, which was still impressive compared to their 30,000) -
209
Battle of Red Cliffs
Sun Quan took the naval fight against Cao Cao, while Liu Bee controlled the land garrison.
The naval fight (Sun) began by launching a series of small boats towards Cao Cao's ships, which were set on fire by Cao Cao's fleet and rammed collided with Cao Cao's larger ships, and defeated the entire naval fleet.
Cao Cao and his land army, which was depleted after a plague took too many of his soldiers, were attacked by Sun's land forces. This resulted in a retreat and the defeat of Cao Cao. -
Period: 210 to 220
Forming of the Three Kingdoms
After the Battle of Red Cliffs, Cao Cao fled to the North and continued ruling a much smaller area later known as Wei, Cao Pi inherited the "Kingdom of Wei"
Liu Bei created the Kingdom of Shu, after several campaigns to attack Cao.
Sun Quan remained Cao Pi's subject until he created Wu in 222. -
220
Cao Cao's Death
Left his son, Cao Pi in charge of his territory. -
221
End of the Dynasty
Emperor Xiam abdicated his throne to Cao Pi, Cao Cao's son and "King of Wei". Cao declined the throne 3 times, but eventually accepted, ending the Han Dynasty and beginning the Three Kingdoms period.
