Hanzhong (汉中) was a commandery in northern Yizhou (modern Shaanxi Province). It sat at a crucial junction between the Guanzhong plain to the north and the Sichuan basin to the south, making it one of the most contested regions of the Three Kingdoms period.
Historical significance
Hanzhong had been an important frontier commandery since the Han dynasty. Its mountainous terrain provided natural defences, while its valleys offered agricultural land. Control of Hanzhong meant control of the routes into Sichuan, making it vital for any state based in the region.
Cao Cao’s conquest
In 215, Cao Cao conquered Hanzhong from Zhang Lu, the theocratic ruler who had controlled the region for decades. Zhang Lu surrendered, and Cao Cao installed Xiahou Yuan to defend the commandery. This posed a direct threat to Liu Bei’s control of Yizhou.
The Hanzhong Campaign
From 217 to 219, Liu Bei launched a campaign to take Hanzhong from Cao Cao. The campaign culminated in the Battle of Mount Dingjun in 219, where Huang Zhong killed Xiahou Yuan in combat. Despite Cao Cao’s personal intervention, Liu Bei secured victory and took control of the commandery.
Liu Bei’s kingdom
After capturing Hanzhong, Liu Bei declared himself King of Hanzhong in 219, establishing his royal court at Chengdu. This declaration was a direct challenge to Cao Cao’s authority and preceded Liu Bei’s eventual proclamation as Emperor of Shu Han in 221.
Strategic importance for Shu
Hanzhong became Shu’s northern bulwark against Wei. Zhuge Liang used it as a base for his Northern Expeditions, and the region remained under Shu control until the state’s fall in 263. The loss of Hanzhong to Wei forces under Zhong Hui and Deng Ai opened the road to Chengdu.
Modern Hanzhong
Today, Hanzhong is a prefecture-level city in Shaanxi Province. Historical sites from the Three Kingdoms period, including Mount Dingjun and ancient battlefields, are preserved as cultural landmarks.
References
- Chen Shou, Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志)
- Fan Ye, Book of the Later Han (后汉书)
- Sima Guang, Zizhi Tongjian (资治通鉴)
- de Crespigny, Rafe. A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms