Yan

Yan (Chinese: , old ”en, mod. Y n), formerly romanized as Yen, was an ancient Chinese state during the Zhou dynasty. Its capital was Ji (later known as Yanjing and now Beijing). During the Warring States period, the court was also moved to another capital at Xiadu at times. The history of Yan began in the Western Zhou in the early first millennium . After the authority of the Zhou king declined during the Spring and Autumn Period in the 8th century , Yan survived and became one of the strongest states in China. During the Warring States period from the 5th to 3rd centuries , Yan was one of the last states to be conquered by the armies of Qin Shihuang: Yan fell in 222 , the year before the declaration of the Qin Empire. Yan experienced a brief period of independence after the collapse of the Qin dynasty in 207 , but it was eventually absorbed by the victorious Han.