Qin conquers Qi
221 BCE · Qi capital Linzi (modern Zibo, Shandong) · China · Ancient
The Qin army advanced south from Yan and struck straight at Linzi; King Tian Jian of Qi surrendered without a fight
Belligerents
Qin
- Commanders
- Wang Ben
- Strength
- Qin army advancing south from Yan, size unknown
Qi
- Commanders
- King Tian Jian of Qi
- Strength
- The Qi army had long been unprepared and offered almost no resistance
Background
Qi had long followed a policy of serving Qin to protect itself while standing by as the other five states were destroyed; in the end its cause was lost and it stood isolated and alone.
Course of the battle
- Qin army marches southWang Ben turned the army that had conquered Yan south against Qi
- Linzi surrenders without a fightUnder the threat of the Qin army and urged by his chancellor Hou Sheng, King Tian Jian of Qi opened the city gates and surrendered
Outcome at a glance
| Date | 221 BCE |
|---|---|
| Place | Qi capital Linzi (modern Zibo, Shandong) |
| Result | The Qin army advanced south from Yan and struck straight at Linzi; King Tian Jian of Qi surrendered without a fight |
| Winner | Qin |
| Casualties | No fighting recorded; Qi surrendered peacefully |
| Territorial change | Fall of the State of Qi; all six states became Qin territory, and Qin completed unification |
Impact
The last campaign of Qin's conquest of the six states, which established the first unified dynasty in Chinese history.
See the world in 221 BCE on the map →