Short description: Timeline about the Wei, Wu, and Shu states
Timeline of territorial changes during the Three Kingdoms period.
This is a timeline of the Three Kingdoms period (220–280) of Chinese history. In a strict academic sense, the Three Kingdoms period refers to the interval between the founding of the state of Cao Wei (220–266) in 220 and the conquest of the state of Eastern Wu (229–280) by the Western Jin dynasty (265–316) in 280. However, many Chinese historians and laymen extend the starting point of this period back to the Yellow Turban Rebellion that took place in 184 during the late Eastern Han Dynasty (25–220).
Liang Province rebellion: A rebellion occurs in Liang province (Liangzhou; 涼州; roughly present-day Wuwei, Gansu)[1]
185
The imperial palace is damaged by fire and special taxes are levied for rebuilding[1]
188
Governors are appointed to unify provincial administrations[1]
189
summer
Emperor Ling of Han dies; Empress He and her brother He Jin enthrone Liu Bian and establish a regency government[1]
winter
The Ten Eunuchs kill He Jin and are themselves massacred by Yuan Shao;[2] Dong Zhuo takes control of Luoyang and deposes Liu Bian in favor of his half-brother Liu Xie, Emperor Xian of Han[1]
189
Campaign against Dong Zhuo: An anti-Dong Zhuo alliance forms in the east, led by Yuan Shao[1]
190s
Year
Date
Event
190
Dong Zhuo burns Luoyang, loots the imperials tombs, and relocates to Chang'an[2]
Battle of Xingyang: Dong Zhuo defeated Cao Cao at Xingyang, Henan[1]
The Coalition breaks up and local officials set themselves up as warlords[1]
191
Battle of Yangcheng: Battle between Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu
The Jiaozhou warlord, Shi Xie dies; Sun Quan establishes Guangzhou from parts of Jiaozhou.
227
Sun Quan quells Shi Hui's rebellion and seizes Jiaozhou; Sun Quan abolishes Guangzhou.
Zhuge Liang presents the Chu Shi Biao to Liu Shan.
228
Xincheng Rebellion: Sima Yi quells Meng Da's rebellion.
Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions: Zhuge Liang's first northern expedition against Cao Wei; Ma Su is defeated by Zhang He.[3]
Battle of Shiting: Lu Xun defeats Cao Wei forces led by Cao Xiu.
229
Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions: Zhuge Liang's second northern expedition. He is forced to retreat due to arrival of Cao Wei reinforcements.
Sun Quan proclaims himself "Emperor of Wu" in Jianye (Nanjing); Wu enters an alliance with Shu Han.[3]
Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions: Zhuge Liang captures Wudu (武都; near present-day Cheng County, Gansu) and Yinping (陰平; present-day Wen County, Gansu) on his third northern expedition.
230s
Year
Date
Event
230
Eastern Wu expedition troops land on an island known as Yizhou (suspected to be Taiwan) where most of them die but manage to bring back "several thousand" natives back to China.[4]
Ziwu Campaign: Cao Wei forces led by Cao Zhen invade Shu Han but later retreated.
Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions: Zhuge Liang's fourth northern expedition. He is forced to withdraw after provisions are exhausted, but managed to kill Zhang He during his retreat.[3]
Battle of Hefei: Sun Quan is repelled by Man Chong; Wang Ling is ambushed by Eastern Wu forces.
Sima Yi's Liaodong campaign: Sima Yi kills Gongsun Yuan and annexes his territory.[5]
239
Cao Rui dies and is succeeded by Cao Fang but real power is wielded by the co-regents Sima Yi and Cao Shuang.[5]
240s
Year
Date
Event
240
Beginning of the Zhengshi reign era (240–249) in Cao Wei; philosophical movements such as Xuanxue and Qingtan as well as the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove emerge in Wei during the era.
Jiang Wei's Northern Expeditions: Jiang Wei's first northern expedition against Cao Wei.
241
Battle of Quebei and Fancheng: Eastern Wu attacks Cao Wei in Yangzhou and Jingzhou but later withdraws.
Sun Quan's heir apparent, Sun Deng, dies.
242
Sun He becomes Crown Prince of Eastern Wu; Sun He and Sun Ba compete to become Sun Quan's heir apparent, splitting the Wu court into two factions.
Goguryeo–Wei War: Goguryeo raids Cao Wei at Xi'anping (西安平; near present-day Dandong, Liaoning).
244
Battle of Xingshi: Cao Wei forces led by Cao Shuang are repelled by Shu Han.
Goguryeo–Wei War: Cao Wei general Guanqiu Jian defeats Goguryeo, taking Gungnae.[6]
245
Goguryeo–Wei War: Guanqiu Jian sends his armies to pursue Dongcheon of Goguryeo and subjugate Eastern Ye.
The Eastern Wu Imperial Chancellor, Lu Xun dies.
246
Baekje attacks Cao Wei forces at Lelang and Daifang commanderies but later sues for peace.
Jiang Wan and Dong Yun dies; Fei Yi and Chen Zhi succeeds Jiang Wan and Dong Yun respectively.
247
Jiang Wei's Northern Expeditions: Jiang Wei's second northern expedition.
248
Jiang Wei's Northern Expeditions: Jiang Wei's third northern expedition.
Lady Triệu leads Viet rebels in Jiaozhou but is defeated by Eastern Wu.
249
Incident at the Gaoping Tombs: Sima Yi kills Cao Shuang and He Yan, taking over the Cao Wei government.[5]
Sun Jun and Sun Chen kill Zhuge Ke; Sun Jun assumes regency.[5]
254
Jiang Wei's Northern Expeditions: Jiang Wei captures Didao (狄道; around present-day Lintao County, Gansu), Heguan (河關; in the vicinity of present-day Dingxi, Gansu) and Lintao on his seventh northern expedition.
Sima Shi deposes Cao Fang and replaces him with Cao Mao[5]
255
Three Rebellions in Shouchun: Sima Shi quells Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin's Rebellion.
Sima Shi dies and his brother Sima Zhao takes over.[5]
Battle of Didao: Jiang Wei is defeated by Cao Wei forces in his eight northern expedition; Shu Han loses territorial gains from Jiang Wei's seventh expedition.
Jiao Province Campaign: Viet people in Jiaozhou (Northern Vietnam) under Lã Hưng revolted against Eastern Wu.[8] Cao Wei (later the Western Jin) sends armies to aid the rebels.
Conquest of Shu by Wei: Liu Shan surrenders to Sima Zhao; so ends Shu Han.[5]
264
Cao Wei establishes Liangzhou (梁州).
Zhong Hui's Rebellion: Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei rebel in Chengdu but are killed by mutineers.
Siege of Yong'an: Luo Xian repels Eastern Wu forces from claiming former Shu Han territories.
Late Han dynasty provinces
Warlords 194
Warlords 199
Warlords 208
Warlords 215
Cao Pi's invasions of Eastern Wu (222–225)
Zhuge Liang's Southern Campaign in 225
Zhuge Liang's first and second Northern Expeditions (228–229)
Zhuge Liang's third northern expedition in 229
Zhuge Liang's fourth and fifth northern expeditions in 231 and 234
China in 262
The Three Kingdoms in 262 AD
China in 266
War in Northern Vietnam, 263–280 AD
Conquest of Wu by Jin in 280
