# Split of the Xiongnu into Northern and Southern (48 CE)

URL: https://allhistories.com/mongolia/timeline/48-split-of-the-xiongnu-into-northern-and-southern
Location: Orkhon region and Ordos frontier
Themes: main-event

In 48 CE Bi, the Rizhu King of the Right and the eldest son of the previous chanyu, had a stronger claim than Punu, who was named heir. Eight southern tribes with 40,000 to 50,000 men broke away and proclaimed Bi chanyu, forming the Southern Xiongnu. Punu kept the core territory around the Orkhon, which became the Northern Xiongnu. The southern group, hit by natural disasters and pressure from Punu, entered tributary relations with Eastern Han in 50 CE. Bi set up his court in Meiji County, and his followers were resettled in eight frontier commanderies alongside Chinese settlers. They became dependent on Han trade and annual subsidies. The division was permanent. The Northern Xiongnu were later broken by Han campaigns and absorbed largely by the Xianbei, while remnants may have become the Yueban and Hephthalites. The Southern Xiongnu stayed on the frontier until Cao Cao reorganised them into the Five Divisions in 216. At this point in the timeline (48), Punu (c. 46 – c. 83) was chanyu of the Xiongnu on the Mongolian steppe, and from the split of 48 CE the Northern Chanyu, rival of the Southern Xiongnu allied with Han China; Sutuhu / Bi (c. 48 – c. 56) ruled the Southern Xiongnu, settled under Han protection in the Ordos region. Reign dates for this ruler are disputed between sources.

## Why it matters
The split ended a unified Xiongnu state on the Mongolian steppe and left the north exposed to Han attack and Xianbei expansion.

Ruler at the Time: [Punu (Northern Chanyu)](https://allhistories.com/mongolia/rulers/punu-northern-chanyu)

## Sources
- [Wikipedia — Southern Xiongnu](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_Xiongnu)
- [Wikipedia — Huhanye](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huhanye)