Modu Chanyu

Modu (c. 234–174 BCE) was the son of <a href="/facts/Touman/LYyEWPjz">Touman</a> and the founder of the empire of the <a href="/facts/Xiongnu/wdxyuWQl">Xiongnu</a>. He came to power by ordering his men to kill his father in 209 BCE.
Modu ruled from 209 to 174 BCE. He was a military leader under his father <a href="/facts/Touman/LYyEWPjz">Touman</a> and later <a href="/facts/Chanyu/ovPqmDT5">chanyu</a> of the Xiongnu Empire, based on the <a href="/facts/Mongolian_Plateau/mI4Rt2WA">Mongolian Plateau</a>. He secured the throne and established a powerful Xiongnu Empire by successfully unifying the tribes of the <a href="/facts/Mongolian%25E2%2580%2593Manchurian_grassland/KoA4LHxb">Mongolian–Manchurian grassland</a> in response to the loss of Xiongnu pasture lands to invading <a href="/facts/Qin_dynasty/TeBU8Nh3">Qin</a> forces commanded by <a href="/facts/Meng_Tian/dUS4pAzU">Meng Tian</a> in 215 BCE. 
While Modu rode and then furthered the wave of militarization and effectively centralized Xiongnu power, the Qin quickly fell into disarray with the death of the <a href="/facts/Qin_Shi_Huang/xmuV0u4l">first emperor</a> in 210 BCE, leaving Modu a free hand to expand his empire into one of the largest of his time. 
The eastern border stretched as far as the <a href="/facts/Liao_River/McVIR4a7">Liao River</a>, the western borders of the empire reached the <a href="/facts/Pamir_Mountains/v5y6FB2f">Pamir Mountains</a>, whilst the northern border reached <a href="/facts/Lake_Baikal/ndjtNeJ7">Lake Baikal</a>. Modu's raids into China resulted in the dynasty agreeing to pay an annual tribute alongside other goods such as silk, grain and rice. Modu was succeeded by his son <a href="/facts/Laoshang/63HpYg1Q">Laoshang</a>.

Modu Chanyu open-in-new

Modu Chanyu