Li Yan (Three Kingdoms)

Li Yan
李嚴
Central Protector-General (中都護)
In office
230 (230) – September or October 231 (September or October 231)
MonarchLiu Shan
ChancellorZhuge Liang
General of Agile Cavalry (驃騎將軍)
In office
230
MonarchLiu Shan
ChancellorZhuge Liang
General of the Vanguard (前將軍)
In office
226 (226)–230 (230)
MonarchLiu Shan
ChancellorZhuge Liang
Minister of the Household (光祿勳)
In office
226 (226)–230 (230)
MonarchLiu Shan
ChancellorZhuge Liang
Prefect of the Masters of Writing (尚書令)
In office
222 (222)–223 (223)
MonarchLiu Bei
ChancellorZhuge Liang
General Who Assists Han (輔漢將軍)
In office
218 (218)–222 (222)
General Who Revives Glory (興業將軍)
In office
c. 214 (c. 214)–218 (218)
Administrator of Qianwei (犍為太守)
In office
c. 214 (c. 214)–218 (218)
Personal details
BornUnknown
Nanyang, Henan
Died234
Zitong County, Sichuan
ChildrenLi Feng
OccupationGeneral
Courtesy nameZhengping (正方)
Other nameLi Ping (李平)
PeerageMarquis of a Chief District
(都鄉侯)

Li Yan (died c.October 234[1]), courtesy name Zhengfang, also known as Li Ping, was a military general of the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He climbed to the zenith of his career when he was asked by the Shu emperor Liu Bei to be the military paramountcy and co-regent alongside Zhuge Liang for his son and successor, Liu Shan. After the death of Liu Bei, Li Yan was given the rank of General of the Vanguard which was last held by Guan Yu back in 220. Li served most of his career in the mid and late 220s as the area commander for the Eastern Front centered in Yong An with Chen Dao as his deputy; he never faced any major battles in his position. However, during the 230s and the 4th of Zhuge Liang's Northern Expeditions, Li Yan was given a higher rank of General of the Agile Cavalry, below only Zhuge Liang. He was assigned to handle logistics, but he was unable to deliver supplies to Zhuge Liang's army in a timely manner. After his attempt to fraudulently cover his inability to follow commands, Li Yan was stripped from positions and power.

  1. ^ Zhuge Liang's biography in Records of the Three Kingdoms mentioned that he died in the 8th month of the 12th year of the Jianxing era (223–237) in Liu Shan's reign. This month corresponds to 11 Sep to 10 Oct 234 in the Julian calendar. ([建興]十二年 ... 其年八月,亮疾病,卒于軍,時年五十四。) Sanguozhi, vol.35. Since Li Yan died soon after Zhuge's death, his death date should be around October 234.