Chu-Han Contention
2 min readEmperor Gao（256 BC or 247 BC-June 1，195 BC），commonly known inside China as Gaozu，personal name Liu Bang，was the first emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty，ruling over China from 202 BC until 195 BC，and one of only a few dynasty founders who emerged from the peasant class（the other major example being Zhu Yuanzhang，founder of the Ming Dynasty）.Before becoming an emperor，he was also called Duke of Pei after his birthplace.He was also created as the Prince of Han by Xiang Yu，the Grand Prince of Western Chu following the collapse of Qin Dynasty，and was called so before becoming emperor.
Early Life
Liu Bang was born into a peasant family in Pei（present Pei County in Jiangsu Province）.When he was young，he did not like farm work，and was evidently living arogue’s life.Not surprisingly，he was not the favorite son of his peasant father.
After he grew up，Liu Bang served as a patrol officer in his county.Once he was responsible for transporting a group of prisoners to Mount Li in present Shaanxi province.During the trip many prisoners fled.Fearful that he would be punished for the prisoners’flight，Liu Bang released the remaining prisoners and fled himself，becoming the leader of a band of brigands.On one of his raids，he met a county magistrate who became impressed with his leadership skills and gave his daughter Lu Zhi to him in marriage.
Chu-Han Contention
Now considering the whole former Qin Empire under his domination，Xiang Yu realigned the territories of not only the remaining parts of Qin but also the rebel states，dividing the territories into 19 principalities.Xiang Yu did not honor the promise by Xin，Prince Huai of Chu，who would soon himself be assassinated by Xiang’s orders.Instead，he gave Guanzhong to the princes of three Qins.Liu Bang was only awarded the Principality of Han（modern Sichuan，Chongqing，and southern Shaanxi）.
In Hanzhong，Liu Bang focused his efforts on developing agriculture methods and training an army，through which he reinforced his resource accumulation and military power.Before long，Liu broke out of his principality，deposed the kings of three Qins and occupied Guanzhong，where he launched a war now known as the Chu-Han War，against Xiang Yu.
Although Xiang Yu was far superior in military ability to Liu Bang，he was at a political disadvantage.Xiang Yu kept defeating Liu in the battlefield，but each of his victories drove more people to support Liu.When Xiang Yu finally was defeated，he could not recover and committed suicide.
The war lasted five years（206-202 BC）and ended with Liu Bang’s victory.
Having defeated Xiang Yu，Liu proclaimed himself emperor and established the HanDynasty in 202 BC and made Chang’an（present city of Xi’an）his capital city.Liu became historically known as Emperor Gao of Han.
