A century of war that became legend

From 184 to 280 CE, warlords, strategists, and warriors tore China apart and reshaped it. This wiki covers the Three Kingdoms period through Chen Shou's historical records and Luo Guanzhong's literary epic — fact and fiction, clearly separated.

The Three Kingdoms

Three kingdoms rose from the ashes of the Han dynasty. Each claimed to be its rightful successor.

The Han Dynasty and the Warlord Era — The collapse of the Han and the ensuing warlord conflicts set the stage for everything that followed.

Key figures

The warlords, strategists, and warriors who defined an era

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Battles and events

The campaigns and turning points that shaped the Three Kingdoms

  1. Oath of the Peach Garden 184 CE

    In the Romance, Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei swear brotherhood in a peach garden, vowing to live and die together. The scene establishes the bond that defines Shu Han's founding narrative.

  2. Yellow Turban Rebellion 184 CE

    The peasant uprising that shattered the Han dynasty's authority and set the warlord era in motion.

  3. Battle of the Passes 190 CE

    The coalition of regional lords against Dong Zhuo in 190, who withdrew to Chang'an after the eastern forces seized the passes. The campaign showed the Han court's loss of control.

  4. Battle of Xingyang 190s CE

    Cao Cao's forces fought at Xingyang in the early warlord period. Cao Hong was among the commanders; the battle was part of the contest for control of the Central Plain.

  5. Battle of Yangren 190 CE

    In 190, during the campaign against Dong Zhuo, Sun Jian defeated Dong Zhuo's forces at Yangren. It was the coalition's only significant victory; Sun Jian faced Lü Bu and Hua Xiong.

  6. Campaign against Dong Zhuo 190 CE

    A coalition of warlords marched on the tyrant who held the emperor hostage.

  7. Battle of Puyang 194-195 CE

    In 194–195, Cao Cao and Lü Bu fought for control of Yan Province with Puyang at the centre. The campaign ended in stalemate; Cao Cao eventually recovered the province.

  8. Battle of Kuangting 197 CE

    In 197, Cao Cao defeated Yuan Shu at Kuangting. Yuan Shu's power in the Huai region collapsed; he fled and later died in failure.

  9. Battle of Xiapi 198-199 CE

    In 198–199, Cao Cao and Liu Bei besieged Lü Bu in Xiapi. The city fell after flood and defection; Lü Bu was captured and executed, removing the last major warlord in the east.

  10. Battle of Guandu 200 CE

    Cao Cao's decisive victory over Yuan Shao that secured his dominance over the north.

  11. Battle of White Wolf Mountain 207 CE

    In 207, Cao Cao led a force through the north to attack the Wuhuan at White Wolf Mountain. Zhang Liao urged the attack; Cao Cao won a decisive victory and the Wuhuan leader was killed.

  12. Three Visits to the Thatched Cottage 207 CE

    In the Romance, Liu Bei travels three times to invite Zhuge Liang out of retirement. The episode introduces the Longzhong Plan and establishes Zhuge Liang as the indispensable strategist of Shu.

  13. Battle of Changban 208 CE

    In 208, Cao Cao's cavalry caught up with Liu Bei's refugees at Changban. Zhang Fei held the bridge at the rear whilst Zhao Yun fought through the ranks to rescue Liu Bei's son; Liu Bei escaped to Jiangxia.

  14. Battle of Chibi 208 CE

    The Battle of Chibi (208 CE) is the same engagement as the Battle of Red Cliffs. The allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei defeated Cao Cao's southern campaign.

  15. Battle of Red Cliffs 208 CE

    The allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei destroyed Cao Cao's fleet and forged the tripartite division.

  16. Battle of Tong Pass 211 CE

    In 211, Ma Chao and Han Sui led a coalition of northwestern warlords against Cao Cao at Tong Pass. Cao Cao held the pass, crossed the river to threaten their rear, and used a ruse to split Ma Chao and Han Sui; the coalition collapsed.

  17. Battle of Ruxu 213-214 CE

    Cao Cao and Sun Quan fought at Ruxu on the Yangtze in 213–214. Sun Quan's forces, including Gan Ning, held the line; Cao Cao withdrew. The battle confirmed the Yangtze as the border.

  18. Battle of Luo County 214 CE

    In 214, during the siege of Luocheng in Liu Bei's conquest of Yi Province, Pang Tong was killed by an arrow. The battle was part of the campaign that led to Liu Zhang's surrender.

  19. Conquest of Yi Province 214 CE

    Liu Bei's campaign to take Yi Province from Liu Zhang in 214 CE, establishing his territorial base in the west. The conquest involved both military action and political manoeuvring.

  20. Battle of Baxi 215 CE

    In 215, Zhang He led Wei forces into Ba commandery; Zhang Fei defeated him at Baxi (Brazil). The battle secured Shu's hold on the region and is one of Zhang Fei's celebrated victories.

  21. Battle of Hefei (215) 215 CE

    In 215, Sun Quan besieged Hefei with a large force. Zhang Liao led a small garrison and made a daring sortie that broke the siege; Sun Quan withdrew.

  22. Hanzhong Campaign 217–219 CE

    Liu Bei's campaign (217–219) to seize Hanzhong from Cao Cao. Victory gave Shu Han a strategic base and led to Liu Bei declaring himself King of Hanzhong.

  23. Battle of Dingjunshan 219 CE

    A key battle in Liu Bei's conquest of Hanzhong in 219 CE, where Huang Zhong killed Xiahou Yuan, securing Shu Han's control of the strategic Hanzhong region.

  24. Battle of Fancheng 219 CE

    In 219, Guan Yu besieged Fancheng and Xiangyang; a flood destroyed Yu Jin's relief army. Xu Huang later broke the siege whilst Lu Meng captured Jiangling; Guan Yu was caught and executed.

  25. Battle of Hanshui 219 CE

    In 219, during the struggle for Hanzhong, Cao Cao sent troops to oppose Liu Bei. At Hanshui (Han River) the two sides clashed; Zhao Yun's empty-fort ploy and counter-attack secured a Shu victory.

  26. Battle of Yiling 222 CE

    Liu Bei's catastrophic defeat at the hands of Eastern Wu that crippled Shu Han.

  27. Defence of Jiangling 223–224 CE

    After the Battle of Yiling, Wu forces under Zhu Ran defended Jiangling against Wei. The successful defence secured Wu's hold on the middle Yangtze.

  28. Seven Captures of Meng Huo 225 CE

    In the Romance, Zhuge Liang leads a southern campaign and captures the tribal king Meng Huo seven times, releasing him each time until Meng Huo submits. The campaign secures Shu's southern flank before the Northern Expeditions.

  29. Battle of Jieting 228 CE

    In 228, Ma Su lost the strategic pass at Jieting to Zhang He, forcing Zhuge Liang to abandon the first Northern Expedition.

  30. Battle of Shiting 228 CE

    In 228, Lu Xun led Wu forces to a major victory over Cao Xiu at Shiting. Cao Xiu fell into a ruse and was defeated; the battle confirmed Wu's ability to defend the middle Yangtze.

  31. Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions 228–234 CE

    Five gruelling campaigns to restore the Han — and the death of the Sleeping Dragon.

  32. Battle of Xing Shi 244 CE

    In 244, Wang Ping and Fei Yi held Xing Shi against Cao Shuang's Wei invasion. The successful defence preserved Shu's northern frontier.

  33. Gaoping Tombs Coup 249 CE

    In 249, while Cao Fang and Cao Shuang were at the Gaoping tombs, Sima Yi seized Luoyang, closed the gates, and had Cao Shuang and his faction executed. The coup gave the Sima family control of the Wei court.

  34. Battle of Dongxing 252 CE

    In 252, Wu forces defeated Wei at Dongxing (eastern Wu). The victory defended Wu's territory and involved Ding Feng and other Wu generals.

  35. Gaopingling Incident 254 CE

    In 254, Cao Fang's attempt to remove Sima Shi failed. Sima Shi deposed the emperor and installed Cao Mao, tightening the Sima clan's grip on Wei.

  36. Fall of Shu 263 CE

    The conquest that ended Liu Bei's dream of restoration.

  37. Wei Conquest of Shu 263 CE

    In 263 CE, Wei armies under Deng Ai and Zhong Hui invaded and conquered Shu Han. Liu Shan surrendered; the first of the three kingdoms fell.

  38. Yinping Crossing 263 CE

    Deng Ai's daring crossing of the Yinping mountains in 263, which brought Wei forces onto the Chengdu plain and led to Liu Shan's surrender.

  39. Zhong Hui's Rebellion 264 CE

    In 264, after the conquest of Shu, Zhong Hui plotted with Jiang Wei to rebel against Sima Zhao. The plot was discovered; Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei were killed.

  40. Battle of Xiling 272 CE

    In 272, Wei forces attacked Xiling; Lu Kang led Wu's defence and relieved the siege. The battle confirmed Lu Kang as Wu's chief defender of the western frontier in the late period.

  41. Conquest of Eastern Wu 280 CE

    In 280, the Jin dynasty conquered Eastern Wu. Sun Hao surrendered; the Three Kingdoms period ended and China was reunified under Jin.

  42. Fall of Wu 280 CE

    The final campaign that reunified China under the Jin dynasty.

  43. War of the Eight Princes 291–306 CE

    The civil war (291–306 CE) among the Jin imperial princes that followed the reunification of China. It weakened the dynasty and contributed to the loss of the north.

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Timeline of the Three Kingdoms period

  1. End of the Han Dynasty (184–196)

    The Yellow Turban Rebellion exposed the Han dynasty's fatal weakness. Regional warlords seized power as the imperial court crumbled.

  2. The Warlord Era (196–208)

    Cao Cao, Liu Bei, Sun Ce, Yuan Shao, and dozens of rivals fought for supremacy. Alliances shifted and territories changed hands.

  3. Formation of the Three Kingdoms (208–229)

    The Battle of Red Cliffs shattered Cao Cao's bid for total conquest. Three distinct states crystallised — Wei in the north, Shu in the west, Wu in the south.

  4. The Northern Expeditions (228–234)

    Zhuge Liang launched repeated campaigns to restore the Han, each ending in frustration. His death at Wuzhang Plains ended Shu Han's offensive capability.

  5. Decline and Reunification (234–280)

    The Sima clan seized Wei from within, conquered Shu, and overwhelmed Wu. China was reunified under the Jin dynasty in 280.

History and literature

The Three Kingdoms period is documented through two very different traditions. This wiki treats both with equal care — and keeps them clearly separated.

Historical records

Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志), completed around 289 CE, supplemented by Pei Songzhi's annotations and Sima Guang's Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance (资治通鉴). These sources record what happened — as accurately as any ancient history can.

Romance of the Three Kingdoms

Luo Guanzhong's 14th-century novel (三国演义) transformed history into epic literature — dramatising real events, inventing famous scenes, and turning historical figures into cultural icons. The Oath of the Peach Garden, the Empty Fort Strategy, and Zhuge Liang's borrowing of arrows are all literary creations.

Every article in this wiki clearly distinguishes between historical record and literary portrayal, so readers always know where fact ends and legend begins.