Zhao Kingdom (
w"Chao"). The commandery was organized following King Yong's military reforms and expansion into
Loufan and
Linhu (shown in outline to the northwest). Yanmen Commandery was first established around 300BC during China's
Warring States period by the
state of
Zhao's
King Yong,
posthumously known as the Wuling ("Martial-&-Numinous") King. It covered territory in what is now northern
Shanxi and southern
Inner Mongolia. He created Yanmen Commandery along with its companion commanderies of
Dai and
Yunzhong to consolidate his conquests close to what is now
Hohhot in
Inner Mongolia. Garrisons and forts were also placed at strategic spots within the new territory, such as
Yanmen Pass between the northern plains and the
Hutuo Valley. In the mid-3rd centuryBC, the Yanmen governor
Li Mu, relocated there under the command of
Handan used these interior defenses and drills the commandery's citizens to minimize casualties to good effect when he lured more than 100,000
Xiongnu horsemen into the heart of the commandery before defeating them with 160,000
chariots, cavalry, and archers.
Qin Empire Under the
Qin, Yanmen was one of the commanderies which made up the principal divisions of the empire. Its seat was at
Shanwu, south of present-day
Youyu in
Shanxi. It was part of the
realm of Dai, used as an appanage of the imperial kings and a title of rebels like
Han Xin and
Chen Xi. Han-era Yanmen included the Qin-era counties above, excluding
Xincheng and
Wangtao, with the addition of:
Eastern Han Empire Under the
Eastern Han, the commandery seat was moved to
Yinguan, present-day
Xiaguancheng Village southeast of
Shuozhou in
Shanxi.
Wei Kingdom During China's
Three Kingdoms period,
Wei moved the commandery seat to
Guangwu, southwest of present-day
Daixian in
Shanxi. The district is recorded as having 12,600
households around AD285.
Eastern Wei During China's
Northern and Southern dynasties period,
Eastern Wei had the commandery seat at
Daixian in what is now
Shanxi. During the 540s, the district is recorded having 30,434 people living in 6,328
households.
Sui Empire 's district capitals in AD610. Yanmen lies in the central north. Under the
Sui, Yanmen Commandery was abolished in 583, then revived in 607. It was recorded as having 42,502
households in 609.
Tang Empire Under the
Tang, Yanmen Commandery was part of
Hedong Circuit until it was abolished and replaced by
Dai Prefecture in 618, although it was temporarily restored between 742 and 758. During the Tang, the name was retained as an
honorary title: the generals
Tian Chengsi,
Tian Xu,
Tian Ji'an, and
Wang Zhixing were created "Prince" or "King of Yanmen" (
Yànménwáng). In 882, Yanmen Defense Command (
Yanmen Jiedushi) was also briefly established to oversee local defense. It had its seat at present-day
Daixian,
Shanxi. In 883, its name was changed to
Daibei. ==Governors==