# An Lushan

> Chinese general and emperor of Yan

**Wikidata**: [Q360559](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q360559)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/An_Lushan)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/an-lushan

## Summary
An Lushan was a Chinese general and military officer who served as the emperor of Yan, a state he founded in 756. He is historically significant as a usurper who initiated a major rebellion against the Tang dynasty in 755, challenging the empire's authority over China proper.

## Biography
- **Known for:** Founding the state of Yan and leading the An Lushan Rebellion against the Tang dynasty.
- **Field(s):** Military leadership, Imperial politics.
- **Employer(s)/Affiliations:** Tang dynasty (prior to rebellion), Yan (as emperor).
- **Positions held:** Military officer, Emperor, Usurper.

## Contributions
An Lushan's primary contribution to history was the founding of the state of Yan and the initiation of the An Lushan Rebellion. In 756, he established Yan as a Chinese state founded specifically as a rebellion against the Tang Dynasty. Prior to this, in 755 C.E., he instigated the An Lushan Rebellion, a significant military uprising against the Tang dynasty. His actions transitioned him from a military officer within the Tang system to an emperor and illegitimate claimant to state power.

## FAQs
**What was An Lushan's role in the Tang dynasty?**
An Lushan was a military officer and general within the Tang dynasty, an empire in China proper between 618 and 907 AD, before turning against it.

**What is the An Lushan Rebellion?**
The An Lushan Rebellion was a rebellion against the Tang dynasty of China that began in 755 C.E. It was led by An Lushan and resulted in the creation of the state of Yan.

**What state did An Lushan found?**
An Lushan founded the state of Yan in 756. It was a Chinese state that existed until 763 and was established as a rebellion against the Tang Dynasty.

**What titles did An Lushan hold?**
An Lushan held the titles of military officer, general, and emperor of Yan. He is also described as a usurper, defined as an illegitimate or controversial claimant to state power.

## Why They Matter
An Lushan matters as a pivotal figure in Chinese history whose actions destabilized the Tang dynasty, one of the most significant empires in China proper (618–907 AD). By founding the state of Yan (756–763) and leading the An Lushan Rebellion in 755, he shifted the political landscape of the era. His role as a usurper highlights the internal conflicts and military power struggles that characterized the mid-8th century in China.

## Notable For
*   Founding the state of Yan in 756.
*   Initiating the An Lushan Rebellion in 755 C.E.
*   Serving as a military officer and general.
*   Claiming the title of Emperor of Yan.
*   Acting as a usurper against the Tang dynasty.

## Body
### Early Identity and Background
An Lushan was a human identified as a Chinese general and military officer. Historical records provide several aliases for him, including Rokhshan, On Luk Shan, On Look Shan, Ngan Lu-shan, and An Lu-shan. He is primarily defined by his role as a member of an armed force or uniformed service who held a position of authority.

### The An Lushan Rebellion
In 755 C.E., An Lushan initiated the An Lushan Rebellion. This event was a rebellion against the Tang dynasty of China. The rebellion took place within the context of the Tang dynasty, an empire in China proper that existed between 618 and 907 AD.

### Establishment of the Yan State
Following the rebellion, An Lushan founded the state of Yan in 756. Yan was a Chinese state that lasted until 763. It was founded explicitly as a rebellion against the Tang Dynasty. As the founder, An Lushan assumed the role of emperor, becoming the leader of this short-lived state.

### Political Status
An Lushan is categorized as a usurper, defined as an illegitimate or controversial claimant to state power. This status is directly linked to his transition from a general in the Tang dynasty to the emperor of the rebel state of Yan. His sitelink count across knowledge bases is 37, with a Wikipedia title identifying him as "An Lushan."

## References

1. China Biographical Database
2. [Source](https://books.google.fr/books?hl=es&id=W0vRAAAAMAAJ&focus)
3. International Standard Name Identifier
4. [Source](https://www.britannica.com/biography/An-Lushan)
5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
6. Virtual International Authority File
7. CERL Thesaurus
8. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File
9. Catalogo of the National Library of India