Zhang Han
Encyclopedia
Zhang Han was a military general of the Qin Dynasty
. When uprisings erupted throughout China during the reign of Qin Er Shi
, Zhang led the Qin armies and successfully quelled several of these rebel forces. In 207 BC, Zhang was defeated by Xiang Yu
of Chu
at the Battle of Julu
and surrendered with his 200,000 troops. He was conferred the title of "King of Yong" (雍王) by Xiang and given part of the lands in Guanzhong
as his fief when Xiang split the fallen Qin empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms. Zhang's territory was conquered by Liu Bang in 205 BC, and he committed suicide a year later.
. Qin Er Shi
was shocked and discussed with his subjects on how to counter the rebels. Zhang suggested to the emperor to grant amnesty
to some of the convicts serving as labourers at Qin Shi Huang
's mausoleum, and organise them into an imperial army to deal with the rebels. The emperor approved Zhang's proposal and put him in charge of the army to quell the rebel forces. Zhang emerged victorious against Zhou Wen, defeating and driving Zhou out of Guanzhong
. The emperor then commissioned Sima Xin
and Dong Yi
to serve as Zhang's deputies.
Zhang's army continued to advance eastward and destroyed the rebel army of Chen Sheng
. Zhang then led his men to attack the Wei
rebels, emerging victorious against Wei and enemy reinforcements from Qi. Zhang's armies moved on to attack Tian Rong of Qi, while Xiang Liang
of Chu
came to help Qi and defeated Zhang. Zhang scored another victory at the Battle of Dingtao against the Chu forces, killing Xiang Liang in battle.
In 207 BC, Zhang attacked and besieged the Zhao
forces at Julu and Zhao Xie sought help from King Huai II of Chu
. The king sent Xiang Yu
to lift the siege and Xiang's army defeated Zhang's forces at the Battle of Julu
despite being heavily outnumbered. Zhang sent Sima Xin to request for reinforcements from Xianyang but Zhao Gao
deceived Qin Er Shi and the emperor refused to send aid. Sima escaped from Zhao's assassins on his return journey and reported to Zhang that the state power of Qin had fallen into the hands of Zhao. Zhang pondered over the situation and realised that he would not survive even if he attained victory over Xiang Yu, as Zhao would have him killed on false charges of treason. Zhang and his 200,000 troops then surrendered to Xiang Yu and Zhang was conferred the title of "King of Yong" (雍王) by Xiang.
After the fall of the Qin Dynasty in 206 BC, Xiang divided the former Qin Empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms, while Zhang and his two deputies were granted the region of Guanzhong
as their fiefs. The three kingdoms were known as the Three Qins
because they occupied the lands of the former Qin state
. Later that year, the forces of Liu Bang (King of Han
) invaded Guanzhong and captured Zhang's territory in a surprise attack. Zhang retreated to Feiqiu (present-day Xingping
, Shaanxi
) and remained there. A year later, in 205 BC, the Han army flooded Feiqiu and Zhang committed suicide after his defeat.
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...
. When uprisings erupted throughout China during the reign of Qin Er Shi
Qin Er Shi
Qin Er Shi , literally Second Emperor of Qin Dynasty, personal name Huhai, was emperor of the Qin Dynasty in China from 210 BC until 207 BC.-Name:...
, Zhang led the Qin armies and successfully quelled several of these rebel forces. In 207 BC, Zhang was defeated 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 ....
of Chu
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
at the Battle of Julu
Battle of Julu
The Battle of Julu was fought in Julu in 207 BC primarily between Qin forces led by Zhang Han, and Chu rebels led by Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu emerged victorious, defeating a large Qin army with a small number of soldiers...
and surrendered with his 200,000 troops. He was conferred the title of "King of Yong" (雍王) by Xiang and given part of the lands in Guanzhong
Guanzhong
Guanzhong , or Guanzhong Plain, is a historical region of China corresponding to the lower valley of the Wei River. It is called Guanzhong or 'within the passes' to distinguish it from 'Guandong' or 'east of the pass', that is, the North China Plain. The North China Plain is bordered on the west by...
as his fief when Xiang split the fallen Qin empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms. Zhang's territory was conquered by Liu Bang in 205 BC, and he committed suicide a year later.
Biography
In 209 BC, the rebel army army led by Zhou Wen was the first to reach the capital city of XianyangXianyang
Xianyang is a former capital of China in Shaanxi province, on the Wei River, a few kilometers upstream from Xi'an. It has an area of...
. Qin Er Shi
Qin Er Shi
Qin Er Shi , literally Second Emperor of Qin Dynasty, personal name Huhai, was emperor of the Qin Dynasty in China from 210 BC until 207 BC.-Name:...
was shocked and discussed with his subjects on how to counter the rebels. Zhang suggested to the emperor to grant amnesty
Amnesty
Amnesty is a legislative or executive act by which a state restores those who may have been guilty of an offense against it to the positions of innocent people, without changing the laws defining the offense. It includes more than pardon, in as much as it obliterates all legal remembrance of the...
to some of the convicts serving as labourers at Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang
Qin Shi Huang , personal name Ying Zheng , was king of the Chinese State of Qin from 246 BC to 221 BC during the Warring States Period. He became the first emperor of a unified China in 221 BC...
's mausoleum, and organise them into an imperial army to deal with the rebels. The emperor approved Zhang's proposal and put him in charge of the army to quell the rebel forces. Zhang emerged victorious against Zhou Wen, defeating and driving Zhou out of Guanzhong
Guanzhong
Guanzhong , or Guanzhong Plain, is a historical region of China corresponding to the lower valley of the Wei River. It is called Guanzhong or 'within the passes' to distinguish it from 'Guandong' or 'east of the pass', that is, the North China Plain. The North China Plain is bordered on the west by...
. The emperor then commissioned Sima Xin
Sima Xin
Sima Xin was a military general of the Qin Dynasty. He surrendered to Xiang Yu after the Battle of Julu in 207 BC. In 206 BC, following the collapse of the Qin Dynasty, he was conferred the title of "King of Sai" by Xiang and given part of the lands in Guanzhong as his fief when the latter split...
and Dong Yi
Dong Yi (Qin Dynasty)
Dong Yi was a military general of the Qin Dynasty. He surrendered to Xiang Yu after the Battle of Julu in 207 BC. In 206 BC, following the collapse of the Qin Dynasty, he was conferred the title of "King of Di" by Xiang and given part of the lands in Guanzhong as his fief when the latter split the...
to serve as Zhang's deputies.
Zhang's army continued to advance eastward and destroyed the rebel army of 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:...
. Zhang then led his men to attack the Wei
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
rebels, emerging victorious against Wei and enemy reinforcements from Qi. Zhang's armies moved on to attack Tian Rong of Qi, while Xiang Liang
Xiang Liang
Xiang Liang was a military leader who led a rebellion against the Qin Dynasty.-Early life:Xiang was a native of Xiaxiang . Xiang was a descendant of a family who served the Chu state for generations...
of Chu
Chu (state)
The State of Chu was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state in present-day central and southern China during the Spring and Autumn period and Warring States Period . Its ruling house had the surname Nai , and clan name Yan , later evolved to surname Mi , and clan name Xiong...
came to help Qi and defeated Zhang. Zhang scored another victory at the Battle of Dingtao against the Chu forces, killing Xiang Liang in battle.
In 207 BC, Zhang attacked and besieged the Zhao
Zhao (state)
Zhao was a significant Chinese state during the Warring States Period, along with six others...
forces at Julu and Zhao Xie sought help from King Huai II of Chu
Emperor Yi of Chu
Emperor Yi of Chu , also known as King Huai II of Chu , personal name Xiong Xin was the ruler of the Chu state during the late Qin Dynasty...
. The king sent 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 ....
to lift the siege and Xiang's army defeated Zhang's forces at the Battle of Julu
Battle of Julu
The Battle of Julu was fought in Julu in 207 BC primarily between Qin forces led by Zhang Han, and Chu rebels led by Xiang Yu. Xiang Yu emerged victorious, defeating a large Qin army with a small number of soldiers...
despite being heavily outnumbered. Zhang sent Sima Xin to request for reinforcements from Xianyang but Zhao Gao
Zhao Gao
Zhao Gao was the chief eunuch during the Qin Dynasty of China. He played an instrumental role in the downfall of the Qin Dynasty.- Early life :...
deceived Qin Er Shi and the emperor refused to send aid. Sima escaped from Zhao's assassins on his return journey and reported to Zhang that the state power of Qin had fallen into the hands of Zhao. Zhang pondered over the situation and realised that he would not survive even if he attained victory over Xiang Yu, as Zhao would have him killed on false charges of treason. Zhang and his 200,000 troops then surrendered to Xiang Yu and Zhang was conferred the title of "King of Yong" (雍王) by Xiang.
After the fall of the Qin Dynasty in 206 BC, Xiang divided the former Qin Empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms, while Zhang and his two deputies were granted the region of Guanzhong
Guanzhong
Guanzhong , or Guanzhong Plain, is a historical region of China corresponding to the lower valley of the Wei River. It is called Guanzhong or 'within the passes' to distinguish it from 'Guandong' or 'east of the pass', that is, the North China Plain. The North China Plain is bordered on the west by...
as their fiefs. The three kingdoms were known as the Three Qins
Three Qins
The Three Qins refer to three of the Eighteen Kingdoms, formed from the division of the empire after the collapse of the Qin Dynasty in 206 BC...
because they occupied the lands of the former Qin state
Qin (state)
The State of Qin was a Chinese feudal state that existed during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States Periods of Chinese history...
. Later that year, the forces of Liu Bang (King of 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...
) invaded Guanzhong and captured Zhang's territory in a surprise attack. Zhang retreated to Feiqiu (present-day Xingping
Xingping
Xingping is a city and district of Xianyang, Shaanxi, China....
, Shaanxi
Shaanxi
' is a province in the central part of Mainland China, and it includes portions of the Loess Plateau on the middle reaches of the Yellow River in addition to the Qinling Mountains across the southern part of this province...
) and remained there. A year later, in 205 BC, the Han army flooded Feiqiu and Zhang committed suicide after his defeat.