Western Yan: Map & History
Yan, known in historiography as the Western Yan was a dynastic state of China ruled by the Xianbei ethnicity.
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Yan, known in historiography as the Western Yan was a dynastic state of China ruled by the Xianbei ethnicity. The dynasty existed during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms, but it is not counted among the 16. It was founded by Murong Hong in 384 in the aftermath of the Former Qin's defeat by the Eastern Jin in the Battle of Fei River, with the stated intent of permitting the Xianbei, whom the Former Qin's emperor Fu Jiān had relocated to Former Qin's capital region after destroying the Former Yan in 370. It initially also was intended to rescue the last Former Yan emperor Murong Wei, until he was executed by Fu Jiān in 385. It was a state that was characterized by extreme political instability and internal fighting, as all seven of its rulers died of unnatural causes. After eviscerating the Former Qin, the people of the state abandoned the Guanzhong region and headed east back toward their homeland, but eventually settled down in modern Shanxi. It was destroyed in 394 as Later Yan's emperor Murong Chui wanted to reunite the people formerly of Yan and conquered it.
Modern Countries Once Part of Western Yan
At its mapped extent, Western Yan covered territory in 1 present-day country. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Western Yan's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Western Yan in Depth
History
After the fall of Former Yan, the last emperor Murong Wei and his brothers were relocated near the Former Qin capital, Chang'an, where they were allowed to serve as military generals and officials. Murong Hong was made Administrator of Beidi while Murong Chong was appointed Administrator of Pingyang. As part of Qin's plan to integrate the various tribes with each other, many Xianbei from the east were resettled in the Guanzhong region, with around 40,000 of them at the time of Former Yan's demise.
In 383, Former Qin suffered a devastating defeat to the Eastern Jin dynasty at the Battle of Fei River. With the Qin exposed, Murong Wei's uncle, Murong Chui restored the state as the Later Yan in Hebei in 384.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Western Yan (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Western Yan: Key Facts
| Capital | Chang'an |
|---|---|
| Founded | 384 CE |
| Dissolved | 394 CE |
Preceded by
Succeeded by
Facts from Wikidata Q1149230 (CC0).
Western Yan Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 116,090 km² in 388 CE.
Western Yan: Frequently Asked Questions
When did Western Yan exist?
Western Yan is dated to 387 CE – 393 CE, in the Classical Antiquity era.
What was the capital of Western Yan?
The capital of Western Yan was Chang'an (385–386), Zhangzi (386–394).
How large was Western Yan at its peak?
At its peak in 388 AD Western Yan covered about 116,090 km².