Timeline of the Three Kingdoms period

The Yellow Turban Rebellion

Yellow Turban Rebellion crushed

Death of Emperor Ling of Han; He Jin declared Liu Bian as the new Emperor Shao Power struggle between He Jin and the eunuchs; He Jin assassinated by the eunuchs; Yuan Shao and Yuan Shu stormed the palace and massacred the eunuchs Dong Zhuo seized power and deposed Emperor Shao; Dong Zhuo installed the Prince of Chenliu on the throne as Emperor Xian of Han Lü Bu killed Ding Yuan and defected to Dong Zhuo

Dong Zhuo had the deposed Emperor Shao murdered Campaign against Dong Zhuo led by Yuan Shao Battle of Xingyang between Cao Cao and Dong Zhuo's forces

Battle of Yangcheng between Yuan Shu and Yuan Shao Battle of Jieqiao between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan Sun Jian killed in an ambush during the Battle of Xiangyang against Liu Biao's forces ^[1]

Dong Zhuo killed by Lü Bu

Battle of Fengqiu between Cao Cao and Yuan Shu

Liu Bei took over governorship of Xuzhou Sun Ce received support from Yuan Shu Sun Ce's conquests in Jiangdong began Battle of Yan Province between Lü Bu and Cao Cao, Lü Bu seized Yanzhou from Cao Cao with help from defectors Zhang Miao and Chen Gong; Lü Bu abandoned Yanzhou after Cao Cao laid siege

Sun Ce launched an offensive across the Yangtze River and successfully occupied the strategic position of Niuzhu Yuan Shu declared himself emperor of the Zhong Dynasty in Shouchun Cao Cao invaded Shandong

Lü Bu turned on his host, Liu Bei, and seized Xiapi Cao Cao received Emperor Xian in Xuchang

Battle of Wancheng between Cao Cao and Zhang Xiu

Battle of Yijing between Yuan Shao and Gongsun Zan Lü Bu switched allegiance to Yuan Shu; Liu Bei defeated at Xiaopei Lü Bu defeated in the Battle of Xiapi by Cao Cao and was executed

Death of Gongsun Zan in the Battle of Yijing Liu Bei launched the campaign against Yuan Shu; Death of Yuan Shu Sun Ce captured Huancheng and defeated Liu Xun Cao Cao reinforced alliance with Sun Ce; Sun Kuang married Cao Cao's niece while Cao Zhang married Sun Ben's daughter Sun Ce had Xu Gong executed Liu Bei seized Xuzhou from Cao Cao and placed Guan Yu in control of Xiapi; Cao Cao led a campaign to reclaim Xuzhou; Guan Yu surrendered and entered Cao Cao's service

Battle of Guandu between Cao Cao and Yuan Shao; Guan Yu left Cao Cao's service Sun Ce assassinated by Xu Gong's former servants

Sun Yi killed by Bian Hong

Death of Taishi Ci

Zhuge Liang entered Liu Bei's service and presented the Longzhong Plan; Zhuge Liang went to Eastern Wu to negotiate the alliance between Liu Bei and Sun Quan

Battle of Xiakou between Sun Quan and Huang Zu Battle of Changban between Liu Bei and Cao Cao Winter – Cao Cao defeated at the Battle of Red Cliffs by the allied forces of Sun Quan and Liu Bei; Liu Bei seized Jingzhou; Guan Yu placed in charge of Jingzhou Aftermath of Red Cliffs: Battle of Yiling, Battle of Jiangling

Battle of Tong Pass between Cao Cao and Ma Chao

Siege of Jicheng Ma Chao's siege of Ji succeeded Battle of Lucheng Ma Chao failed to suppress Yang Fu Cao Cao conferred the title of Duke of Wei and was given ten commanderies as his dukedom

Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province began

Liu Bei defeated Liu Zhang and took over Yizhou; basis of the Three Kingdoms according to the Longzhong Plan was formed Battle of Yangping between Cao Cao and Zhang Lu Battle of Baxi between Zhang Fei and Zhang He

Cao Cao conferred the title of Prince of Wei

Battle of Xiaoyao Ford between Zhang Liao and Sun Quan Battle of Ruxukou between Cao Cao and Sun Quan

Battle of Mount Dingjun between Liu Bei and Cao Cao Battle of Han River between Liu Bei and Cao Cao Battle of Fancheng between Guan Yu and Cao Ren Liu Bei conquered Hanzhong and declared himself Prince of Hanzhong; Guan Yu promoted to General of the Front Guan Yu defeated in Eastern Wu's invasion of Jingzhou; Death of Guan Yu

Death of Cao Cao in Luoyang

Cao Pi usurped the throne and established the Kingdom of Cao Wei; Liu Bei declared himself Emperor and established the Kingdom of Shu-Han

Liu Bei defeated at the Battle of Xiaoting by Lu Xun

Death of Liu Bei in Baidicheng; Liu Shan ascended to the throne of Shu-Han with Zhuge Liang as Chancellor; Shu-Han reaffirmed its alliance with Eastern Wu

Spring - Zhuge Liang's Southern Campaign

Spring – The first of Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions; Battle of Xincheng between Meng Da and Sima Yi, Battle of Tianshui between Zhuge Liang and Ma Zun, Battle of Jieting between Ma Su and Zhang He Battle of Shiting between Lu Xun and Cao Xiu Winter – Zhuge Liang's second northern expedition; the Siege of Chencang

Spring – Zhuge Liang's third northern expedition Sun Quan declared himself emperor and established the Kingdom of Wu

Zhuge Liang's fourth northern expedition; introduction of the wooden ox

Spring – Zhuge Liang's fifth northern expedition; the Battle of Wuzhang Plains between Zhuge Liang and Sima Yi Death of Zhuge Liang; Death of former Emperor Xian of Han

Zhu Ran's siege of Fancheng lifted by Sima Yi

Sima Yi defeated Zhuge Ke

Battle of Xingshi between Shu-Han and Cao Wei

The first of Jiang Wei's Northern Expeditions

Incident at Gaoping Tombs

Sima Yi suppressed Wang Ling's rebellion and seized complete control of Cao Wei Death of Sima Yi

Battle of Didao between Cao Wei and Shu-Han Guanqiu Jian and Wen Qin rebelled in Cao Wei

Zhuge Dan rebelled in Cao Wei

Cao Wei conquered Shu-Han; End of the Kingdom of Shu-Han

End of the Kingdom of Cao Wei; Founding of the Jin Dynasty

The Jin Dynasty conquered the Kingdom of Wu; End of the Kingdom of Wu; the Jin Dynasty became the de facto ruling dynasty in China