Top 10 famous generals of ancient China

Xiang Yu 项羽

 

Xiang Yu

Xiang Yu (232–202 BC), born in Xiaxiang (in today's Jiangsu Province), was a prominent military commander and politician during the late Qin Dynasty period. As a leader of the famous Huiji Rebellion against the Qin Empire, he is the epitome of bravery in Chinese military history.

Following his uncle Xiang Liang, Xiang Yu started the Kuaiji Rebellion to fight against the Qin. He led the Chu rebel forces to destroy the main forces of the Qin armies at the Battle of Julu in 207 BC. After the fall of the Qin Dynasty, Xiang Yu proclaimed himself the "King of Western Chu" and ruled a vast area of land covering nine counties of Liang and Chu along the lower reaches of Yellow River and Yangtze River, which were located in parts of today's Shanxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan and Jiangsu, with Pengcheng (today's Xuzhou, Jiangsu Province) as his capital.

Xiang Yu was later engaged in the struggles known as the Chu–Han contention period, for power with Liu Bang, founder of the Han Dynasty. He was eventually defeated by Liu and committed suicide on the bank of the Wujiang River (in today's Anhui Province) in 202 BC.