Timeline of the Xiongnu

Xiongnu Empire in 200 BC

This is a timeline of the Xiongnu, a nomadic people that dominated the ancient eastern Eurasian steppes from 209 BC to 89 AD. The Xiongnu settled down in northern China during the late 3rd century AD following the Three Kingdoms period, and founded several states lasting until the Northern Liang was conquered by the Xianbei Northern Wei in 439 AD.

4th century BC

Year	Date	Event
318 BC		The Xiongnu attack Qin in conjunction with the other Warring States[1]

3rd century BC

Year	Date	Event
265 BC		Zhao–Xiongnu War: Li Mu of Zhao draws the Xiongnu into an ambush and defeats them[2]
214 BC		Qin's campaign against the Xiongnu: Meng Tian defeats the Xiongnu and conquers the Ordos region[3]
209 BC		Modu Chanyu assumes power over the Xiongnu and defeats the Donghu people, who become the Wuhuan and Xianbei[4]
203 BC		Modu Chanyu defeats the Yuezhi[5]
201 BC		Battle of Baideng: Emperor Gaozu of Han's army is defeated by the Xiongnu[6]
		Xin, King of Han defects to the Xiongnu[6]

2nd century BC

Year	Date	Event
197 BC		The Xiongnu invade Dai Commandery with the help of Chen Xi and Han Xin[7]
196 BC		The Xiongnu invade Dai Commandery with the help of Han Xin[7]
195 BC		The Xiongnu invade You Province with the help of Lu Wan[8]
182 BC		The Xiongnu invade Longxi Commandery and Tianshui[9]
181 BC		The Xiongnu invade Longxi Commandery[7]
179 BC		The Xiongnu invade Yunzhong Commandery[7]
177 BC		The Xiongnu invade Ordos[10]
176 BC		The Xiongnu evict the Yuezhi in the west and gain hegemony over the Western Regions as well as the Wusun[11]
174 BC		Modu Chanyu dies and is succeeded by his son Laoshang[11]
169 BC		The Xiongnu raid Han[7]
166 BC		A 140,000 strong Xiongnu force invade near Chang'an[12]
160 BC		Laoshang dies and is succeeded by his son Junchen[13]
158 BC		A 30,000 strong Xiongnu force attacks Yunzhong Commandery and Dai Commandery[7]
148 BC		The Xiongnu attack Yan Province[7]
144 BC		The Xiongnu raid Yanmen Pass for horses[7]
142 BC		The Xiongnu attack Yanmen Pass[7]
133 BC	June	Battle of Mayi: The Han army fails to ambush the Xiongnu[14]
129 BC		Han forces (40,000) under Wei Qing, Gongsun Ao, Gongsun He, and Li Guang engage in combat with the Xiongnu[15]
128 BC		The Xiongnu attack Liaoxi and engage in combat with Han forces (40,000) under Wei Qing and Li Xi[16]
127 BC		The Xiongnu raid Liaoxi and Yanmen
		Han forces under Wei Qing, Hao Xian, and Li Xi plunder the Xiongnu for livestock[15]
126 BC		Junchen dies and is succeeded by his brother Yizhixie, who attacks Junchen's son Yudan, forcing him to flee to the Han[13]
		The Xiongnu army (900,000) raids Han territory
124 BC		Han forces (100,000) under Wei Qing attack the Xiongnu[15]
123 BC		Han forces (100,000) under Wei Qing attack the Xiongnu[15]
122 BC		The Xiongnu raid Shanggu
121 BC		Han forces under Huo Qubing, Zhao Ponu, Zhang Qian, and Li Guang attack the Xiongnu[15]
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[14]
116 BC		The Xiongnu raid Liang Province
114 BC		Yizhixie dies and is succeeded by his son Wuwei Chanyu[13]
111 BC		Han forces (25,000)) under Gongsun He and Zhao Ponu try to attack the Xiongnu but can't find them[15]
110 BC		Emperor Wu of Han personally leads Han forces (180,000) against the Xiongnu but their chanyu decides to retreat[15]
105 BC		Wuwei Chanyu dies and is succeeded by his son Er Chanyu[13]
103 BC		Han forces (20,000) under Zhao Ponu attack the Xiongnu but are defeated[15]
102 BC		Er Chanyu dies and is succeeded by his uncle Xulihu[13]
		The Xiongnu raid Jiuquan and Zhangye, capturing several thousand people
101 BC		Xulihu dies and is succeeded by his brother Chedihou Chanyu[13]

1st century BC

Year	Date	Event
99 BC		Battle of Tian Shan: Han forces (35,000) under Li Guangli and Li Ling are defeated by the Xiongnu[17]
97 BC		Han forces (140,000) under Li Guangli attack the Xiongnu without results[15]
96 BC		Chedihou Chanyu dies and is succeeded by his son Hulugu[13]
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[17]
85 BC		Hulugu dies and is succeeded by his son Huyandi[13]
78 BC		The Wuhuan pillage Xiongnu tombs[18]
71 BC		The Han, Wusun, Dingling, and Wuhuan coalition defeats the Xiongnu[19]
68 BC		Huyandi dies and is succeeded by his uncle Xulüquanqu[13]
64 BC		The Xiongnu attack Jiaohe in the aftermath of the Battle of Jushi
60 BC		Xulüquanqu dies and is succeeded by a lesser noble Woyanqudi[20]
58 BC		Woyanqudi upsets traditional customs, causing a rebellion that defeats his army, so he kills himself and the Xiongnu split up into five warring factions[21]
55 BC		The Xiongnu coalesce into two groups, one under Zhizhi Chanyu and the other under his brother Huhanye[21]
51 BC		Huhanye is defeated by Zhizhi Chanyu and flees to the Han[21]
50 BC		Zhizhi Chanyu nominally submits to the Han[22]
48 BC		Zhizhi Chanyu declares independence after seeing the Han favor his brother Huhanye, moves further west, and attacks Fergana and the Wusun[22]
43 BC		Huhanye moves back to the north, starting the era of Western and Eastern Xiongnu.[22]
36 BC		Battle of Zhizhi: Han forces defeat the Xiongnu and kill Zhizhi Chanyu[23]
31 BC		Huhanye dies and is succeeded by his son Fuzhulei Ruodi[24]
20 BC		Fuzhulei Ruodi dies and is succeeded by his brother Souxie[24]
12 BC		Souxie dies and is succeeded by his half brother Juya[24]
8 BC		Juya dies and is succeeded by his brother Wuzhuliu[24]

1st century

Year	Date	Event
6		A petty king in the area of the former Jushi Kingdom defects to the Xiongnu, who turned him over to the Han[25]
7		The Han convince the Wuhuan to stop sending tribute to the Xiongnu, who immediately attack and defeat the Wuhuan[25]
10		Some officers of the Protector General Dan Qin kill him and flee to the Xiongnu[26]
13		Wuzhuliu dies and is succeeded by his half brother Wulei[24]
18		Wulei dies and is succeeded by his half brother Huduershidaogao[24]
44		Han forces under Ma Yuan are defeated by Xiongnu
45		Xiongnu raid Changshan
46		Huduershidaogao dies and is succeeded by his son Wudadihou who dies the same year, dividing the Xiongnu into two factions between Punu Chanyu and Sutuhu[27]
50		Sutuhu and the Southern Xiongnu settle in Bing Province[28]
62		The Northern Xiongnu raid Han territory but are repelled[29]
63		The Xiongnu gain control of the Western Regions and start raiding Han[30]
73		Battle of Yiwulu: Han general Dou Gu defeats the Xiongnu and restores the Protectorate of the Western Regions[31]
75		The Xiongnu attack Jushi and Chen Mu is killed by the locals[32]
83		Punu Chanyu dies and is succeeded by Youliu; the Northern Xiongnu start disintegrating as tribes defect to the south and neighboring tribes invade[33]
87		The Xianbei kill the Xiongnu Chanyu Youliu[33]
89		Battle of the Altai Mountains: Han general Dou Xian defeats the Northern Chanyu and create Yuchujian as a puppet chanyu[34]
93		The Xiongnu settle in southern Shaanxi[35]
94		Northern Xiongnu refugees numbering 200,000 rebel and name Fenghou, son of Tuntuhe, as their chanyu - they fail to defeat the Southern Xiongnu and flee across the Yellow River to take refuge at Zhuoye Mountain (Gurvan Saikhan Mountains)[36]
96		Ten thousand Northern Xiongnu defect to the Han[37]

2nd century

Year	Date	Event
104		Fenghou offers to become a Han tributary but does not gain formal acceptance[37]
105		Fenghou offers to become a Han tributary but is rejected[37]
109		Southern Xiongnu rebel[38]
118		Fenghou surrenders to the Han; his followers are resettled in Yingchuan Commandery[37]
123		Qizhijian of the Xianbei defeats the Southern Xiongnu in Wuyuan Commandery[39]
140		The Xiongnu overrun the Tiger's Teeth encampment near Chang'an[40]
188		The Xiuchuge people ousts Qiangqu from power but their replacements fail to hold power; so ends the Southern Xiongnu[41]
189		The wandering Xiongnu chanyu Yufuluo seeks aid from the Han dynasty unsuccessfully and becomes a mercenary[42]
194		Yufuluo dies and is succeeded by his brother Huchuquan[42]

3rd century

Year	Date	Event
202		Huchuquan is defeated by Cao Cao's officer Zhong Yao and his Xiongnu tribes are settled in Taiyuan Commandery[42]
216		The remnant Xiongnu in the Ordos region is pacified by Cao Wei[43]
284		30,000 Xiongnu submit and settle in Xihe in Shanxi[44]
286		100,000 Xiongnu submit at Yongzhou[44]
290		Liu Yuan is appointed area commander-in-chief of the Five Regions of Xiongnu[44]

4th century

Year	Date	Event
304		Former Zhao: Liu Yuan of the Xiongnu declares himself Prince of Han (漢)[45]
307		Former Zhao: Shi Le joins Liu Yuan[46]
308		Former Zhao: Liu Yuan takes Pingyang and declares himself emperor[46]
310		Former Zhao: Liu Yao, Shi Le and Wang Mi invade Luoyang, Xuzhou, Yuzhou, and Yanzhou[46]
		Former Zhao: Liu Yuan dies and his successor Liu He is killed by Liu Cong, who takes over[46]
311		Former Zhao: Sima Yue dies and his funeral procession is ambushed by Shi Le, who annihilates the Jin army[46]
		Disaster of Yongjia: Liu Yao and Wang Mi sack Luoyang and capture Emperor Huai of Jin[46]
		Former Zhao: Liu Yao takes Chang'an[46]
		Former Zhao: Wang Mi is killed by Shi Le[46]
312		Former Zhao: Jin retakes Chang'an after routing Liu Yao[46]
		Former Zhao: Shi Le captures Xiangguo (襄國) (Xingtai, Hebei)[46]
		Former Zhao: Liu Cong briefly takes Jinyang (southwest of Taiyuan, Shanxi) but is routed by Liu Kun[47]
313		Emperor Huai of Jin is killed by Liu Cong and is succeeded by Sima Ye (Emperor Min of Jin)[47]
316		Former Zhao: Emperor Min of Jin surrenders Chang'an to Liu Yao[47]
318		Emperor Min of Jin is killed by Liu Cong and is succeeded by Sima Rui (Emperor Yuan of Jin)[47]
		Former Zhao: Liu Cong dies and his successor Liu Can is killed by Xiongnu general Jin Zhun, and is succeeded by Liu Yao[47]
319		Former Zhao: Jin Zhun is killed[47]
		Former Zhao: Liu Yao moves to Chang'an and renames his state Zhao[47]
		Former Zhao: Fu Hong joins Former Zhao[47]
		Later Zhao: Shi Le defeats Jin general Zu Ti at Xunyi and declares himself Prince of [Later] Zhao[47]
320		Former Zhao: Juqu Zhi rebels and is defeated[47]

5th century

Year	Date	Event
401		Northern Liang: Juqu Mengxun kills Duan Ye and declares himself Duke of Zhangye[48]
407		Xia: Helian Bobo declares himself Heavenly King[48]
418		Xia (Sixteen Kingdoms): Helian Bobo takes Chang'an[48]
419		Xia (Sixteen Kingdoms): Helian Bobo leaves Chang'an[48]
421		Northern Liang: Juqu Mengxun conquers Western Liang[49]
426		Northern Wei: Attacks Xia[50]
427		Northern Wei: Takes Chang'an and sacks the Xia capital, Tongwan[50]
428		Xia: Retakes Chang'an[50]
431		Xia: Conquers Western Qin and are in turn conquered by the Tuyuhun[50]
439		Northern Wei: Conquers Northern Liang; so ends the Sixteen Kingdoms[50]

References

1. Cosmo 2002, p. 187.
2. Cosmo 2002, p. 153.
3. Twitchett 2008, p. 64.
4. Barfield 1989, p. 33.
5. Barfield 1989, p. 34.
6. Twitchett 2008, p. 127.
7. Chang 2007, p. 143.
8. Twitchett 2008, p. 124.
9. Twitchett 2008, p. 136.
10. Twitchett 2008, p. 151.
11. Barfield 1989, p. 36.
12. Twitchett 2008, p. 152.
13. Barfield 1989, p. 43.
14. Twitchett 2008, p. 164.
15. Chang 2007, p. 164.
16. Twitchett 2008, p. 448.
17. Twitchett 2008, p. 169.
18. Barfield 1989, p. 59.
19. Twitchett 2008, p. 411.
20. Barfield 1989, p. 40.
21. Whiting 2002, p. 177.
22. Whiting 2002, p. 178.
23. Twitchett 2008, p. 212.
24. Barfield 1989, p. 74.
25. Whiting 2002, p. 183.
26. Whiting 2002, p. 184.
27. Barfield 1989, p. 76.
28. Cosmo 2009, p. 91.
29. Cosmo 2009, p. 97.
30. Twitchett 2008, p. 414.
31. Twitchett 2008, p. 413.
32. Cosmo 2009, p. 98.
33. Barfield 1989, p. 79.
34. Twitchett 2008, p. 415.
35. Twitchett 2008, p. 268.
36. Crespigny 2007, p. 227.
37. Crespigny 2007, p. 228.
38. Crespigny 2017, p. 109.
39. Crespigny 2007, p. 581.
40. Twitchett 2008, p. 513.
41. Crespigny 2017, p. 426.
42. Crespigny 2007, p. 357.
43. de Crespigny 2010, p. 454.
44. Xiong 2009, p. xc.
45. Xiong 2009, p. xci.
46. Xiong 2009, p. xcii.
47. Xiong 2009, p. xciii.
48. Xiong 2009, p. xcviii.
49. Xiong 2009, p. 273.
50. Xiong 2009, p. xcix.

Bibliography

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• Barrett, Timothy Hugh (2008), The Woman Who Discovered Printing, Great Britain: Yale University Press, ISBN 978-0-300-12728-7 (alk. paper)
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• Cosmo, Nicola di (2009), Military Culture in Imperial China, Harvard University Press
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