World at War  /  Conflicts  /  Recorded History
World at War

Han–Xiongnu Wars

133 BC – 89 AD East Asia / Steppe Status: ended Casualties: Hundreds of thousands

Two centuries of war and diplomacy between Han China and the steppe nomad Xiongnu. Emperor Wu's cavalry generals Wei Qing and Huo Qubing drove them deep into Mongolia; the Xiongnu split, the southern half submitted, the northern fled west — possibly the seed of the Hunnic invasions of Rome.

Open on the interactive globe →

Belligerents

  • Han Dynasty (Wu of Han)
  • Xiongnu Confederation

Casualties

Hundreds of thousands

From World at War, an interactive atlas by Jairus Pereira. Figures are approximate, drawn from Wikipedia, UCDP, ACLED and academic sources — a design artefact, not an authoritative register. Contact.