An Lushan Rebellion

The An Lushan Rebellion (traditional Chinese: 安祿山之亂, simplified Chinese: 安禄山之乱, pinyin: Ān Lùshān zhī luàn) was a military rebellion that occurred in China during the Tang dynasty, between 755 and 763. As its name suggests, it was started by An Lushan, a general who proclaimed himself Emperor and founded the short-lived Yan dynasty. In Chinese, the term is often used for the initial moment of the rebellion, since An Lushan died in 757, assassinated by his own son An Qingshu, and the rebellion continued under the leadership of Shi Siming, who assassinated An Qingshu. Therefore, the most common Chinese name for the entire rebellion is An-Shi Rebellion (安史之亂, 安史之乱, Ān Shǐ zhī luàn). It is also known as the Tianbao Rebellion (天寶之亂, 天宝之乱, Tiānbǎo zhī luàn), for having started in the 14th year of the Tianbao era, according to traditional Chinese chronology.

The rebellion spanned the reigns of three emperors. The first emperor, Xuanzong, had to leave the capital Chang'an with his court and fled to Sichuan. During the flight, her military demanded that he order the killing of the famous concubine Yang Guifei and her cousin, Yang Guozhong. Emperor Suzong, son of Xuanzong, was proclaimed emperor by the army and itinerant court eunuchs while another group of local officials and Confucian scholars proclaimed another prince in Jinling (present-day Nanjing).

The rebellion was suppressed during Daizong's reign by the generals Guo Ziyi (郭子儀) and Li Guangbi (李光弼). Despite being victorious against the rebellion, the Tang dynasty was greatly weakened by it and in subsequent years was affected by the growing power of the warlords. The conflict also left profound consequences for foreign policy, which became much more strict and xenophobic, in contrast to the cosmopolitan and welcoming character of the first half of the Tang period.

It was one of the most destructive and deadly conflicts in Chinese history, with estimates indicating that nearly 50% of the total population perished in the war. The 754 census resulted in 52,880,488 inhabitants, while that of 764 gave around 16,900,000 (that is, a decrease of 36 million). However, these numbers are not fully accepted today. Some historians like C.P. Fitzgerald have argued that the figures do not agree with contemporary accounts of the war, furthermore that, due to the chaos in the Empire and the decline of central authority, they cannot be considered as reliable sources. It is estimated that a quarter of the population already did not live in the census area, due both to the decline of the Tang and the loss of important territories. In his work The Definitive Chronicle of History's 100 Worst Atrocities, Matthew White estimates that the number of actual casualties may have been as high as 13 million.

Timeline

755

• 16 December - The rebellion begins. An Lushan mobilizes his army and marches to Fanyang.

756

• 18 January - Luoyang Fall. The eastern capital is captured by the 200,000 men of An Lushan.
• 5 February - Proclamation of the Yan Dynasty in Luoyang.
• July - Chang'an Fallthe capital of the Empire. The city is enormously devastated. Emperor Xuanzong of Tang escapes.
• August 12 – His Zong, son of Xuanzong, is proclaimed Emperor by his troops.
• His Zong forms an alliance with the Abbasid Caliphate. Al-Mansur sends 4,000 Muslim forces.

757

• 29 June - An Lushan Murder. The general is betrayed by his son An Qingshu, who proclaims himself Emperor the next day.
• His Zong forms an alliance with the Uigur Kanato.
• 13 November – An Qingshu orders a retreat during the advance of the imperial forces to the capital. It is relocated to Xiangzhou.
• 17 November - Chang'an Recapture.

758

• October 30 – Arab pirates and Persians plunder the city of Canton. After the attack, the port is closed to foreign trade until the beginning of the centuryIX.

759

• 10 April - An Qingshu Murder. Shiming, former companion of An Lushan, becomes the leader of the revolt against the Tangs.
• May 9 – Shi Siming is proclaimed Yan Emperor.
• 3 December - The Tang Recapture Chang'an and Luoyang.

760

• Yangzhou Massacre; rebel forces murder thousands of Persians and Arabs in Canton.

761

• 18 April - Shiming Murder. Shi Chaoyi, son of Shi, becomes Yan Emperor.
• Shi Chaoyi takes Luoyang. More and more troops desert the Tang forces.

762

• 18 May - Daizong de Tang is proclaimed Emperor.
• Winter – Daizong recapture Luoyang for the second time. Shi Chaoyi manages to flee on time.

763

• 17 February - Death of the last Yan. Shi Chaoyi is intercepted and cornered, but he commits suicide before being captured.