Three Kingdoms Timeline
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Three Kingdoms Timeline
From the Yellow Turbans (184) to reunification (280), at a glance
- 184Yellow Turban Rebellion
Zhang Jiao’s Taiping followers rise across the empire, opening the Three Kingdoms era. Liu Bei, Cao Cao and Sun Jian first made their names in the suppression.
- 184The Peach Garden OathNovel
Liu Bei, Guan Yu and Zhang Fei swear brotherhood in a peach orchard — the novel’s opening scene; the histories say only their bond was "like brothers".
- 189The Ten Eunuchs and the Death of He Jin
Grand General He Jin plots to purge the eunuchs and is murdered instead, plunging Luoyang into bloodshed — the chaos that invited Dong Zhuo in.
- 189Dong Zhuo Seizes Power
Entering Luoyang, Dong Zhuo deposes the boy emperor and installs Emperor Xian, seizing the court. His tyranny turned the realm’s lords against him.
- 190The Coalition Against Dong Zhuo
The eastern lords raise arms against Dong Zhuo under Yuan Shao. Cao Cao and Sun Jian fought hardest of all.
- 191Hulao Gate — Three Heroes vs. Lü BuNovel
The novel’s famous duel of the three brothers against Lü Bu at Hulao Gate. In the histories it was Sun Jian, not Guan Yu, who slew Hua Xiong.
- 192Wang Yun and Lü Bu Kill Dong Zhuo
Minister Wang Yun’s plot wins over Lü Bu, who cuts down Dong Zhuo. The novel dramatizes it with the fictional Diao Chan’s double scheme.
- 192Death of Sun Jian
Sun Jian, Tiger of Jiangdong, falls to an ambush while campaigning against Liu Biao. His son Sun Ce takes up his cause.
- 192The Li Jue–Guo Si Chaos
Refused amnesty, Dong Zhuo’s Xiliang remnants storm Chang’an and execute Wang Yun — the court falls back into the hands of violence.
- 194Cao Cao vs. Lü Bu for Yan Province
On Chen Gong’s counsel, Lü Bu storms Cao Cao’s home province of Yan; savage fighting at Puyang follows before Cao Cao claws it back.
- 195Sun Ce Conquers the Southland
Sun Ce sets out to conquer the Southland with his father’s veterans. After their famous duel at Shenting, he captured Taishi Ci and won him over.
- 195Emperor Xian Escapes Chang’an
Amid his captors’ infighting, Emperor Xian flees toward Luoyang — the wandering court that Cao Cao would take in the following year.
- 196Cao Cao Takes Custody of the Emperor
On Xun Yu’s counsel, Cao Cao brings the wandering Emperor Xian to Xudu — the cornerstone of "commanding the lords in the Son of Heaven’s name."
- 197Battle of Wancheng — Dian Wei’s Last Stand
The surrendered Zhang Xiu strikes at night on Jia Xu’s plan; Cao Cao escapes with his life only through bodyguard Dian Wei’s dying stand.
- 197Yuan Shu Declares Himself Emperor
Holding the Imperial Seal, Yuan Shu proclaims himself emperor — making himself the realm’s common enemy and collapsing within two years.
- 198Siege of Xiapi — the End of Lü Bu
Cao Cao and Liu Bei flood Lü Bu out of Xiapi. Betrayed by his own men, Lü Bu is captured and executed; Chen Gong dies with him.
- 199Fall of Yijing — Gongsun Zan’s End
Gongsun Zan, the White Horse General, dies by his own hand in his besieged fortress of Yijing. The north falls to Yuan Shao.
- 200Battle of Baima — Guan Yu Slays Yan Liang
Temporarily serving Cao Cao, Guan Yu repays the debt by cutting down Yuan Shao’s general Yan Liang amid his army — then rides back to Liu Bei.
- 200Battle of Guandu
Cao Cao shatters Yuan Shao’s far larger host by burning the Wuchao grain depot — the war for the north. Zhang He defected to Cao Cao here.
- 200Sun Ce Dies; Sun Quan Succeeds
Struck down by assassins, Sun Ce entrusts the Southland to his 19-year-old brother Sun Quan, propped up by Zhang Zhao and Zhou Yu.
- 200Guan Yu Crosses Five PassesNovel
The novel’s invented journey: Guan Yu breaks through five passes and slays six generals to rejoin Liu Bei — the defining image of loyalty.
- 200Liu Bei Loses Xuzhou
Breaking from Cao Cao, Liu Bei is crushed by a lightning strike and flees to Yuan Shao. It was here that Guan Yu fell into Cao Cao’s hands.
- 202Death of Yuan Shao
Broken by Guandu, Yuan Shao dies; his sons’ infighting brings the great northern house down in short order.
- 207Three Visits to the Cottage
After three visits Liu Bei wins Zhuge Liang — and hears the plan to divide the realm in three. Recorded by Zhuge Liang himself in the Chu Shi Biao.
- 207White Wolf Mountain and the Death of Guo Jia
Following Guo Jia’s "speed is everything," Cao Cao crushes the Wuhuan at White Wolf Mountain — but loses Guo Jia on the road home.
- 208Xu Shu Leaves Liu Bei
Liu Bei’s adviser Xu Shu departs in tears for his captive mother’s sake — recommending, as he leaves, a man named Zhuge Liang.
- 208Liu Biao Dies; Jing Province Surrenders
When Liu Biao dies, his heir surrenders Jing Province to the advancing Cao Cao without a fight, sending Liu Bei fleeing south.
- 208Battle of Changban
Cao Cao’s pursuit nearly annihilates Liu Bei’s column. Zhao Yun rides alone to rescue Liu Bei’s infant son; Zhang Fei halts the pursuers single-handed at the bridge.
- 208Battle of Red Cliffs
Zhou Yu’s Sun–Liu alliance burns Cao Cao’s armada with fire ships, halting his southern conquest. The three-way division of the realm was sealed here.
- 208Death of the Physician Hua Tuo
Hua Tuo, the legendary physician who refused to be Cao Cao’s personal doctor, dies in prison. The tale of scraping Guan Yu’s bone is the novel’s embellishment.
- 209Siege of Jiangling
Riding Red Cliffs’ momentum, Zhou Yu wrests Jiangling from Cao Ren after a year of hard fighting — taking an arrow wound himself.
- 209Liu Bei Takes the Four Southern Commanderies
Riding Red Cliffs’ momentum, Liu Bei gathers the four commanderies south of the Yangtze — his first real territory. Huang Zhong and Wei Yan joined around this time.
- 209The Sun–Liu Marriage Alliance
Sun Quan weds his sister to Liu Bei to cement the alliance — the episode the novel restages as Zhou Yu’s honey trap and the brocade-bag stratagems.
- 210Death of Zhou Yu
Zhou Yu, hero of Red Cliffs, dies at 36; his successor Lu Su becomes the pillar of the Sun–Liu alliance.
- 211Battle of Tong Pass — Ma Chao Rises
Ma Chao’s Xiliang coalition slams into Cao Cao — pressing him so hard legend says he cut off his beard to flee — before Jia Xu’s discord scheme broke the alliance.
- 211Liu Bei Enters Yi Province
Invited by Liu Zhang to fight Zhang Lu, Liu Bei enters the land of Shu with Pang Tong and Fa Zheng. Within three years it would have a new master.
- 212Death of Xun Yu
Xun Yu, the "talent fit to aid kings," dies in despair after opposing Cao Cao’s elevation — torn between his lord and his loyalty to the Han.
- 212Execution of Ma Teng
In reprisal for Ma Chao’s rising, Cao Cao executes Ma Teng and his kin at court — deepening the son’s thirst for vengeance.
- 213Battle of Ruxukou
Sun Quan blocks Cao Cao at Ruxukou — Gan Ning’s hundred-rider night raid, Zhou Tai’s valor, and Cao Cao’s sigh: "If one must have a son, let him be like Sun Quan."
- 214Liu Bei Takes Yi Province
With Fa Zheng’s defection and reinforcements under Zhuge Liang, Zhang Fei and Zhao Yun, Liu Bei enters Chengdu — at the cost of his strategist Pang Tong at Luocheng.
- 215The Xiang River Accord
Guan Yu and Lu Su face off at Yiyang over Jing Province — the single-blade parley — settling on a split along the Xiang River.
- 215Battle of Hefei — Zhang Liao’s 800
Zhang Liao’s 800 volunteers shatter Sun Quan’s host of 100,000 in a dawn assault — his very name, it was said, silenced crying children in Wu.
- 215Zhang Lu Surrenders Hanzhong
Zhang Lu of the Five Pecks of Rice sect yields Hanzhong to Cao Cao — the crisis in which, it was said, Shu trembled dozens of times a day.
- 216Cao Cao Becomes King of Wei
From duke to king: Cao Cao now stands one step from the throne, and the cause of "restoring the Han" is a shell.
- 219Battle of Mount Dingjun
Under Fa Zheng’s direction, the veteran Huang Zhong cuts down Xiahou Yuan, Wei’s western commander — the stroke that won Hanzhong for Liu Bei.
- 219Liu Bei Becomes King of Hanzhong
Master of Hanzhong, Liu Bei takes a royal title to match Cao Cao. Guan Yu, Zhang Fei, Zhao Yun, Ma Chao and Huang Zhong became the Five Tiger Generals (the novel’s term).
- 219Siege of Fancheng
Guan Yu drowns seven Wei armies in the flood and shakes the heartland. Cao Ren holds Fancheng until Xu Huang’s relief breaks the siege.
- 219Lü Meng Takes Jing Province — the Death of Guan Yu
Lü Meng’s soldiers, disguised as merchants, seize Jing Province without a fight. His retreat cut, Guan Yu is captured at Maicheng and executed.
- 219"Chicken Ribs" and the Death of Yang Xiu
Yang Xiu, who decoded Cao Cao’s "chicken ribs" watchword before the Hanzhong withdrawal, is executed for unsettling the army.
- 220Cao Cao Dies; Cao Pi Ends the Han
Cao Cao dies at 66; his son Cao Pi accepts Emperor Xian’s abdication and takes the throne of Wei, ending four centuries of Han rule.
- 221Liu Bei Proclaims the Shu-Han
Claiming the Han succession, Liu Bei takes the imperial throne at Chengdu, with Zhuge Liang as his chancellor.
- 221Assassination of Zhang Fei
Preparing to avenge Guan Yu, Zhang Fei is murdered by his own officers — the price, the histories note, of his harshness toward subordinates.
- 222Battle of Yiling
Marching east to avenge Guan Yu, Liu Bei is annihilated by the young commander Lu Xun’s single fire attack. Ma Liang also perished in the campaign.
- 222Cao Pi’s Three-Route Invasion of Wu
When Wu dropped its vassalage after Yiling, Cao Pi struck south on three routes — and withdrew empty-handed, Cao Ren’s attack at Ruxu among the failures.
- 223Liu Bei’s Deathbed Trust at Baidicheng
Defeated at Yiling, the dying Liu Bei entrusts his son Liu Shan and the state to Zhuge Liang at Baidicheng — warning him, too, not to over-promote Ma Su.
- 225The Southern Campaign — Seven Captures
Zhuge Liang pacifies the southern revolt, capturing and releasing the chieftain Meng Huo seven times until he submits from the heart (per the Han Jin Chunqiu).
- 227The Chu Shi Biao — the Northern Campaigns Begin
Zhuge Liang submits his memorial to the young emperor and marches north to restore the Han. Around this time Jiang Wei came over to Shu.
- 228Battle of Jieting
Defying orders, Ma Su camps on the hilltop and is routed by Zhang He, wrecking the first campaign. Only Wang Ping kept his unit intact; Zhuge Liang executed Ma Su in tears.
- 228Battle of Shiting
Lu Xun crushes a Wei host at Shiting — his second great victory after Yiling, paving the way for Sun Quan’s enthronement.
- 228Siege of Chencang
That winter Zhuge Liang stormed Chencang, but Hao Zhao’s thousand-odd defenders held for over twenty days until Shu’s grain ran out.
- 229Sun Quan Takes the Throne
With Sun Quan’s enthronement, three emperors reign at once — the Three Kingdoms in name as well as fact. Shu, pragmatically, recognized him.
- 231Fourth Campaign — Death of Zhang He
Pursuing Zhuge Liang’s withdrawal, the veteran Wei general Zhang He is slain by ambush arrows at Mumen Trail.
- 234Wuzhang Plains — the Death of Zhuge Liang
After a hundred days facing Sima Yi, Zhuge Liang dies in camp. The orderly Shu withdrawal left the saying: "Dead Kongming routed living Zhongda."
- 234The End of Wei Yan
In the power struggle after Zhuge Liang’s death, Wei Yan is branded a traitor and killed — though the histories hint the charge was unjust.
- 238Sima Yi Conquers Liaodong
Sima Yi crushes the separatist Gongsun Yuan exactly on the schedule he announced — a hundred days to march, a hundred to conquer.
- 244Battle of Xingshi
With a small force and shrewd use of terrain, Wang Ping repels Wei’s massive invasion of Hanzhong — the defense said to have saved Shu.
- 249The Gaopingling Coup
After years of feigned retirement, Sima Yi strikes: a coup that destroys Cao Shuang’s faction and seizes real power in Wei — the dawn of the Sima ascendancy.
- 252Death of Sun Quan
Sun Quan, longest-reigning of the three sovereigns, dies at 71 — leaving a succession quarrel that would shake Wu.
- 253Jiang Wei’s Northern Campaigns
Heir to Zhuge Liang’s mission, Jiang Wei launches campaign after campaign north — trading blows with Wei while draining Shu’s strength, critics said.
- 253The Fall of Zhuge Ke
Zhuge Jin’s son Zhuge Ke, master of Wu after his victory at Dongxing, is assassinated in a coup after his reckless Hefei campaign fails.
- 260The Killing of Cao Mao
"Even the man in the street knows Sima Zhao’s heart" — the young emperor Cao Mao marches out and is cut down in broad daylight. Wei’s imperial resistance ends here.
- 263The Fall of Shu-Han
Wei columns cross the mountain trails and descend on Chengdu; Liu Shan surrenders. Jiang Wei, holding Jiange, schemed for a restoration to his dying breath.
- 264Zhong Hui’s Revolt — Jiang Wei’s Last Scheme
Jiang Wei goads the conquering general Zhong Hui into revolt at Chengdu — and both die in the chaos. The last ember of a Shu restoration goes out.
- 264Sun Hao Takes the Wu Throne
Sun Hao, enthroned amid high hopes, turns tyrant and burns through Wu’s last vitality. Jin’s reunification becomes a matter of time.
- 265Wei Ends; Jin Is Founded
Sima Yi’s grandson Sima Yan accepts the Wei emperor’s abdication and founds the Jin — Wei falling by the very ritual it had used on the Han, 45 years on.
- 280The Fall of Wu — the Realm Reunited
Jin armies under Du Yu and others take Jianye with bamboo-splitting momentum, and Wu surrenders. Ninety-six years after the Yellow Turbans, the Three Kingdoms era ends.
How to use
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Pick a filter — battles, politics, or character births and deaths.
- 2
Use the decade buttons (190, 200…) to jump to any period.
- 3
Follow the people and battle links on each card to the detail pages.
FAQ
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What is this tool?
The Three Kingdoms Timeline lays out the 96 years from the Yellow Turban Rebellion (184) to Jin’s reunification (280) in 70+ events. Each card carries the year, a short description and linked people; events that exist only in the novel (the Peach Garden Oath, Hulao Gate) are badged. Filter to battles only, political events only, or character births and deaths — the latter generated automatically from the character dictionary. Decade navigation jumps you to any period, and the 15 major battles link through to their full battle pages.