Han Guang

Who is Han Guang?

Han Guang was a ruler of the Kingdom of Liaodong of the Eighteen Kingdoms during the Chu–Han Contention, an interregnum between the Qin Dynasty and the Han Dynasty.

Han Guang was initially a minor official serving in the Zhao state. In 209 BC, Chen Sheng and Wu Guang initiated the Daze Village Uprising to overthrow the Qin Dynasty and Han Guang participated in the rebellion. Chen Sheng sent Wu Chen to attack the former territories of Zhao. After conquering Zhao, Wu Chen sent Han Guang to rally support from the former Yan state. Han Guang received a warm welcome and was nominated by the people of Yan to be their king.

The following year, the Zhao state came under attack by the Qin army led by Zhang Han. Han Guang sent his general Zang Tu to lead an army to help Zhao. Zang Tu followed the rebel coalition force led by Xiang Yu into subsequent battles against Qin and eventually overthrew the Qin Dynasty in 206 BC.

After the fall of Qin, Xiang Yu divided the former Qin Empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms. He granted Han Guang the title of "King of Liaodong" and relocated Han further into northeastern China. Han Guang's original territory was granted to Zang Tu, who was appointed by Xiang as the new "King of Yan". However, when Zang Tu returned to take over the Yan kingdom from Han Guang, the latter refused to give up and move to Liaodong. Zang Tu then attacked and defeated Han Guang and killed him.