Nan Chao

Nan Chao

 

a state in China that existed on the territory of present-day Yünnan Province from the seventh to the 13th century. In the eighth century it was temporarily a nominal vassal of the T’ang empire. During the eighth and ninth centuries it grew stronger and conducted several successful wars against the T’ang empire and its southwestern neighbors, expanding its territory by annexing their land. In 859 the ruler of Nan Chao took the title of emperor, and the state was renamed Tali. The state was destroyed in the 13th century by Mongol conquerers, who annexed the area to the Yüan empire.