Emperor Gaozu of Han

Reign: 201 BCE – 194 BCE
Life: 255 BCE–194 BCE

Liu Bang was among the few dynastic founders to have been born in a peasant family. He initially entered the Qin dynasty bureaucracy as a minor law enforcement officer in his hometown in Pei County, within the conquered state of Chu. During the political chaos following the death of Qin Shi Huang, who had been the first emperor in Chinese history, Liu Bang renounced his civil service position and became a rebel leader, taking up arms against the Qin dynasty. Within the year, Liu Bang broke out with his army and conquered the Three Qins, starting the Chu, Han Contention, a civil war among various forces seeking to inherit the Qin dynasty's former territory. In 202 BC, Liu Bang emerged victorious following the Battle of Gaixia, took control over much of the territory previously ruled by Qin, and established the Han dynasty with himself as the emperor. He also initiated the policy of heqin, a system of arranged marriages, to maintain peace between the Han Empire and the Xiongnu following the Han defeat at the Battle of Baideng in 200 BC.

During Emperor Gaozu of Han's reign, Emperor Kōgen ruled Japan.

Further reading: The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 1 by Denis Twitchett & Michael Loewe

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The World During Their Reign

The most notable rulers who held power elsewhere at the same time, from European courts to Ottoman, Mughal, and Chinese thrones.

Emperor Kōgen
Japan
201 BCE–194 BCE

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Emperor Gaozu of Han

The World During Their Reign

Meanwhile in history

Further Reading

The Cambridge History of China, Vol. 1