An Lushan Rebellion

What happened

General An Lushan, a half-Turkic general trusted by Tang Emperor Xuanzong, rebelled (755 CE) against perceived palace favoritism. An Lushan and co-conspirator Shi Siming commanded 200,000+ soldiers. They captured the capital Chang'an, forcing the emperor to flee. For eight years, Tang armies fought to suppress the rebellion. Entire regions were devastated through warfare, massacre, and famine. Estimates of deaths range from 2 million to 13 million—perhaps 15% of China's population. The rebellion broke Tang's fiscal power and military strength. Though Tang nominally endured until 907 CE, it never recovered its former authority.

Why it mattered

The An Lushan Rebellion demonstrated that even the greatest dynasty could be destabilized by internal military revolt. The massive death toll depopulated the north and shifted economic power southward—a pattern that persisted. The rebellion weakened Tang enough that local warlords increasingly exercised autonomy, foreshadowing the fragmentation that followed Tang's collapse. The rebellion's scale influenced Chinese historical consciousness about the dangers of giving too much power to military commanders. Modern Chinese military doctrine emphasizes civilian control partly due to this historical lesson.