WarData.net       ~~~       Sui Dynasty 隋朝 (581-618 CE) Military Timeline Introduction     The Sui Dynasty was relatively short, lasting only about 36 years. The first Sui Emperor embarked on an ambitious military campaign against the Goguryeo Kingdom (in what is now northern Korea). This campaign, in the year 598, ended in disaster. The second emperor, Yang, became obsessed with avenging his father's defeat. He launched three campaigns against Goguryeo, each of which ended in defeat. The last campaigns were launched in the years 613 and 614, during which rebellions were spreading throughout Sui China. Other expensive projects included the building of the Grand Canal and an invasion of Champa (now southern Vietnam).1   The emperor Yang had been born to a life of luxury which grew into extraordinary extravagance. He was also fond of building palaces, and constructed forty odd palaces “From Guanzhong in the west, to Luoyang in the east, to Jangdu in the Yangzi valley.” His engineers had not even finished one palace before he was designing another. He did not even visit many of the palaces he ordered to be built. All of them were elaborately and expensively lanscaped with gardens, ponds, sculptures, walls, and numerous buildings. Construction of the palaces became an obsession with the emperor, but each one added to the growing unrest of the people.2   The many building projects and the failed military expeditions, as well as disastrous flooding of the Hwang Ho River, caused famine, hardship, and unrest. In spite of a flood that devastated the North China plain in the year 611 CE, the emperor Yang continued in his efforts to conquer Goguryeo. Eventually, the people concluded that the Sui emperor had lost the mandate of Heaven, and the rebellions that resulted were the end of the Sui dynasty.3     Notes   1 Arthur F. Wright, “The Sui dynasty (581-617),” in The Cambridge History of China, Volume 3, Sui and T'ang China, 589-906, Part I, Denis Twitchett, ed. (New York: Cambridge University Press, 1979), 143-149.   2 Victor F. Xiong, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty: His life, Times, and Legacy (Albany: State University of New York Press, 2006), 95-105.   3 Victor F. Xiong, Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty, 231-232.   Battle or other event Adversaries Date(s) Description Sui Dynasty established Sui Dynasty rule 581 CE Northern Zhou dynasty ends. Sui Dynasty established with capital at Chang'an 長安, at modern Xi'an in Shaanxi Province. Unnamed Battle(s) Tuyuhun v Liangzhou 581 CE 1st year of Kaihuang, Wendi: The Tuyuhun attack Liangzhou. Mt. Erhan, Battle of Sui v Tuyuhun 583 CE 3rd year of Kaihuang, Wendi: The Sui army defeats the Tuyuhun at Mt. Erhan. Baidao, Battle of Sui v Tujue 583 CE 3rd year of Kaihuang, Wendi: The Battle of Baidao (Sui attacks the Tujue/Turks). Unnamed Battle(s) Sui v Tuyuhun 584 CE 4th year of Kaihuang, Wendi: Sui strikes at the Tuyuhun again. Jiankang, Battle of Sui v Chen 588 CE 8th year of Kaihuang, Wendi: Sui conquers the Chen dynasty at Jiankang. Unnamed Battle(s) Sui v Chen 589 CE 9th year of Kaihuang, Wendi: Sui conquers Chen dynasty in southern China and unifies China. Unnamed Battle(s) Sui v Wang Zhongxuan in Ling-nan 590 CE 10th year of Kaihuang, Wendi: Sui suppresses Wang Zhongxuan in Ling-nan. Unnamed Battle(s) Sui v ?? 590 CE 10th year of Kaihuang, Wendi: Sui suppresses the rebellions in Jiangnan. Kunzhou, Battle of Sui v Cuan Wan 597 CE 7th year of Kaihuang, Wendi: Sui defeats Cuan Wan at Kunzhou. Sui-Goguryeo War, First First Sui-Goguryeo War 598 CE 8th year of Kaihuang, Wendi: The Sui-Goguryeo Wars were a series of campaigns launched by the Sui Dynasty of China against the Goguryeo kingdom of Korea between 598 and 614. It resulted in the defeat of Sui and contributed to its eventual fall in 618. Bohai Sea, Battle of First Goguryeo-Sui War 598 CE 8th year of Kaihuang, Wendi: The fleet engaged in a battle against a Goguryeo fleet totalling 50,000 led by Admiral Kang Yi-sik, presumably on the present Bohai Sea. Weakened by ambushes and weather, the Sui fleet suffered a devastating loss. Dali Fortress, Battle of the Sui v Tujue 599 CE 19th year of Kaihuang, Wendi: The Battle of the Dali Fortress - Sui attacks the Tujue (Turks). Unnamed Battle(s) Li Yinglin of Xizhou v Sui 600 CE 20th year of Kaihuang, Wendi: Li Yinglin of Xizhou revolts. Unnamed Battle(s) Yang Liang v Yang Guang 604 CE 4th year of Renshou, Wendi: Yang Liang rebels against Yang Guang. Construction of the grand canal begins Sui Dynasty rule 605 CE 1st year of Daye, Yangdi: Sui builds the eastern capital, and the construction of the grand canal begins. Chinese-Champa War Sui v Champa 605 CE 1st year of Daye, Yangdi: Chinese-Champa War. Unnamed Battle(s) Sui and Tujue v Khitan 605 CE 1st year of Daye, Yangdi: Sui use Tujue (Turk) soldiers to attack the Khitan. Unnamed Battle(s) Liu Fang of Sui v Linyi (Champa) 605 CE 1st year of Daye, Yangdi: Liu Fang of Sui attacks Linyi (Champa). Unnamed Battle(s) Sui v Tuyuhun 609 CE 5th year of Daye, Yangdi: Sui attacks the Tuyuhun. Unnamed Battle(s) Sui v Taiwan 610 CE 6th year of Daye, Yangdi: Sui attacks Taiwan. Unnamed Battle(s) Sui v ?? 611 CE 7th year of Daye, Yangdi: Peasant’s uprising began. Peasant rebellion at Shandong’s Changbai mountain. Unnamed Battle(s) Gao Shida v Sui 611 CE 7th year of Daye, Yangdi: Gao Shida’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Wang Bo v Sui 611 CE 7th year of Daye, Yangdi: Wang Bo’s uprising. Sui-Goguryeo War, Second Second Sui-Goguryeo War 612 CE 8th year of Daye, Yangdi: Sui Yangdi’s first military campaign against Koguryo. Salsu, Battle of Second Sui-Goguryeo War 612 CE 8th year of Daye, Yangdi: Goguryeo cavalry forces, although outnumbered, overwhelmed the Chinese troops in combat and eventually emerged victorious. Unnamed Battle(s) Li Deyi v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Li Deyi’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Lu Mingxing v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Lu Mingxing’s uprising. Sui-Goguryeo War, Third Third Sui-Goguryeo War 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Sui Yangdi’s second military campaign against Koguryo. Unnamed Battle(s) Wu Hailiu v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Wu Hailiu’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Li San'er and Xiang Danzi v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Li San'er and Xiang Danzi’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Liang Huishang v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Liang Huishang’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Chen Zhen v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Chen Zhen’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Han Xiangguo v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Han Xiangguo’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Zhen Baodong v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Zhen Baodong’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Guo Fangyu v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Guo Fangyu’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Han Jinluo v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Han Jinluo’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Zhang Jincheng v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Zhang Jincheng’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Du Yanbing v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Du Yanbing’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Du Fuwei v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Du Fuwei’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Liu Yuanjin v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Liu Yuanjin’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Yang Xuangan v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Yang Xuangan revolts at Sui’s Eastern Capital (Luoyang). Unnamed Battle(s) Xiang Haiming v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Xiang Haiming's uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Meng Haigong v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Meng Haigong’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Peng Xiaocai v Sui 613 CE 9th year of Daye, Yangdi: Peng Xiaocai’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Zuo Xiaoyou v Sui 614 CE 10th year of Daye, Yangdi: Zuo Xiaoyou’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Tang Bi v Sui 614 CE 10th year of Daye, Yangdi: Tang Bi’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Zheng Wenya and Lin Baoyi v Sui 614 CE 10th year of Daye, Yangdi: Zheng Wenya and Lin Baoyi’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Lu Mingyue v Sui 614 CE 10th year of Daye, Yangdi: Lu Mingyue’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Meng Rang v Sui 614 CE 10th year of Daye, Yangdi: Meng Rang’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Wang Deren v Sui 614 CE 10th year of Daye, Yangdi: Wang Deren’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Xiongnu Liu Miaowang v Sui 614 CE 10th year of Daye, Yangdi: The Xiongnu Liu Miaowang's uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Zhang Dabiao v Sui 614 CE 10th year of Daye, Yangdi: Zhang Dabiao’s uprising. Sui-Goguryeo War, Fourth Fourth Sui-Goguryeo War 614 CE 10th year of Daye, Yangdi: Sui Yangdi’s third military campaign against Koguryo. Unnamed Battle(s) Yang Gongqing v Sui Yangdi 614 CE 10th year of Daye, Yangdi: Yang Gongqing makes a sneak attack on Sui Yangdi’s rear guard. Unnamed Battle(s) Liu Jialun v Sui 614 CE 10th year of Daye, Yangdi: Liu Jialun’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Sima Chang'an v Sui 614 CE 10th year of Daye, Yangdi: Sima Chang'an’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Wang Xuba v Sui 615 CE 11th year of Daye, Yangdi: Wang Xuba's uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Zhu Can v Sui 615 CE 11th year of Daye, Yangdi: Zhu Can’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Sui v Tujue 615 CE 11th year of Daye, Yangdi: Sui attacks the Tujue (Turks) at Yanmen. Unnamed Battle(s) Sui’s Li Yuan v rebels in Hedong 615 CE 11th year of Daye, Yangdi: Sui’s Li Yuan receives orders to crush a rebellion in the region of Hedong. Unnamed Battle(s) Jing Pantuo and Chai Baochang v Sui 615 CE 11th year of Daye, Yangdi: Jing Pantuo and Chai Baochang’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Li Zitong v Sui 615 CE 11th year of Daye, Yangdi: Li Zitong’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Lu Mingyue v Henan 615 CE 11th year of Daye, Yangdi: Lu Mingyue attacks and enters the prefectures of Henan. Unnamed Battle(s) Zhang Qixu v Sui 615 CE 11th year of Daye, Yangdi: Zhang Qixu’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Wei Dao'er v Sui 615 CE 11th year of Daye, Yangdi: Wei Dao'er’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Yang Zhongxu v Sui 615 CE 11th year of Daye, Yangdi: Yang Zhongxu’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Yan Xuanzheng v Sui 615 CE 11th year of Daye, Yangdi: Yan Xuanzheng’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Wei Qilin v Sui 615 CE 11th year of Daye, Yangdi: Wei Qilin’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Tujue v Sui 616 CE 12th year of Daye, Yangdi: the Tujue (Turks) raid the Sui borders. Unnamed Battle(s) Zhao Wanhai v Sui 616 CE 12th year of Daye, Yangdi: Zhao Wanhai’s uprising. Dahai Monastery, Battle at the Wagang v Sui Sui 616 CE 12th year of Daye, Yangdi: Wagang rebel uprising - the Battle at the Dahai Monastery. Unnamed Battle(s) Sun Hua v Sui 616 CE 12th year of Daye, Yangdi: Sun Hua’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Lu Gongxian v Sui 616 CE 12th year of Daye, Yangdi: Lu Gongxian’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Ge Qian v Sui 616 CE 12th year of Daye, Yangdi: Ge Qian's uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Lifei Shixiong v Sui 616 CE 12th year of Daye, Yangdi: Lifei Shixiong’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Zhen Di'er v Chang'an 616 CE 12th year of Daye, Yangdi: Zhen Di'er attacks Chang'an. Yuzhang, Battle of Lin Shihung rebels v Sui 616 CE 12th year of Daye, Yangdi: Lin Shihung rebels against the Sui - the Battle of Yuzhang. Unnamed Battle(s) Du Yangzhou and Shen Midi v Sui 616 CE 12th year of Daye, Yangdi: Du Yangzhou and Shen Midi’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Di Songbo v Sui 616 CE 12th year of Daye, Yangdi: Di Songbo’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Yang Shiluo v Sui 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: Yang Shiluo’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Li Gui v Sui 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: Li Gui’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Zhang Ziluo and Li Tongde v Sui 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: Zhang Ziluo and Li Tongde’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Dong Jingzhen v Sui 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: Dong Jingzhen’s uprising. Longxi, Occupation of Xue Ju v Sui 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: Xue Ju occupies Longxi. Yulin, Occupation of Guo Zihe v Yulin 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: Guo Zihe occupies Yulin. Unnamed Battle(s) Wang Ziying v Sui 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: Wang Ziying’s uprising. Unnamed Battle(s) Liu Wuzhou v Sui 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: Liu Wuzhou’s uprising. Nanyang, Battle of Wang Shichong v Lu Mingyue 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: Wang Shichong attacks Lu Mingyue at Nanyang. Unnamed Battle(s) Xu Yuanlang v Sui 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: Xu Yuanlang’s uprising. Chang'an, Battle of Li Yuan v Chang'an 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: Li Yuan attacks Chang'an. Shizi River, Battle of Wagang v Sui Sui 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: The Wagang rebellion - the Battles of the Shizi River and Heishi. Huoyi, Battle of Li Yuan v Guanzhong 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: Li Yuan captures Guanzhong - the Battle of Huoyi. Hejian, Battle of Dou Jiande v Sui 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: Dou Jiande’s uprising - the Battle of Hejian. Heishi, Battle of Wagang v Sui 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: The Wagang rebellion - the Battles of the Shizi River and Heishi. Unnamed Battle(s) Liang Shidu v Shuofang rebels 617 CE 1st year of Yinging, Gongdi: Liang Shidu occupies Shuofang and rebels. Bibliography   Graff, David. Medieval Chinese Warfare, 300-900. New York: Routledge, 2002.   Peers, C.J. Soldiers of the Dragon: Chinese Armies 1500 BC - AD 1840. Westminster, MD: Osprey Publishing, 2006.   Wright, Arthur F. “The Sui dynasty (581-617),” in The Cambridge History of China, Volume 3, Sui and T'ang China, 589-906, Part I, Denis Twitchett, ed. New York: Cambridge University Press, 1979.   Xiong, Victor F. Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty: His life, Times, and Legacy. Albany: State University of New York Press, 2006.   “Zhongguo lidai zhanzheng nianbiao” editorial board. Zhongguo lidai zhanzheng nianbiao 《中国历代战争年表》 (Chronology of Wars in China Through Successive Dynasties.) Beijing: Jiefangjun chubanshe (People's Liberation Army Press), 2003. [Non-English]   About the WarData.net website and database project       Pro Pax Perpetua. 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