1. An Lushan was a Chinese military general and rebel leader during the Tang dynasty and is primarily known for instigating the An Lushan Rebellion which devastated China and killed millions of people.
25 Facts About An Lushan
1. 2.
An Lushan was of Sogdian and Gokturk origin, at least by adoption.
3.
An Lushan rose to prominence as a general by defending the northeastern Tang frontier from the Khitans and other threats.
4.
In late 755, An Lushan instigated open revolt and quickly captured Luoyang, the eastern capital, where in early 756 he proclaimed himself emperor of the new Yan dynasty.
5.
An Lushan's mother was a Gokturk of the Ashide clan and served as a sorceress.
6.
An Lushan's father died early, and his mother Lady Ashide married a Turkic general An Yanyan, who was a brother of general An Bozhi.
7.
An Lushan's name has been transcribed as Aluoshan or Yaluoshan, and he was posthumously named Prince La of Yan by his deputy Shi Siming.
8.
In 732, when the general Zhang Shougui was governing You Prefecture, it was discovered that An Lushan had stolen sheep.
9.
An Lushan's actions led to two princesses of the royal clan, who were married to Khitan and Xi leaders as part of the heqin policy, being executed in retaliation, and both groups rebelled in 745, though An defeated them.
10.
Also in 747, An Lushan was given the honorary title as chief deputy imperial censor, and Lady Duan, now described as his wife, although Lady Kang was still alive, was created a lady.
11.
An Lushan selected some 8,000 soldiers among the surrendered Khitan, Xi, and Tongluo tribesmen, organizing them into an elite corps known as the Yeluohe, which meant "the brave".
12.
An Lushan retained Gao Shang, Yan Zhuang, Zhang Tongru, and Sun Xiaozhe as his strategists; and Shi Siming, An Shouzhong, Li Guiren, Cai Xide, Niu Tingjie, Xiang Runrong, Li Tingwang, Cui Qianyou, Yin Ziqi, An Lushan Qiannian, Wu Lingxun, Neng Yuanhao, Tian Chengsi, Tian Qianzhen, and Ashina Chengqing as his generals.
13.
An Lushan subsequently had Shi defend against the Khitan counterattack, and Shi was able to repel the Khitan.
14.
At the conference Geshu and An Lushan got into an argument, which only stopped after Gao gazed at Geshu, stopping him from responding to An Lushan's insults.
15.
An Lushan submitted a petition to Emperor Xuanzong to replace 32 Han generals under his command with non-Han generals.
16.
Allegations of An's bribes to Fu reached the Emperor, who then had Fu executed, and sent another eunuch, Feng Shenwei to Fanyang to again summon An Lushan, who ignored the summons.
17.
An Lushan executed An Qingzong and An's first wife Lady Kang, and forced An Qingzong's present wife, Lady Rongyi, to take her own life.
18.
An Lushan approached Luoyang, where he encountered an ill-prepared army commanded by Feng, defeating Feng quickly and forcing Feng to flee and concede Luoyang to him.
19.
On Lunar New Year's day, 756, An Lushan declared himself Emperor at Luoyang, establishing a new state of Yan, making Zhang Tongru and the surrendered Tang official Daxi Xun his chancellors.
20.
An Lushan created An Qingxu the Prince of Jin and another son, An Qinghe, the Prince of Zheng.
21.
Once he had assumed the imperial title, An Lushan spent most of his time inside the Luoyang palace.
22.
An Lushan suffered from chronic eye problems that eventually led to blindness; he had ulcers; and he was extremely obese.
23.
An Lushan had a highly-trusted Khitan eunuch named Li Zhu'er.
24.
An Lushan favored his son An Qing'en and was considering appointing An Qing'en to be crown prince.
25.
The next morning, Yan announced to the Yan officials that An Lushan was seriously ill, and that he had appointed An Qingxu crown prince.