The Han Dynasty (202 BC – AD 220) is one of the few Chinese dynasties that collapsed and was later restored. It fell in AD 9 when Wang Mang usurped the throne, but was revived in AD 25 by Emperor Guangwu (Liu Xiu), a descendant of Emperor Jing. For clarity, the period 202 BC–AD 9 is called the Western Han, and AD 25–220 the Eastern Han. Fall of the Western Han From Emperor Yuan onward, the court became dominated by powerful consort clans. By the dynasty’s end, the Fu, Ding, and especially the Wang clan (led by Grand Empress Dowager Wang Zhengjun) controlled politics. Wang Mang, her ambitious nephew, built a reputation for integrity and scholarship, gaining strong support. After Emperor Ai died in 1 BC, Wang Mang became regent and placed the young Emperor Ping on the throne. He gradually purged rivals, fabricated omens to claim Heaven’s Mandate, and concentrated power. In AD 8, Emperor Ping died suddenly. On January 10, AD 9, Wang Mang forced the infant Liu Ying to abdicate, proclaimed himself emperor, renamed the state Xin, and attempted reforms based on ancient Zhou ideals. These policies, combined with natural disasters and opposition from former Han elites, triggered widespread unrest. Rise of Liu Xiu and Collapse of Xin Major peasant uprisings especially the Lulin (AD 17) and Red Eyebrows (AD 18) rapidly weakened the Xin dynasty. In AD 22, Liu Xiu and his brother Liu Yan raised forces in Nanyang and joined the Lulin rebels, helping establish the Gengshi Emperor (Liu Xuan). The decisive Battle of Kunyang in AD 23 changed China’s fate. Xin forces (420,000) besieged Kunyang, but Liu Xiu, with about 17,000 troops, used flexible tactics to defeat them. This victory shattered Wang Mang’s authority. Fearing Liu Xiu growing fame, the Gengshi Emperor had Liu Yan executed. Restoration of the Eastern Han Liu Xiu avoided confrontation and traveled to Hebei in AD 24 to build his own power base. He pacified local rebellions, won support from regional elites, married Guo Shengtong, and eliminated rival warlords such as Wang Lang. In AD 25, Liu Xiu declared himself emperor at Handan, founding the Eastern Han. He then unified China by defeating remaining forces: Red Eyebrows rebels surrendered in AD 27. Regional warlords such as Liu Yong and Gongsun Shu were eliminated. By AD 36, the empire was reunited. From AD 43, the Eastern Han suppressed the rebellion of the Zhi Sisters in Jiaozhi, incorporating the region firmly into Han territory. Summary Western Han declined due to consort-clan dominance → Wang Mang usurped the throne and founded Xin (AD 9) → Radical reforms and disasters led to chaos → Lulin and Red Eyebrows revolts → Liu Xiu rose to prominence after Kunyang (AD 23) → Built power in Hebei → Declared emperor (AD 25) → Eliminated rebels and warlords → Unified China and restored the Han as the Eastern Han. #totalwar #threekingdoms #totalwarthreekingdoms #china #chenguohui_strategygames - @chenguohui_strategygames