The burning of Luoyang: how a coalition's failure paved the way for chaos

Wars & Conflicts · Published 16 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: In 190 AD, a massive coalition of warlords rose to depose the tyrant Dong Zhuo. But instead of restoring order, their campaign triggered a scorched-earth retreat, massive inflation, and the eventual collapse of the Han dynasty's stability.

The Campaign against Dong Zhuo began as a punitive expedition by regional officials and warlords, including Yuan Shao, Cao Cao, and Sun Jian. They sought to remove Dong Zhuo, who had held Emperor Xian hostage and exerted undue influence over the imperial court. The movement gained momentum after Qiao Mao, the Grand Administrator of Dong Commandery, distributed forged letters of accusation labeling Dong a traitor intent on usurping the throne.

The conflict's impact was devastating. To combat the supply shortages caused by the coalition's siege of Luoyang, Dong Zhuo repurposed nine of the Twelve Metal Colossi and various riches to produce fresh currency. This influx of bronze caused rampant inflation throughout the empire. In April 190, Dong executed a forced evacuation of Luoyang to Chang'an, ordering his soldiers to loot and massacre the civilian population. The capital was subsequently razed to the ground, with casualties described as beyond measurement.

Despite early successes, such as Sun Jian's defeat of Dong's forces at Yangren, the coalition ultimately collapsed due to poor coordination and internal greed. Many participating armies were merely opportunists seeking loot, and leaders like Yuan Shao were often preoccupied with their own territorial ambitions. By 192, the coalition existed only in name, and the political vacuum led to the era of the Three Kingdoms.

The era of Dong Zhuo ended violently on 22 May 192, when he was assassinated by Li Su. Although Dong had called upon his subordinate Lü Bu for protection, Lü Bu killed the tyrant instead. The aftermath was gruesome; Dong's corpse was left exposed in Chang'an, where a wick lit on his navel burned for days.

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