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The '''Yellow Turban Rebellion''' was an attempt to overthrow the [[Han Dynasty]]. Although the rebellion failed, it weakened the dynasty by giving a large amount of power to the regional lords.

The '''Yellow Turban Rebellion''' was an attempt to overthrow the [[Han Dynasty]]. Although the rebellion failed, it weakened the dynasty by giving a large amount of power to the regional lords.

The rebellion was started by Zhang Jiao, a member of a [[Turkic]] tribe (probably [[Xiongnu]]) who gathered support among the peasants and non-Chinese in [[Chang'an]] and the surrounding area. By 180, he had gathered almost 200,000 followers, known as the Yellow Turbans (sometimes Yellow Scarves) for the headgear they wore.

The rebellion was started by Zhang Jiao, a member of a [[Turkic]] tribe (probably [[Xiongnu]]) who gathered support among the peasants and non-Chinese in [[Chang'an]] and the surrounding area. By 180, he had gathered almost 200,000 followers, known as the Yellow Turbans (sometimes Yellow Scarves) for the headgear they wore.

In 182, most of the Han soldiers were in the South-West, dealing with unrest among the Nanman tribes. As a result, newly crowned [[Emperor Xian]] was forced to reach out to the local lords to organize an anti-rebel force. The court also formed volunteer peasant militias to defend cities near the Yellow Turban controlled areas.

In 182, most of the Han soldiers were in the South-West, dealing with unrest among the Nanman tribes. As a result, newly crowned [[Emperor Xian]] was forced to reach out to the local lords to organize an anti-rebel force. The court also formed volunteer peasant militias to defend cities near the Yellow Turban controlled areas.

The rebellion was short-lived, lasting only a few months. While Zhang Jiao had a very large force, most of his followers were not trained in combat. Zhang Jiao's body was found by [[Yuan Shao|Yuan Shao's]] soldiers in the summer, dead from uncertain causes. Afterwards, the remaining Yellow Turbans split up into smaller groups which continued to cause unrest in the north until 187, when the last rebel leader, Zhang Sui, was captured.

The rebellion was short-lived, lasting only a few months. While Zhang Jiao had a very large force, most of his followers were not trained in combat. Zhang Jiao's body was found by [[Yuan Shao|Yuan Shao's]] soldiers in the summer, dead from uncertain causes. Afterwards, the remaining Yellow Turbans split up into smaller groups which continued to cause unrest in the north until 187, when the last rebel leader, Zhang Sui, was captured.