Timeline of the Three Kingdoms period

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This is a timeline of the Three Kingdoms period of Chinese history.

184 The Yellow Turban Rebellion led by Zhang Jiao.

188 Death of Zhang Jiao.

189 Death of Emperor Ling; Prince Bian declared new emperor by He Jin.

Power struggle resulted in the eunuchs beheading the regent He Jin; in retaliation, Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu stormed the palace and massacred the eunuchs.

Dǒng Zhuō seized control and deposed the emperor in favor of the Prince of Chenliu, who came to be known as Emperor Xiàn.

Lǚ Bù slays his own adopted father Ding Yuan and defects to Dǒng Zhuō.

190 Li Ru (under the orders of Dong Zhuo) forces the deposed Prince Bian to drink poisoned wine.

Campaign against Dong Zhuo.

191 Battle of Jieqiao between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan.

Sūn Jiān ambushed and shot to death during attack on Liu Biao in Jingzhou.

192 Lǚ Bù kills Dǒng Zhuò, his former master.

193 (According to Record of Heroes, Sūn Jiān crushed to death by boulders while pursuing the enemy commander Lü Gong).

194 Liú Bèi took over governorship of Xuzhou.

Sūn Cè receives support from Yuan Shu; governorship of Chen Ji.

Lǚ Bù controls Yanzhou after Zhang Miao and Chen Gong rebel against Cáo Cāo; this position is abandoned after Cáo Cāo lays siege.

195 Sūn Cè launched an offensive across the Yangtze River and successfully occupied the strategic position of Niuzhu.

Yuan Shu declared himself the first emperor of the so-called Cheng Dynasty.

Cáo Cāo invades Shandong; Zhuge Liang's family forced to flee southwards.

196 Lǚ Bù turns on his host, Liú Bèi, and takes governorship of Xiapi.

Cáo Cāo received Emperor Xiàn in Xuchang.

197 Battle of Wancheng between Cáo Cāo and Zhang Xiu.

198 Battle of Yijing begins.

Lǚ Bù switches allegiance to Yuan Shu and defeats Liú Bèi at Xiaopei.

Cáo Cāo defeats and executes Lǚ Bù at Xiapi.

199 Gonsung Zan dies in the Battle of Yijing against Yuan Shao.

Yuan Shu died of sickness along with his short-lived dynasty.

Sūn Cè captures Huancheng and defeats Liu Xun.

Cáo Cāo reinforces alliance with Sūn Cè by marrying his niece to Sūn Cè's youngest brother Sun Kuang; Sūn Cè in turn agreed to marry Sun Ben's daughter to Cáo Cāo's son Cao Zhang.

Sūn Cè executes Xu Gong.

Guan Yu given control of Xiapi by Liu Bei; Cáo Cāo retaliated by leading a campaign east to reclaim Xuzhou. Guan Yu surrenders.

200 Cáo Cāo wins the Battle of Guandu against Yuan Shao; Guan Yu kills Yan Liang and Wen Chou then leaves Cáo Cāo's service.

Sūn Cè plots to capture the now weakly-defended Xuchang but is assassinated by three former servants of Xu Gong.

204 Bian Hong murders Sun Yi.

206 Taishi Ci (of Wu) dies of natural causes.

207 Zhuge Liang joined Liú Bèi and presented the Longzhong Plan, then travelled to Wu to form an alliance with Sun Quan.

208 Liú Bèi wins the Battle of Changban against Cáo Cāo.

Winter – Sun Quan and Liú Bèi alliance defeats Cao Cao at the Battle of Red Cliffs; Liú Bèi took over Jingzhou; Guan Yu made governor of Xiangyang.

211 Battle of Tong Pass between Cáo Cāo and Ma Chao.

213 Cáo Cāo made Duke of Wei and given ten commanderies as his dukedom.

215 Liú Bèi defeated Liu Zhang and took over Yizhou.

216 Cáo Cāo conferred the title of the King of Wei.

217 Battle of Hefei between Zhang Liao and Sun Quan.

219 Battle of Mount Dingjun between Wei and Shu.

Guan Yu repelled at Battle of Fancheng against Cao Ren.

Liú Bèi conquered Hanzhong and declared self King of Hanzhong; Guan Yu promoted to General of the Front (and one of the Five Tiger Generals).

Guan Yu and adopted son Guan Ping captured and executed by Sun Quan's forces.

220 Cáo Cāo died in Luoyang and posthumously throned Emperor Wu.

221 Cao Pi forced Emperor Xiàn to abdicate and declares self Emperor of the Kingdom of Wei; Liú Bèi declares self Emperor of the Kingdom of Shu.

222 Liú Bèi sought revenge for Guan Yu's death and marched against Wu, but was defeated by Lu Xun at the Battle of Xiaoting.

223 Liú Bèi died from dysentery in Baidi; Zhuge Liang becomes chancellor under Liu Shan, Liu Bei's son, and renewed the alliance with Sun Quan.

228 Spring – Zhuge Liang's first northern expedition; Battle of Jieting between Zhang He (Wei) and Ma Su (Shu).

Lu Xun (Eastern Wu) defeats between Cao Xiu (Wei) at the Battle of Shiting.

Winter – Zhuge Liang's second northern expedition; the siege of Chencang.

229 Spring – Zhuge Liang's third northern expedition;

231 Zhuge Liang's fourth northern expedition; introduction of the wooden ox.

234 Spring – Zhuge Liang dies from exhaustion and illness during his fifth northern expedition; the Battle of Wuzhang Plains against Sima Yi.

Former emperor Xiàn (now Duke of Shanyan) dies and buried with honours.

241 Sima Yi drove away Zhu Ran's (of Wu) siege of Fan castle.

243 Sima Yi defeated Zhuge Ke (of Wu).

247 Sima Yi retires, citing illness.

249 Sima Yi's coup against Cao Shuang (who is executed).

251 Sima Yi had the remaining Cao clan put under house arrest, gaining full control, but died later in the year.