
Rebel leader who ravaged Sichuan during the Ming-Qing transition.
Compare Zhang Xianzhong with another historical figure:
Zhang Xianzhong joined a peasant rebellion in Shaanxi province during the late Ming dynasty. He quickly rose to become a major rebel leader, gathering a large army and establishing a base of operations in the region.
Zhang Xianzhong captured the city of Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province. He then proclaimed the Daxi dynasty and made Chengdu his capital. The capture was accompanied by widespread destruction and massacres of the local population.
Zhang Xianzhong proclaimed the Daxi (Great Western) dynasty in Sichuan. He established a government and minted his own coinage. His rule was characterized by extreme violence, including the systematic killing of scholars, officials, and civilians.
Zhang Xianzhong was killed in battle against Qing forces in Xichong, Sichuan. His death led to the collapse of the Daxi dynasty. The Qing conquest of Sichuan was completed shortly after, but the province had been devastated by years of warfare.
See how Zhang Xianzhong stacks up against other historical figures