Han Guang was a ruler of the Kingdom of Liaodong of the Eighteen Kingdoms during the Chu–Han contention 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...

.

Han was initially a minor official serving in the Zhao state

Zhao (state)

Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...

. In 209 BC, Chen Sheng

Chen Sheng

Chen Sheng , also known in some sources as Chen She , was the leader of the first rebellion, known as Daze Village Uprising, against the Qin Dynasty during the reign of Qin Er Shi.-Start of the rebellion:...

 and Wu Guang

Wu Guang

Wu Guang was a leader of the first rebellion against Qin Dynasty during the reign of Qin Er Shi, following the death of Qin Shi Huang. Less is known about him than Chen Sheng.-Biography:Wu was born in Yangxia...

 initiated the Daze Village Uprising to overthrow the Qin Dynasty

Qin Dynasty

The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...

 and Han participated in the rebellion. Chen sent Wu Chen to attack the former territories of Zhao. After conquering Zhao, Wu Chen sent Han to rally support from the former Yan state

Yan (state)

Yān was a state during the Western Zhou, Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history. Its capital was Ji...

. Han received a warm welcome and was nominated by the people of Yan to be their king.

The following year, Zhao came under attack by the Qin army, led by Zhang Han. Han sent his general Zang Tu

Zang Tu

Zang Tu was a Chinese warlord who lived in the late Qin Dynasty and early Han Dynasty period of Chinese history.-Biography:Zang was originally a military general serving under Han Guang, king of Yan...

 to lead an army to help Zhao. Zang followed the rebel coalition force led by Xiang Yu

Xiang Yu

Xiang Yu was a prominent military leader and political figure during the late Qin Dynasty. His given name was Ji while his style name was Yu ....

 into subsequent battles against Qin and eventually overthrew the Qin Dynasty in 206 BC.

After the fall of Qin, Xiang Yu divided the former Qin Empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms. He granted Han the title of "King of Liaodong" and relocated Han further northeast. Han's original territory was granted to Zang Tu instead, who was appointed by Xiang as the new king of Yan. However, when Zang returned to take over the Yan kingdom from Han, the latter refused to give up and move to Liaodong. Zang then attacked and defeated Han and killed him.