Battle of Gaixia
202 BCE · Gaixia (southeast of present-day Lingbi, Anhui) · China · Ancient
The Han army closed in from ambushes on all sides, and Chu songs heard on all sides broke the Chu army's will to fight
Belligerents
Han (coalition)
- Commanders
- Liu Bang, Han Xin, Peng Yue
- Strength
- Combined Han forces, over 300,000
Chu
- Commanders
- Xiang Yu
- Strength
- Chu army, about 100,000
Background
After a Chu–Han stalemate the two sides concluded the Treaty of Honggou, but Liu Bang broke the agreement and gave pursuit. Han Xin, Peng Yue and other commanders converged and surrounded Xiang Yu at Gaixia.
Course of the battle
- Encircled on all sidesHan armies converge and encircle the Chu army layer upon layer
- Chu Songs on All SidesThe Han army sang Chu songs at night, and the homesick Chu soldiers lost all will to fight
- Suicide at the Wu RiverXiang Yu broke out with the remnants of his army to the Wu River, refused to cross, and cut his own throat
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 202 BCE |
|---|---|
| Place | Gaixia (southeast of present-day Lingbi, Anhui) |
| Result | The Han army closed in from ambushes on all sides, and Chu songs heard on all sides broke the Chu army's will to fight |
| Winner | Han |
| Casualties | The entire Chu army was annihilated; Xiang Yu broke out to the Wu River and cut his own throat |
| Territorial change | The Chu–Han contention ended, and Liu Bang founded the Han dynasty and unified the realm |
Impact
It ended the wars at the close of the Qin and founded the four-century legacy of the Han.
See the world in 202 BCE on the map →