Xianbei Empire (93 – 234 CE)

During the 2nd to 3rd centuries ce, nomadic groups under the name Xianbei grew dramatically in power in the wake of the collapsing Xiongnu Empire along the northern frontier of the Chinese Han Empire. The name Xianbei refers to a confederation of tribes that spoke different languages and came from varying regions.

The Xianbei were pastoral nomads and excellent cattle breers. They were famous for their horses, sheep, and especially for the horns of the Saiga antelope whose horn delivered a superb material for bows.

In 87, the Xianbei attacked the Xiongnu chanyu Youliu and killed him. After the downfall of the Xiongnu, the Xianbei replaced them with a loose confederacy from 93 CE.

After many struggles against the Xiongnu Empire, the Xianbei manage to establish their own presence in Mongolia, even driving out the last of the Xiongnu near lake Balkhash.

By the mid-third century CE, Xianbei controlled much of northern China, from Hebei and Shanxi to the Daqing Mountains in Inner Mongolia.

During the Former Han period (206 BCE-8 CE) China was not very aware of the Xianbei, but at the beginning of the Later Han period (25-220 CE), in 41 CE, and then again in 45 CE, the Xianbei and Wuhuan aligned with the Xiongnu and attacked border regions of the Han empire.

The third century saw both the fragmentation of the Xianbei state in 235 and the branching out of the various Xianbei tribes later to establish significant empires of their own.
Xianbei Empire (93 – 234 CE)