Refine your search

The results of your search are listed below alongside the search terms you entered on the previous page. You can refine your search by amending any of the parameters in the form and resubmitting it.

Select all Deselect all Add selection to lightbox
Large Small
Thumbnails per page
Zhao Yun (-229 CE), courtesy name Zilong, was a military general during the Eastern Han dynasty and early Three Kingdoms period. He originally served under the northern warlord Gongsun Zan before later leaving to serve Liu Bei instead.<br/><br/> Under Liu Bei, he took part in many of the aspiring emperor-to-be's exploits, from the Battle of Changban to the Hanzhong Campaign. After the formation of the Shu Han state and Liu Bei's death, he still continued to fight, participating in the first of Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions, until he eventually died in 229 CE.<br/><br/> Little information is given about Zhao Yun and his life in historical sources, with most of his activities and character dramatised and exaggerated in fiction such as 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms', where he is but one of the lauded Five Tiger Generals who served under Liu Bei.
Cao Cao (155-15 March 220 CE), courtesy name Mengde, was one of the most important warlords during the Tree Kingdoms period. The penultimate Chancellor of the Eastern Han dynasty, Cao rose to great power in the last years of the dynasty. When the Eastern Han dynasty fell, Cao Cao was able to secure the largest and most prosperous cities of the central plains of northern China, uniting under his rule.<br/><br/> During the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what would become the state of Cao Wei, posthumously honoured with the title of 'Emperor Wu of Wei'. Though he had been very successful as the Han chancellor, his handling of the Han emperor Liu Xie was harshly criticised by many, and led to a long-running civil war, with opposition flocking to the banners of rival warlords Liu Bei and Sun Quan. Cao was unable to quell the civil war, and he died in 220 CE before he could unite China under his rule.<br/><br/> While Cao Cao was praised as a brilliant ruler and tactical genius who respectfully treated those beneath him like they were family, later historical accounts and fictional literature such as 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms' portray him as a cruel and merciless tyrant.