Yan

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Was one of many small polities that existed during the Chinese Spring and Autumn Period. It originated before the Zhou Dynasty or at the beginning of its existence.

Establishment

January 1042 BC: The polity originated before the western Zhou period.

Chronology

Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation

1. Rebellion of the Three Guards

Was a civil war, instigated by an alliance of discontent Zhou princes, Shang loyalists, vassal states and other non-Zhou peoples against the Western Zhou government.

1.1.Annexation of external allies of the Three Guards

After crushing the rebellion of the three guards the Duke of Zhou conquered the regions of Feng and Pugu, that were allied with the rebels.

January 1039 BC: In the war's third year, the Zhou royal army led by King Cheng and Duke of Zhou conducted a punitive expedition against the Huai peoples and thereupon attacked Yan again, finally defeating it.

2. Gojoseon-Yan War

The Yan feudal state invaded the Gojoseon kingdom resulting in Yan's conquest of the Liaodong Peninsula from Gojoseon.

January 399 BC: The Yan feudal state invaded the Gojoseon kingdom. The invasion resulted in Yan's conquest of the Liaodong Peninsula from Gojoseon.

3. Qin´s wars of unification

Were a series of military campaigns launched in the late 3rd century BC by the Qin state against the other six major Chinese states, leading to the unification of China under the Qin dynasty.

3.1.Conquest of Dai

Was a military campaign by the Qin Dynasty that led to the conquest of the state of Dai.

November 228 BC: Prince Jia, King Qian's elder brother, escaped from Handan and went to Dai (within present-day Yu County in northwestern Hebei), where, with help from some Zhao remnants, he declared himself the King of Dai.

3.2.Conquest of Yan

Was a military campaign by the Qin Dynasty that led to the conquest of the state of Yan.

January 225 BC: Using the assassination attempt as an excuse, Ying Zheng ordered Wang Jian to lead an army to attack Yan, with Meng Wu serving as Wang Jian's deputy. The Qin forces defeated the Yan army.

January 221 BC: In 222 BC, the Qin army led by Wang Ben join Li Xin and invaded Liaodong and destroyed Yan's remaining forces.

4. Liu Bang´s Insurrection against the Qin dynasty

Was an insurrection in the Qin Empire that lead to its demise.

January 205 BC: After the fall of the Qin Dynasty, military leader Xiang Yu divided China into Eighteen Kingdoms. Among these, Yan was established in northern Hebei, Beijing, and Tianjin.

5. Chu-Han Contention

Was a war between the two most powerful successors of the Qin Dynasty, Western Chu and Han, won by the latter which was able to reunite China.

April 205 BC: In Yan, Zang Tu killed Han Guang (King of Liaodong), seized his lands and proclaimed himself the ruler of the Yan territories.

January 203 BC: In 204 BC, the Yan kingdom surrendered to Han Xin.

6. Further events (Unrelated to Any War)

January 699 BC: Ji (蓟) conquered by State of Yan.

January 659 BC: In 664 BC, Guzhu, already weakened, saw its monarch was killed by a Qi-Yan coalition during an expedition against the Shanrong. In 660 BC, Qi and Yan annexed Guzhu finally.

January 248 BC: Territorial change based on available maps.