Shu Han

Shǔ Hàn (Chinese蜀汉/蜀汉) was a Chinese part of the state during the Three Kingdoms period. The state was founded by Liu Bei in 220, and was captured with his son in the year 263 of the Wei Dynasty. The core area of the state is today's Sichuan province in China. By area, population and economic power was Shu Han of the weakest state during the three kingdoms period.

Shu Han was the second of four states named Shu at approximately the same territory. The next, ie third, today Early Shu kingdom is called and named to 917/918 in "Han" to.

State formation and Liu Bei's death

The founder of the Shu- Han Dynasty Liu Bei claimed to be that he was a relative of the Han imperial family. Although the last Han emperor confirmed this relationship, the doubt remains as to whether this was due to make political gain. The fact is that Liu came In from very simple conditions. If his ancestor actually have been a Han emperor, so the family had long since lost all their privileges of nobility. Liu Bei distinguished himself through his participation in the fight against the Yellow Turban Rebellion and gained recognition. In the Civil War after the suppression of the rebellion, Liu was able to build their own power base case of very late only. Supported by his adviser Zhuge Liang, he was able to build an alliance with Sun Quan and stop the expansion of Cao Cao at the Battle of Chibi. He then became the territory of the modern provinces of Hunan, Hubei and Sichuan, where he lost Hunan and Hubei back to Sun Quan.

When in the year 220, the last Han emperor officially abdicated and the Wei Dynasty in northern China established itself, Liu felt When as a relative of the imperial family appointed to carry on Han and recapture the lost land. In the year 221 he proclaimed himself Emperor and took the name of his state as Han. There were various dynasties in Chinese history Han, this state is now generally referred to as Shu Han ( according to the site of the state, Shu is another name for Sichuan ).

Sichuan is located in the interior of China, and is separated from the rest of the country by mountains difficult to overcome. The center of the province is, however, formed by fertile boiler landscape, which is an ideal retreat for a separate government.

In the second year after the founding of Liu led an expedition in the case of almost all of his armies against the state Sun Quan to regain the lost provinces of Hunan and Hubei. The campaign ended disastrously. Liu Bei died in 223 on his way to his capital, after which his son Liu Shan became emperor. Zhuge Liang was commissioned by Liu Bei to support his son in all matters.

The campaigns of Zhuge Liang

Zhuge Liang was driven by the mission to reconquer China for the house of Han. First, however, his expeditions led to the southwest, in the jungle of today's Yunnan Province. The area west and south of Sichuan was considered barbaric territory that was inhabited by barbarians. Before Zhuge Liang was able to lead his campaigns against the mortal enemy of Wei, he had to keep clear his back. The expedition was successful, he was able to capture not only the enemy's chief, he could win over him.

After he had kept his back, Zhuge Liang turned his attention to the fulfillment of its mission. Five times he tried in vain to invade central China and attack Wei.

With these military operations Shu Han was one, although it economically and militarily the weakest of the three kingdoms represented, for military active state of China this period. About the effect of these operations prevail very different views among historians. Some think that they represent a serious error, because they have unnecessarily weakened and ultimately made them vulnerable to the enemy Shu Han. Others are of the opinion that Zhuge Liang has quite taken to revive the country's economy and build a base. In addition, he could not advance through his expeditions to Central China, but also knew always to minimize the losses of its armed forces. He led his operations always offensive, whereby the stronger Wei came on the defensive and had no time to even equip an expedition for the unification of the country. Advocates this theory argue that only after Shu Han had set these operations, Wei could properly proceed to attack Shu Han.

The Conquest of Shu by Wei Hans

After Zhuge Liang's death, his successor Jiang Wei continued to try to attack Wei. Jiang, however, possessed no means the authority of Zhuge Liang. He was regarded by many ministers as Emporkömling and denounced to the Emperor. To dispel the rumors that he had the right to take power, Jiang voluntarily gave a large part of his military power and stopped the failures. Wei took advantage of this inner turmoil and attacked Shu Han on a detour about today's Gansu Province on. Here, the army passed unopposed difficult but sparsely inhabited terrain and could suddenly appear behind Shu Han. After the defensive line hastily constructed were overcome, capitulated Emperor Liu Chan.

Ruler of Shu Han Dynasty

Shu State ( -316 BC)古蜀 • Shu Han ( 221-263 )蜀汉/蜀汉 • Western Shu ( 405/409-413 )西蜀 • Former Shu ( 903/907-925 )大蜀 • Later Shu ( 934-965 )后蜀/后蜀

Chinese dynasty
The Three Kingdoms period
3rd century
Historical State (China)

Temple name 237 238 257 258 Timeline of Chinese history Shang dynasty Sui dynasty Western Xia

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