Trung sisters' rebellion

Statue of Ma Yuan at Fuboshan, Guilin

Date	40–43 AD (rebellion) 42–43 AD (Han intervention)
Location	Northern Vietnam
Result	Decisive Han victory

Belligerents

Han China

Yue

Commanders and leaders

Ma Yuan

Trung Trac
Trung Nhi

Strength

10,000 troops

–

In 40 AD the Vietnamese leader Trưng Trắc and her sister Trưng Nhị rebelled against Chinese authorities in Jiaozhi (in what is now northern Vietnam). Han China dispatched General Ma Yuan to lead an army to strike down the Yue rebellion of the Trung sisters. In 43 AD, the Han army fully suppressed the uprising and regained complete control. The Trung sisters were captured and beheaded by the Han forces.

In March of 40 AD, the Trung sisters, Trung Trac (Zheng Ce) and Trung Nhi (Zheng Er), led the Yue people to rise up in rebellion against the Han. It began at the Red River Delta, but soon spread to other Yue tribes along the coast to the north and south. The uprising gained the support of about sixty-five towns and settlements. Trung Trac was proclaimed as the queen. Even though she gained control over the countryside, she was not able to capture the fortified towns.

The Han government (situated in Luoyang) responded rather slowly to the emerging situation. In May or June of 42 AD, Emperor Guangwu gave the orders to initiate a military campaign. General Ma Yuan was placed in command of the campaign to suppress the rebellion. He was given the title Fubo Jiangjun (伏波將軍; General who Calms the Waves).

Ma Yuan and his staff began mobilizing a Han army in southern China. It comprised about 10,000 troops. From Guangdong, Ma Yuan dispatched a fleet of supply ships along the coast.

He led the Han army through difficult terrain towards the Red River Delta, where they arrived in early 43 AD. The rebellion was stricken down in April or May. The Trung sisters were captured and decapitated. By the end of 43 AD, the Han army had taken full control over the region by defeating the last pockets of resistance.

...
Wikipedia