Battle of Yiwulu
Encyclopedia
The Battle of Yiwulu, was a battle under a major expedition against the Xiongnu
launched by the Han Dynasty
in the February, 73
, ever since the fall of Xin Dynasty
. The battle was a success for the Han, who were led by Dou Gu
. In 73
, annoyed at the Xiongnu
's constant incursions against the northern border, the Han Dynasty
dispatched four columns, commissioned generals Dou Gu and Geng Chong
to lead an army against the Xiongnu from Jiuquan
. The majority of this expedition only had minor successes, but had captured the Yiwulu area in this battle.
, Dou Gu
set up an agricultural garrison, and appointed a commander to make sure that the army stationed in the Western Regions had a lasting supply of provisions. In the same year, Dou Gu sent Ban Chao
and Guo Xun
along with 36 men to go south. Ban Chao successfully organised the three states of Shanshan
, Yutian
and Shule
against the Xiongnu
, restoring peace and order in the Western Regions. Subsequently, in 74
, the Han
government reestablished the Protectorate of the Western Regions, in the city of Jinman at the state of North Jushi. In 75
, on the death of the short-reigned Emperor Ming of Han
, the Xiongnu with its allies seized their opportunity and captured Jushi and Liuzhong, and killed the Protector General Chen Mu
. In 76
, the Han government abrogated the Protectorate of the Western Regions. As the Western Regions situation was getting precarious, Ban Chao, who was left to defend Shule and Yutian, won the support of the local officials and people and drove the Xiongnu troops from the capital of Gumo in Shicheng. In 80
, he wrote to the imperial court, proposing that they send more troops to the Western Regions. The new emperor agreed to his proposal and ordered Xu Gan to lead an army to help Ban Chao.
During the war against the Xiongnu's allies which lasted several decades, Ban Chao distinguished himself as a statesman and strategist. Relying on the various nationalities in the Western Regions, he united all the people and maintained the unity of the empire. In 90
, Ban Chao detained an envoy from Kushan who requested a marriage for his king. In retaliation, the Kushan marched on Ban Chao with a force of 70,000 under commander Xie
, and besieged the city of Shule for about ten days. Ban Chao continued to defend the city, until the attackers exhausted their food supplies and retreated. In 91
, the Han government appointed Ban Chao the Protector General of the Western Regions, with his office in Tanqian, state of Qiuci. In 94
, Ban Chao organised an army of 70,000 mercenaries, approach and arrested the kings of Yanqi
and Yuli
, they were executed where Chen Mu was killed. In 97
, Ban Chao commissioned an envoy named Gan Ying
to visit Rome
. He was unsuccessful, but returned after traveling as far as the western border of Parthia
.
For more than thirty years Ban Chao worked in the Western Regions until he was seventy, when he retired and returned to Luoyang
. Ren Shang
succeeded Ban Chao as the Protector General of the Western Regions in 102
, but as he was unkind and harsh toward the local people, they rose against him, plunging the region into disorder. The Han court soon recalled him in 106
, and replaced him with Duan Xi
. On July 29, 107, the Han government abrogated the protector generalship, and recalled Duan Xi back under the escort of General Wang Hong.
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
launched by the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
in the February, 73
73
Year 73 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Domitianus and Catullus...
, ever since the fall of Xin Dynasty
Xin Dynasty
The Xin Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty which lasted from AD 9 to 23. It followed the Western Han Dynasty and preceded the Eastern Han Dynasty....
. The battle was a success for the Han, who were led by Dou Gu
Dou Gu
Dou Gu , born in Xianyang, Shaanxi, was a general fought in the Battle of Yiwulu in 73. Shortly after the battle, Dou Gu sent of two of his generals Ban Chao and Guo Xun to the Western Regions for a diplomatic expedition.-References:...
. In 73
73
Year 73 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Domitianus and Catullus...
, annoyed at the Xiongnu
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
's constant incursions against the northern border, the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
dispatched four columns, commissioned generals Dou Gu and Geng Chong
Geng Chong
Geng Chong , born in Xianyang, Shaanxi, was a general during the Battle of Yiwulu in 73, he is a nephew of Geng Kui....
to lead an army against the Xiongnu from Jiuquan
Jiuquan
- Suzhou town :The administrative center of the "prefecture-level city" of Jiuquan is the "District" of Suzhou , which occupies 3,386 square km in the eastern part of Jiuquan "prefecture-level city", and had a population of 340,000 as of 2002....
. The majority of this expedition only had minor successes, but had captured the Yiwulu area in this battle.
Aftermath
In YiwuluKumul
Kumul or Hami is an oasis in Hami Prefecture, Xinjiang ; it is also the name of a modern city and the surrounding district...
, Dou Gu
Dou Gu
Dou Gu , born in Xianyang, Shaanxi, was a general fought in the Battle of Yiwulu in 73. Shortly after the battle, Dou Gu sent of two of his generals Ban Chao and Guo Xun to the Western Regions for a diplomatic expedition.-References:...
set up an agricultural garrison, and appointed a commander to make sure that the army stationed in the Western Regions had a lasting supply of provisions. In the same year, Dou Gu sent Ban Chao
Ban Chao
Ban Chao , courtesy name Zhongsheng , was born in Xianyang, Shaanxi, and the younger brother of the famous historian, Ban Gu who, with his father Ban Biao, and sister, Ban Zhao, wrote the famous Hanshu, or 'History of the Former Han Dynasty'....
and Guo Xun
Guo Xun
Guo Xun , was a military officer under the Han Dynasty of China. He was an associate general of Ban Chao, as he and Ban Chao were sent to the Western Regions for a diplomatic expedition by Dou Gu. In 75, he was killed along with Chen Mu by the rebels from the state of Yanqi and Qiuci....
along with 36 men to go south. Ban Chao successfully organised the three states of Shanshan
Shanshan
Shanshan is the Chinese name for a kingdom that existed roughly from 200 BCE-1000 CE at the north-eastern end of the Taklamakan Desert including the great, but now mostly dry, salt lake known as Lop Nur....
, Yutian
Khotan
Hotan , or Hetian , also spelled Khotan, is the seat of the Hotan Prefecture in Xinjiang, China. It was previously known in Chinese as 于窴/於窴 and to 19th-century European explorers as Ilchi....
and Shule
Kashgar
Kashgar or Kashi is an oasis city with approximately 350,000 residents in the western part of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China. Kashgar is the administrative centre of Kashgar Prefecture which has an area of 162,000 km² and a population of approximately...
against the Xiongnu
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
, restoring peace and order in the Western Regions. Subsequently, in 74
74
Year 74 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Vespasianus...
, the Han
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
government reestablished the Protectorate of the Western Regions, in the city of Jinman at the state of North Jushi. In 75
75
Year 75 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Vespasianus...
, on the death of the short-reigned Emperor Ming of Han
Emperor Ming of Han
Emperor Ming of Han, , was second emperor of the Chinese Eastern Han Dynasty.He was the second son of Emperor Guangwu. It was during Emperor Ming's reign that Buddhism began to spread into China. One night, he is said to have dreamed of a golden man or golden men...
, the Xiongnu with its allies seized their opportunity and captured Jushi and Liuzhong, and killed the Protector General Chen Mu
Chen Mu
Chen Mu , was a general during Han Dynasty, and served the first Protector General of the Western Regions under Eastern Han between 74-75. During the service, he was killed by the rebels from the state of Yanqi and Qiuci in 75.-References:...
. In 76
76
Year 76 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Vespasianus...
, the Han government abrogated the Protectorate of the Western Regions. As the Western Regions situation was getting precarious, Ban Chao, who was left to defend Shule and Yutian, won the support of the local officials and people and drove the Xiongnu troops from the capital of Gumo in Shicheng. In 80
80
Year 80 was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Domitianus...
, he wrote to the imperial court, proposing that they send more troops to the Western Regions. The new emperor agreed to his proposal and ordered Xu Gan to lead an army to help Ban Chao.
During the war against the Xiongnu's allies which lasted several decades, Ban Chao distinguished himself as a statesman and strategist. Relying on the various nationalities in the Western Regions, he united all the people and maintained the unity of the empire. In 90
90
Year 90 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Nerva...
, Ban Chao detained an envoy from Kushan who requested a marriage for his king. In retaliation, the Kushan marched on Ban Chao with a force of 70,000 under commander Xie
Xie
Xie is a Chinese family name; it is estimated that there are about 2 million people worldwide with this surname, the majority of whom live in southern China, and a 2006 study found that Xie was the 24th most common surname in China, with 0.27% of the population having this surname.The greater...
, and besieged the city of Shule for about ten days. Ban Chao continued to defend the city, until the attackers exhausted their food supplies and retreated. In 91
91
Year 91 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Glabrio and Traianus...
, the Han government appointed Ban Chao the Protector General of the Western Regions, with his office in Tanqian, state of Qiuci. In 94
94
Year 94 was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Calpurnius and Magus...
, Ban Chao organised an army of 70,000 mercenaries, approach and arrested the kings of Yanqi
Yanqi
Yanqi may refer to the following in China:Xinjiang*Karasahr , ancient kingdom*Yanqi Hui Autonomous County , in Bayin'gholin Mongol Autonomous PrefectureElsewhere*Yanqi, Beijing , area of Huairou District, Beijing...
and Yuli
Yuli
Yuli may refer to:*Yuli , a fictional race from the sci-fi Star Control computer game series*Yuli County , of Bayingolin Mongol Autonomous Prefecture, Xinjiang, PR China*Yuli, Rushan , town in Rushan City, Shandong, PR China...
, they were executed where Chen Mu was killed. In 97
97
Year 97 was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Rufus...
, Ban Chao commissioned an envoy named Gan Ying
Gan Ying
Gan Ying , was a Chinese military ambassador who was sent on a mission to Rome in 97 CE by the Chinese general Ban Chao.Although Gan Ying never reached Rome, only travelling to as far as the Parthian coast of the Persian Gulf, he is, at least in the historical records, the Chinese who went the...
to visit Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. He was unsuccessful, but returned after traveling as far as the western border of Parthia
Parthia
Parthia is a region of north-eastern Iran, best known for having been the political and cultural base of the Arsacid dynasty, rulers of the Parthian Empire....
.
For more than thirty years Ban Chao worked in the Western Regions until he was seventy, when he retired and returned to Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
. Ren Shang
Ren Shang
Ren Shang was the Protector General of the Western Regions under Eastern Han between 102-106 CE.In February, 91, he and Geng Kui defeated the unnamed Northern Shanyu shortly after the Battle of Ikh Bayan, on commission by Dou Xian. In 93, he killed the last northern chanyu, Yuchujian Chanyu during...
succeeded Ban Chao as the Protector General of the Western Regions in 102
102
Year 102 was a common year starting on Saturday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Ursus and Sura...
, but as he was unkind and harsh toward the local people, they rose against him, plunging the region into disorder. The Han court soon recalled him in 106
106
Year 106 was a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Commodus and Civica...
, and replaced him with Duan Xi
Duan Xi
Duan Xi was the last Protector General of the Western Regions during the Han Dynasty, served between 106 and 107.-See also:*Battle of Yiwulu...
. On July 29, 107, the Han government abrogated the protector generalship, and recalled Duan Xi back under the escort of General Wang Hong.