Editing Shu Han (section)

===Beginnings and founding===
{{further|End of the Han dynasty}}
{{Main|Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province}}
Towards the end of the [[Eastern Han dynasty]], [[Liu Bei]], a warlord and distant relative of the Han imperial clan, rallied the support of many capable followers. Following the counsel of his advisor, [[Zhuge Liang]], and Zhuge's [[Longzhong Plan]], Liu Bei conquered parts of [[Jingzhou (ancient China)|Jing Province]] (covering present-day [[Hubei]] and [[Hunan]]) in 208 and 209, [[Liu Bei's takeover of Yi Province|took over]] [[Yi Province]] (covering present-day [[Sichuan]] and [[Chongqing]]) from the warlord [[Liu Zhang (warlord)|Liu Zhang]] between 212 and 214, and wrestled control of [[Hanzhong]] from his rival, [[Cao Cao]], in 219. Afterwards, Liu Bei proclaimed himself [[Hanzhong Campaign|King of Hanzhong]].

From the territories he gained, Liu Bei established a position for himself in China during the final years of the Han dynasty. However, in 219, the alliance between Liu Bei and his ally, [[Sun Quan]], was broken when Sun sent his general, [[Lü Meng]], to [[Lü Meng's invasion of Jing Province|invade Jing Province]]. Liu Bei lost his territories in Jing Province to Sun Quan. [[Guan Yu]], the general guarding Liu Bei's assets in Jing Province, was captured and subsequently executed by Sun Quan's forces.

Cao Cao died in 220, and was succeeded by his son, [[Cao Pi]], who forced the last Han ruler, [[Emperor Xian of Han|Emperor Xian]], to abdicate the throne in his favour. Cao Pi then established the state of [[Cao Wei]], and declared himself emperor. Liu Bei contested Cao Pi's claim to the throne, and proclaimed himself "Emperor of Han" in 221. Although Liu Bei is widely seen as the founder of Shu Han, he never claimed to be the founder of a new dynasty; rather, he viewed Shu Han as a continuation of the Han dynasty.

To distinguish the state from other historical Chinese states of the same name, historians have added a relevant character to the state's original name: the state that called itself "Han" (漢) is also known as "Shu Han" (蜀漢) or just "Shu" (蜀).