Sun Quan
Inherited Jiangdong from his father and elder brother, allied with Liu Bei against Cao Cao, and helped bring about the Three Kingdoms.
Life
Holding the Southeast
Sun Quan was the second son of Sun Jian and the younger brother of Sun Ce. When Sun Ce was assassinated in 200, the 19-year-old Sun Quan inherited Jiangdong, relied on Zhang Zhao, Zhou Yu and others to stabilize the situation, and recruited talents such as Lu Su and Zhuge Jin.
Red Cliffs and Jing Province
When Cao Cao advanced south in 208, Sun Quan overruled those who urged surrender and ordered Zhou Yu and Cheng Pu to join forces with Liu Bei, crushing Cao Cao's army at Red Cliffs. He then contested Jingzhou with Liu Bei: in 219 he sent Lü Meng to seize Jingzhou by surprise and capture and kill Guan Yu, and in 222 he used Lu Xun to deal Liu Bei a crushing defeat at Yiling.
Proclaimed Emperor at Jianye
In 229 Sun Quan proclaimed himself emperor at Wuchang and soon moved the capital to Jianye. He sent Wei Wen across the sea to Yizhou (present-day Taiwan), developed the lands south of the Yangtze and opened up the Shanyue regions. In old age he grew suspicious and distrustful; the struggle over the heir (the Two Palaces dispute) implicated many ministers. He died in 252.
Legacy
Sun Quan reigned for more than 50 years, the longest of any of the Three Kingdoms monarchs, and he laid the foundation for the development of Jiangnan.
Major works & achievements
- Allied with Liu Bei against Cao Cao at the Battle of Red Cliffs
- Founded the State of Wu and developed Jiangnan
- Sent Wei Wen across the sea to Yizhou
Did you know? Cao Cao once sighed: "If one is to have a son, he should be like Sun Zhongmou."
Key dates
- 200Succeeded his brother as ruler of Jiangdong
- 208Allied with Liu Bei against Cao Cao; Battle of Red Cliffs
- 219Seized Jingzhou by surprise
- 229Proclaimed emperor, founding Wu
- 230Sent Wei Wen to Yizhou
- 252Died