Emperor Gaozu of Han

Founding emperor of the Han dynasty (256–195 BC)

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Lived -256–-195, aged 61China

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Wikipedia
60 languages
Cross-language footprint
Rank in China
#235
Models
Era
-256–-195
Aged 61

Summary

Updated 2026-06-08

A peasant who became emperor. Liu Bang walked out of a village job as a minor law officer, rode the collapse of the Qin dynasty, and outmaneuvered his rivals to found the Han — one of China's longest-lasting imperial lines.

Biography

About

Liu Bang was born into a peasant family, rare among dynastic founders, and worked as a low-level law enforcement officer in Pei County under the Qin. When Qin Shi Huang died and the empire fractured, Liu Bang abandoned his post, took up arms, and forced the surrender of the Qin ruler Ziying in 206 BC. His rival Xiang Yu parceled out the fallen Qin's lands and shunted Liu Bang to Bashu, a poor backwater, as "King of Han." Within a year Liu Bang broke out, conquered the Three Qins, and fought a brutal civil war that ended at the Battle of Gaixia in 202 BC. He declared the Han dynasty, cut taxes,…

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