Volta
Politics189 – 192

Dong Zhuo Seizes Power

The warlord Dong Zhuo entered Luoyang, replaced the emperor and took over the court. When the eastern lords raised a coalition against him, he burned Luoyang and moved the capital to Chang’an.

After Emperor Ling died in 189, the regent He Jin was murdered by eunuchs and Yuan Shao stormed the palace and slaughtered them; in the chaos Dong Zhuo marched his army into Luoyang. He deposed Emperor Shao and enthroned Emperor Xian. In 190 the lords east of the passes formed a coalition under Yuan Shao, and Dong Zhuo burned Luoyang and dragged the emperor west to Chang’an. In 192 he was killed by Wang Yun and Lü Bu; from then on the Han court survived in name only while warlords fought over the realm.

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The map in AD 189

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States at the time
Han
Places
Luoyang, Xi'an

People

  • Dong ZhuoAD 192

    leader · Late Han warlord who seized Luoyang in 189, deposed Emperor Shao and enthroned Emperor Xian, and was killed by Lü Bu in 192

  • Emperor Xian of HanAD 181 – AD 234

    monarch · Last emperor of the Eastern Han, controlled by Dong Zhuo and then Cao Cao, who abdicated to Cao Pi in 220

  • Yuan ShaoAD 202

    participant · The most powerful northern warlord of the late Han, leader of the coalition against Dong Zhuo, defeated by Cao Cao at Guandu in 200

  • Lü BuAD 198

    participant · Late Han general who killed Dong Zhuo with Wang Yun in 192 and was captured and executed by Cao Cao in 198

Before and after

Earlier
AD 184 Yellow Turban Rebellion
Later
AD 194 Goguryeo’s Jindae Relief Loans

Themes that include this event

  • The Three KingdomsAD 184 – AD 280

    From the Yellow Turban Rebellion to the Jin reunification — a century of Wei, Shu and Wu, the age of Cao Cao, Liu Bei and Sun Quan