Xiongnu; ancient nomadic confederation north of China
Meanings
1 sense · 3 examplesproper noun
the Xiongnu; ancient nomadic tribal confederation inhabiting the steppes north of China from the Warring States period through the Han dynasty
Historically, the Xiongnu were a powerful confederation of nomadic peoples who posed a major threat to northern Chinese states during the Warring States period and the Han dynasty. In the Eastern Han, they split into the Northern Xiongnu (who were defeated by the Han at the end of the 1st century CE and migrated westward) and the Southern Xiongnu (who submitted to the Han and later established the Former Zhao, Later Zhao, Xia, and Northern Liang states during the Sixteen Kingdoms period).
The Qin Dynasty built the Great Wall to defend against Xiongnu invasions.
Emperor Wu of Han sent Wei Qing and Huo Qubing on multiple campaigns against the Xiongnu.
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After the Southern Xiongnu submitted to the Han Dynasty, they gradually migrated inward and established regimes such as Former Zhao.