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Battle of Ikh Bayan
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The Battle of Ikh Bayan , was a major expedition launched against the Xiongnu by the Han Dynasty in June, 89. The battle was a success for the Han under Dou Xian (d. 92).
In June 89 the Han dispatched a force which promptly advanced from Jilu, Manyi and Guyang in three great columns, composed of their allies, specifically the main army of the Southern Xiongnu.
With minimal resistance they advanced towards Gobi Altai in present-day Mongolia. A large detachment then moved to the northwest, and in the major battle of the campaign they defeated the Northern Shanyu at Ikh Bayan and pursued him westwards into the Altain Nuruu ranges.
Dou Xian brought the main body of his troops in triumphal progress north to the Khangai Mountains, west of present day Kharkhorin. There he erected the Stele of Yanran , composed by his client, the historian Ban Gu, which celebrated the achievement of the battle.
AftermathAfter the battle, Dou Xian led his forces back, and the Northern Shanyu sought to negotiate peace. The Southern Shanyu Tuntuhe, however, was anxious to destroy his rival completely, and early in 90, as embassies were still being exchanged, he launched an attack, captured his seal and treasure and his wives and daughters.
Dou Xian then reported that the Northern Shanyu was so weak there was no point in treating with him further. In February 91, he mounted a final invasion, with two of his generals Geng Kui and Ren Shang in charge. They advanced from Juyan and defeated the shanyu, captured his mother and killed 5,000 of his armies, drove him in flight again to the west from Altayn Nuruu. He was not heard of again.
By 93 those of his 100,000 followers in Mongolian steppe who resisted to surrender, had assumed the name of Xianbei instead of Xiongnu. They eventually emerged as the main body of Toba and Rouran later in between 3rd and 4th-century, its former territory was steadily taken over by the tribes of Xianbei from the northeast.
While the rest of the Xiongnu left in Dzungaria , specifically near Lake Barkol, had not been directly affected, and some part of the shattered polity was reconstructed under a new shanyu, but was killed until 93, no shanyu, however, with an exception for Southern Xiongnu was ever heard of again . On the frontier of China which faced present day Mongolia, the Xiongnu state was ended.
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