An Lushan

Who was An Lushan?

An Lushan was a general who rebelled against the Tang Dynasty in China. His name was also transcribed into Chinese as Āluòshān or Gáluòshān, and he was posthumously named Prince La of Yan by his deputy Shi Siming.

An Lushan was of Sogdian and Tujue origin, at least by adoption. He rose to prominence defending the northeastern border from the Khitan and other northern threats. He was summoned to Chang'an, the Tang capital, several times and managed to get the favor of Chancellor Li Linfu and Emperor Xuanzong. This allowed An Lushan to amass significant military power in northeast China. After the death of Li Linfu, his opposition with rival generals Geshu Han and Yang Guozhong created military tension within the Empire, which was increased by the promotion of Yang Guozhong to Chancellor. In 755, An Lushan, following 8 or 9 years of preparation, rose in armed revolt, proclaiming himself to be the ruler of his own, new dynasty, precipitating a series of catastrophic events often known as the An Lushan Rebellion, named after him. An Lushan himself did not live to see the final end to open fighting, which lasted on into 763. Viewed as paranoid and dangerous, An was assassinated in 757 by his own son, An Qingxu, after which his Yan dynasty continued to spiral into a turmoil that eventually led to its eventual collapse in 763.