Battle of Hanzhong
219 CE · Hanzhong (modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi) · China · Ancient
Huang Zhong killed Xiahou Yuan at Mount Dingjun; Liu Bei held the strategic heights in a stalemate, and even Cao Cao's personal arrival could not reverse the decline, so he abandoned Hanzhong and left
Belligerents
Shu Han
- Commanders
- Liu Bei, Huang Zhong, Fa Zheng
- Strength
- Size of Shu army unknown
Cao Wei
- Commanders
- Cao Cao, Xiahou Yuan
- Strength
- Size of Wei army unknown
Background
Seeking to take Hanzhong to secure the gateway to Yi Province, Liu Bei contended with Cao Cao's army there in a stalemate lasting more than two years.
Course of the battle
- Battle of Mount DingjunHuang Zhong launched a surprise attack from the heights and cut down the Wei commander Xiahou Yuan
- Cao Cao leads in personCao Cao came to Hanzhong in person to try to retrieve the situation and faced Liu Bei in a stalemate for several months
- Abandoning the territory, withdrawing northSeeing no gain from the prolonged fighting and finding grain transport difficult, Cao Cao finally withdrew and gave up Hanzhong
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 219 CE |
|---|---|
| Place | Hanzhong (modern Hanzhong, Shaanxi) |
| Result | Huang Zhong killed Xiahou Yuan at Mount Dingjun; Liu Bei held the strategic heights in a stalemate, and even Cao Cao's personal arrival could not reverse the decline, so he abandoned Hanzhong and left |
| Winner | Shu Han |
| Casualties | The Wei commander Xiahou Yuan was killed in battle, and the back-and-forth fighting caused enormous attrition on both sides |
| Territorial change | Liu Bei occupied Hanzhong and proclaimed himself King of Hanzhong; from there Shu Han could strike north into Guanzhong and shield Yi Province |
Impact
The only time in his life that Liu Bei defeated Cao Cao's main army head-on; Shu Han's territory reached its greatest extent.
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