Gao Gan was a governor of Bing Province during the late 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...

 period of Chinese history

History of China

Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...

. He was a nephew of the warlord Yuan Shao

Yuan Shao

Yuan Shao was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He occupied the northern territories of China during the civil war that occurred towards the end of the Han Dynasty and the beginning of the Three Kingdoms era...

 and a cousin of Gao Rou

Gao Rou

Gao Rou , style name Wenhui , was a minister of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. He was a younger cousin of Gao Gan. Gao Rou was known as the Minister of Interior...

. After the dissolution of the coalition

Campaign against Dong Zhuo

The Campaign against Dong Zhuo was a punitive expedition initiated by a coalition of regional officials and warlords against Dong Zhuo, Chancellor of State, in 190 during the late Han Dynasty of Chinese history...

 against Dong Zhuo

Dong Zhuo

Dong Zhuo was a politician and warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He seized control of the capital city Luoyang in 189 when it was in a state of turmoil following the death of Emperor Ling and a clash between the eunuch faction and some court officials led by...

, warlords all across China returned to their respective territories. Only once, Gao Gan and Xun Chen

Xun Chen

Xun Chen, style name Youruo , was an advisor serving under the warlord Han Fu during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was a younger brother of Xun Yu. He and Gao Gan persuaded Han Fu to give up Ji Province to the warlord Yuan Shao, after which he became one of Yuan's advisors...

 persuaded the warlord Han Fu to relinquish Ji Province to Yuan Shao.

After Yuan Shao's disastrous defeat at the Battle of Guandu

Battle of Guandu

The Battle of Guandu was a military conflict between the warlords Cao Cao and Yuan Shao in 200 during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history. The battle, which concluded with victory for Cao Cao, was a turning point in the war between the two warlords...

, Gao Gan led an army to save Yuan and help him return back to Ji Province. Before Yuan Shao died, he did not chose who to succeed him, so his older brother Yuan Cheng divided his territory among his children and relatives: Ji Province was given to Yuan Shang

Yuán Shàng

Yuan Shang , style name Xianfu , was a warlord during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He was the third son of the warlord Yuan Shao, and succeeded his father...

; Qing Province to Yuan Tan

Yuan Tan

Yuan Tan was the oldest son of the warlord Yuan Shao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. After Yuan Shao's death, Yuan Tan split with his youngest brother Yuan Shang over the successorship to their father's realm. Yuan Tan sought help from the warlord Cao Cao and defeated Yuan...

; You Province to Yuan Xi

Yuan Xi

Yuan Xi was the second son of the warlord Yuan Shao during the late Han Dynasty era of Chinese history.Yuan was described in Luo Guanzhong's historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms as "intelligent but weak and indecisive", in contrast to his older brother Yuan Tan, who was described as...

; Bing Province to Gao Gan.

In 204, Gao Gan surrendered to Cao Cao

Cao Cao

Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...

 along with his men. After Yuan Tan's death in 205, Cao Cao went up north to defeat the rest of the Yuan family. In 206, Gao Gan rebelled against Cao Cao at Hu Pass (壺關) and put up a fight against Cao's generals Li Dian

Li Dian

Li Dian was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty period of Chinese history. He participated in the Battle of Guandu between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao...

 and Yue Jin

Yue Jin

Yue Jin was a military general serving under the warlord Cao Cao during the late Han Dynasty of China. He was noted as much for his short stature as for his valor and ferocity on the battlefield...

, but was defeated and lost Bing Province to Cao. After his defeat, Gao Gan fled south towards Jing Province but was intercepted by Cao Cao's forces along the way and killed.

See also

• List of people of the Three Kingdoms