Jianye (建业), located in modern Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, was the capital of Eastern Wu during the Three Kingdoms period. The city’s position on the Yangtze River made it strategically vital for controlling river traffic and defending the southern kingdom.
Foundation as Wu capital
Sun Quan moved his capital to Jianye in 229 when he declared himself emperor. The city had been developed as a military and administrative centre, with its location on the Yangtze providing both defensive advantages and control over river commerce.
Strategic importance
Jianye’s position on the lower Yangtze made it a natural capital for Wu. The river served as both a defensive barrier against northern forces and a transportation artery. The city controlled access to the fertile Yangtze delta and the southeast coast.
As Wu capital
Jianye served as the capital of Eastern Wu from 229 until the kingdom’s fall in 280. The city housed the imperial court, government offices, and military headquarters. It was a centre of administration, culture, and trade for the southern kingdom.
Fall to Jin
In 280, during the Fall of Wu, Jin forces under Wang Jun advanced down the Yangtze and captured Jianye. Sun Hao surrendered, ending Eastern Wu’s independence. The city was then incorporated into the Jin dynasty.
Later history
After the Three Kingdoms period, Jianye (later renamed Jiankang) continued to be an important city. It served as the capital of several southern dynasties and remains a major city today as Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province.