Wei

The empire of Wei was one of three main empires of China during the Three Kingdoms period. It competed against Shu and Wu to rule all of China. Cao Pi established the Wei empire in 220 A.D. and with it, officially ended the Han dynasty. It covered all of Northern China and lasted until 265 A.D., when it was overthrown by Sima Yan, who used it to found Jin.

Historians often refer to Wei as 'Cao Wei' (曹魏), this is done to distinguish the state from other historical Chinese states of the same name.

History
In the 180's and 190's A.D. the Han Dynasty's reign was slowly crumbling and ambitious warlords rose. One of these warlords was Imperial Chancellor Cao Cao, a man from Qiao county. He fought for the Han against the Yellow Turbans, the Ten Regular Attendants and Dong Zhuo. When Dong Zhuo was killed in 192 A.D. by his adopted son Lü Bu, China fell into civil war.

Through short-term and regional-scale wars, Cao Cao continued to expand his power. in 196 A.D. Cao Cao became in very good terms with Emperor Xian, and some viewed the emperor as a puppet ruler under Cao Cao's control.

Few years later Yuan Shao had defeated Gongsun Zan and the Heishan bandits at Yijing and with it, had taken control of the four northern provinces, making him the most powerful warlord of that time. Before this, Cao Cao had tried to maintain a good relationship with Yuan Shao by lobbying to have Yuan Shao appointed as Minister of Works. This, however had an opposite effect, as Yuan Shao thought Cao Cao was trying to humiliate him. A year later a deciding battle ensued between the two warlords.

Even though his army was much smaller, Cao Cao emerged victorious against Yuan Shao. This marked the beginning of Cao Cao's gradual reunification of northern China.

Cao Cao then focussed on the southern warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan, but, despite have superior numbers in terms of soldiers, suffered a devastating loss at Chibi in 208 A.D.

In March 15, 220 A.D. Cao Cao passed away and he was succeeded by his son Cao Pi, who, later that year on December the 11th seized the imperial throne and founded the Wei Dynasty. Following this, Liu Bei declared himself emperor of Shu in 221 A.D. and Sun Quan declared himself emperor of Wu in 229 A.D.

In 263 A.D. Wei, now under rulership of Cao Huan, attacked and conquered Shu. Shortly afterwards, in 265, the Wei dynasty was overthrown by its own last Imperial Chancellor, Sima Yan, grandson of Sima Yi, who then founded the Jin Dynasty.