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The Han Dynasty's Conquest of Dayuan (101 BCE) - A Clash Over Heavenly Horses
During the reign of Emperor Wu of Han (r. 141-87 BCE), China sought to expand its influence westward along the Silk Road. One of the key motivations was securing the famed "Heavenly Horses" (Tianma) from the Ferghana Valley (modern-day Uzbekistan and Tajikistan), then known as Dayuan. These horses were prized for their speed, endurance, and strength—qualities the Han needed to counter the nomadic Xiongnu confederation's cavalry.
In 104 BCE, Emperor Wu sent an envoy, Zhang Qian, to establish trade relations with Dayuan. However, when the Han demanded horses in exchange for gold and silk, the Dayuan king refused and executed the Han envoys. Enraged, Emperor Wu dispatched a punitive expedition under General Li Guangli, the "Ershi General."
The first campaign (104-103 BCE) was disastrous—logistical difficulties, harsh terrain, and resistance from Dayuan's fortified cities forced Li Guangli to retreat. Emperor Wu, determined to assert Han dominance, launched a second, larger expedition in 102 BCE with 60,000 troops, including allied nomadic warriors and siege engineers.
The Han army besieged Ershi (Greek: Alexandria Eschate, "Alexandria the Farthest"), a key Dayuan city. After a brutal siege, the Dayuan nobility turned against their king, Wugua, beheaded him, and offered peace. The Han installed a pro-Chinese ruler, Mocai, and extracted a tribute of 3,000 horses (including prized Ferghana steeds).
The conquest of Dayuan marked the peak of Han westward expansion under Emperor Wu. While costly, it demonstrated China's ability to project power far beyond its borders, setting a precedent for later dynasties' dealings with Central Asia.
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