An Lushan Proclaims Himself Emperor, Founding the Yan Dynasty (756)
On February 5, 756, the military general An Lushan proclaimed himself Emperor of a new state called Yan, directly challenging the authority of the Tang dynasty's Emperor Xuanzong. This bold declaration marked a pivotal escalation of the An Lushan Rebellion, a conflict that would kill millions and permanently weaken one of history's greatest empires. Though An Lushan's imperial ambitions would ultimately fail, the rebellion he ignited reshaped Chinese history for centuries to come.
The Rise of a Frontier General
An Lushan was born around 703 CE, likely of mixed Sogdian and Turkic heritage, in the frontier regions of northeastern China. His multilingual abilities and military talents helped him rise rapidly through the Tang dynasty's ranks. By the 740s, he had won the favor of Emperor Xuanzong and the influential consort Yang Guifei, securing appointment as military governor over three crucial northern provinces: Fanyang, Pinglu, and Hedong. This gave An Lushan command over a massive standing army, estimated at over 150,000 troops, far exceeding the forces available to the central Tang court. His close relationship with the imperial family, including his adoption as a fictive son by Yang Guifei, initially masked growing tensions with rival officials, particularly the powerful chancellor Yang Guozhong, whose intrigues against An Lushan helped push the general toward rebellion.
Did You Know?
Before his rebellion, An Lushan was famously overweight, with historical records claiming he weighed over 330 pounds. Despite his size, he reportedly performed an energetic 'Sogdian whirl' dance for Emperor Xuanzong's court, a spinning dance that astonished onlookers given his considerable girth.
Rebellion and the Proclamation of Yan
In December 755, An Lushan launched his rebellion, marching south with his formidable army under the pretext of removing corrupt officials from the Tang court. His forces moved swiftly, capturing the eastern capital of Luoyang within weeks. Emboldened by these victories and the apparent weakness of Tang resistance, An Lushan declared himself emperor of a new dynasty he named Yan on February 5, 756. This audacious act formally severed any pretense of loyalty to the Tang throne and established a rival imperial court. An Lushan's proclamation sent shockwaves through China, forcing Emperor Xuanzong to flee the capital Chang'an in the following months. The rebellion's momentum continued to build, drawing in various factions and even foreign powers, as the once-stable Tang empire fractured under the strain of civil war.
Collapse and Lasting Consequences
An Lushan's reign as self-proclaimed emperor proved brief and troubled. Suffering from poor health, reportedly including blindness and painful boils, he grew increasingly erratic and was assassinated by his own son An Qingxu in January 757, less than a year after declaring his empire. Despite his death, the rebellion he started raged on for nearly eight more years under subsequent leaders, not concluding until 763. The human cost was staggering, with census records suggesting population losses in the tens of millions, though scholars debate how much reflects actual deaths versus displacement and record-keeping collapse. The war's aftermath saw Tang authority permanently diminished, with regional military governors gaining unprecedented autonomy. The weakened state also invited external threats, most notably the Tibetan Empire's brief but humiliating sack of Chang'an in 763. The An Lushan Rebellion is widely considered the beginning of the Tang dynasty's long decline, which would continue until its eventual collapse in 907.