Eighteen Kingdoms


The historiographical term "Eighteen Kingdoms", also translated as "Eighteen States", refers to the eighteen fengjian states in China created by military leader Xiang Yu in 206 BCE, after the collapse of the Qin dynasty. The establishment and abolishment of the Eighteen Kingdoms marked the beginning and end of a turbulent interregnum known as the Chu–Han Contention.
The details of the feudal division are as follows:
NameName RulerAreas covered Fate
Western Chu西楚Xiang YuJiangsu, northern Anhui, northern Zhejiang, eastern and southern HenanDefeated by Liu Bang
Hàn漢/汉Liu BangSichuan, Chongqing, southern Shaanxi
Yong雍Zhang Han central Shaanxi, and eastern GansuDefeated by Liu Bang
Sai塞Sima Xin northeastern ShaanxiDefeated by Liu Bang
Di翟Dong Yi northern ShaanxiDefeated by Liu Bang
Hengshan衡山Wu Rui eastern Hubei, JiangxiAllies with Liu Bang
Hán韓Han Cheng southwestern Henan
Zhao, briefly called Dai趙/代Zhao Xie northern Shanxi, northwestern HebeiDefeated by Liu Bang
Henan河南Shen Yang northwestern Henan
Changshan常山Zhang Er central HebeiAllies with Liu Bang
Yin殷Sima Ang northern Henan, southern HebeiAllies with Liu Bang
Western Wei西魏Wei Bao southern ShanxiDefeated by Liu Bang
Jiujiang九江Ying Bu central and southern AnhuiAllies with Liu Bang
Linjiang臨江Gong Ao western Hubei, northern Hunan
Yan燕Zang Tu northern Hebei, Beijing, TianjinAllies with Liu Bang
Liaodong遼東Han Guang southern LiaoningSurrendered to Liu Bang
Qi齊 or 齐Tian Du western and central ShandongDefeated by Liu Bang
Jiaodong膠東Tian Fu eastern Shandong
Jibei濟北Tian An northern Shandong

The Eighteen Kingdoms were short-lived. Almost immediately rebellion broke out in Qi, after which Tian Rong conquered Jiaodong and Jibei, reuniting the old Qi state. Meanwhile, Xiang Yu had Emperor Yi of Chu and King Han Cheng of Hán killed. Thereafter, Liu Bang of Hàn conquered the lands of the Three Qins, thereby formally starting the Chu–Han Contention. Following many battles and changing alliances, Han defeated Chu and subdued all other kingdoms, where Liu Bang appointed vassal kings while making himself the first Emperor of the Han dynasty in 202 BCE.