Xiang Yu

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Xiang Yu 項羽
As depicted in the album Portraits of Famous Men, c. 1900, housed in the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Ruler of Chu
Reign	206–202 BC
Predecessor	Emperor Yi of Chu
Born	232 BC Xiaxiang (下相) (modern Suqian, Jiangsu)
Died	202 BC (aged 29–30) He County, Anhui
Wife	Consort Yu
Names Family name: Xiang (項) Personal name: Ji (籍) Courtesy name: Yu (羽)
Father	Xiang Chao

Xiang Yu (c. 232– c.January 202 BC),^[1] born Xiang Ji, was the Hegemon-King of Western Chu during the Chu–Han Contention period (206–202 BC) of China. A noble of the state of Chu, Xiang Yu rebelled against the Qin dynasty, destroying their last remnants and becoming a powerful warlord. He was granted the title of "Duke of Lu" (魯公) by King Huai II of the restoring Chu state in 208 BC. The following year, he led the Chu forces to victory at the Battle of Julu against the Qin armies led by Zhang Han. After the fall of Qin, Xiang Yu was enthroned as the "Hegemon-King of Western Chu" (西楚霸王) and ruled a vast area spanning central and eastern China, with Pengcheng as his capital. He engaged Liu Bang, the founding emperor of the Han dynasty, in a long struggle for power, known as the Chu–Han Contention, which concluded with his eventual defeat at the Battle of Gaixia and his suicide.