Battles & Campaigns · 219
Battle of Fancheng
Fancheng, Xiangyang, Hubei, China
What happened
Guan Yu surrounded Fancheng on the Han River. In August heavy rain flooded the river and destroyed the relief army, and Yu Jin surrendered. Later Xu Huang, with more troops, used a trick and attacked Guan Yu's camps, forcing him to lift the siege.
Why it matters
While Guan Yu was away, Sun Quan broke his alliance with Liu Bei and seized Jing Province. It cost Liu Bei control of Jingzhou.
What came next
Guan Yu's army fell apart and he was captured; Liu Bei later fought Sun Quan at Xiaoting.
Did you know?
In the novel 'Romance of the Three Kingdoms', Guan Yu causes the flood by damming a river, but history says it was heavy rain.
Timeline
- Oct 208Battle of Changban.
- Aug 219Floods destroy the relief army at Fancheng.
- Dec 219Guan Yu lifts the siege.
- 221–222Battle of Xiaoting.