Jump to content

Modu's China campaign

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Modu's China Campaign (BC 215)
Part of Han-Xiongnu War
Location
Northern China
Result Xiongnu victory
Territorial
changes
Xiongnu seizes strategic commercial areas
Belligerents
Xiongnu Qin dynasty
Lou-fang
Pai-yang
Han Dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Modu Chanyu Qin's Ordos Governor 
King of Lou-fang (POW)
King of Pai-yang
Strength
Unknown Unknown
Casualties and losses
Minimal Numerous cities in northern China sacked

Modu led the Xiongnu into Chinese territory following their defeat of the Yuezhi. He moved southward, occupying the kingdoms of Lou-fan and Pai-yang, located south of the Yellow River. Modu then advanced eastward into the regions of Yen and Tai. Under his leadership, the Xiongnu successfully reclaimed their ancestral lands, which had been lost during the reign of his father, T'ou-man.[1]

In 215 BC and the years that followed, the general Meng T'ien captured key passes in the Yin Mountains and several areas south of the Yellow River from the Xiongnu. He pushed the Xiongnu northward, but later, Modu Chanyu regained control of these territories.[2][3] As a result, Xiongnu territory expanded from P'ing-liang to Fu-shih. Additionally, strategically important commercial and military locations fell into Xiongnu hands.[1][4] After these successes, sources claimed that Modu had become the most powerful leader since the time of Ch'un-wei, tracing his achievements back 2,000 years to legendary times.[5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Shih Chi (in Chinese). Vol. 110. pp. 2891–2893.
  2. ^ Kim, Hyun Jim (2016). The Huns. Routledge. p. 31. ISBN 978-1-138-84175-8.
  3. ^ I. N., Gumilev (2005). Hunlar [Huns] (in Turkish). Translated by Batur, D. A. Selenge Yayınları. p. 95. ISBN 975-8839-04-7.
  4. ^ Han Shu (in Chinese). Vol. 94A. p. 3752.
  5. ^ T'ung Tien (in Chinese). Vol. 194. p. 5304.