Huang Chao

Huang Chao was a salt trader and the leader of a major agrarian rebellion that, during the last decade of his life, seriously weakened the Tang dynasty.

Well-educated, Huang first became a salt smuggler, before joining Wang Xianzhi's rebellion in the mid-870s. After splitting with Wang, his army roved much of the Tang realm for years. In 881, his troops captured the capital Chang'an, forcing Emperor Xizong of Tang to flee. Huang proclaimed himself the Qi emperor, but was defeated by the Tang army led by the Shatuo chieftain Li Keyong in 883 and forced to desert Chang'an. Following successive defeats, including by former subordinates Zhu Wen and Shang Rang who surrendered to Tang, Huang was killed by his nephew Lin Yan during a flight.