Battle of Xiao (306)
| date | January 306 |
|---|---|
| place | Xiao, present-day Anhui Province |
| output | Decisive victory for Sima Yue |
| consequences | Taking Xuchang |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
| Commander | |
| Troop strength | |
| unknown | unknown |
| losses | |
|
unknown |
unknown |
The Battle of Xiao was a decisive battle in the War of the Eight Princes between rivals for supremacy in the country, Sima Yue and Sima Yong .
background
In 304, during the War of the Eight Princes (291-306), Prince Sima Yong captured Luoyang and kidnapped the city-based Emperor Jin Huidi to Chang'an . As a result, Prince Sima Yue rebelled against him in 305 in order to free the emperor and escort him back to Luoyang.
The battle
In the course of 305 the two sides had already fought, particularly over the Yellow River , which Sima Yong had lost. His general Liu Qiao then moved his base further south, but was defeated for the first time by Sima Yue's general Liu Kun near Kaocheng and had to withdraw. In January 306, a force commanded by Sima Xiao and Liu Kun crossed the Bian River near Guandu and took Xingyang City. At Xiao's, the two then met Liu Qiao's army. A battle ensued that ended in a decisive victory for Sima Yue's side. Liu Qiao quickly fled from the scene and no longer posed a threat to his opponents. Only shortly afterwards, Liu Kun was able to take the strategically important city of Xuchang without resistance.
consequences
The battle of Xiao was decisive for the further course of the war; after her, combined with the successful capture of Xuchang, Sima Yue had finally won the upper hand in his rebellion against Sima Yong. The latter tried to make peace immediately after the defeat, but failed. Only five months later, in June 306, Liu Kun occupied Chang'an and liberated the emperor.