Battle of Xiangyang (191)

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Battle of Xiangyang

Part of the wars of the Three Kingdoms

Date	191
Location	Xiangyang (present day Xiangfan, Hubei), Jingzhou
Result	Liu Biao victor

Belligerents

Liu Biao

Sun Jian

Commanders

Liu Biao

Sun Jian†, Sun Ben

v • d • e

Three Kingdoms

Yellow Turbans – Dong Zhuo (Xingyang) – Jieqiao – Xiangyang – Yan Province – Sun Ce – Wancheng – Xiapi – Yijing – Guandu – Bowang – Xiakou – Changban – Red Cliffs – Tong Pass – Jicheng – Licheng – Yi Province – Hefei – Ruxukou – Mt. Dingjun – Han River – Fancheng – Jing Province – Xiaoting – Southern Campaign – Northern Expeditions – Shiting – Xingshi – Jiang's Expeditions (Didao) – Fall of Shu – Fall of Wu

The Battle of Xiangyang was a battle between Sun Jian and Liu Biao during the prelude to the Three Kingdoms period in China in 191 A.D. in Jingzhou. Sun Jian found the Imperial Seal in a well. Yuan Shu prepared to take advantage of his recent successes, so he sent Sun to attack Liu Biao at Xiangyang.

[edit] Battle

When Sun arrived at Fankou in Jingzhou, he was met with a shower of arrows; eventually, Sun Jian was able to land safely. Sun shot Cheng Sheng in the head with an arrow and killed him, this distraction allowed Han Dang to cut Zhang Hui’s head in two. When Sun Jian crossed the Han river, Sun attacked Huang Zu with a three pronged attack, Huang withdrew to Dengcheng. Jian defeated Cai Mao by slaughtering his troops. He completely defeated Huang Zu's formations and flung them back across the Han, and then he surrounded Xiangyang to prevent Huang from taking his troops into the city. Some remnants of Huang's forces fled to take refuge in Xian Shan, south of Xiangyang city. When Sun crossed the Han river, he was killed by Huang Zu at Xian Hill, and was carried off the battlefield. How Sun Jian died, isn't know and is only speculation: Sun being shot to death with arrows by Huang's men, Sun Jian fighting in the wilderness and being killed, or being crushed to death by boulders thrown down from above in 193, are just some examples. After Sun Jian died, Sun Ben took command of the rest army and went to Yuan Shu. Cheng Pu killed Lu Gong after the ambush. Huang Gai was able to capture Huang Zu, but he was traded for Sun Jian's body. Sun Jian's body was buried in the plains.

[edit] Modern references

The Battle of Xiangyang appears in video games such as Dynasty Warriors, but the name of the battle changes with almost every release. After, Sun Jian is killed, Sun Ce takes command of the army instead of Sun Ben. How Sun Jian dies changes with each game release possibly to show that no one knows how he died.