Dou Xian

Dou Xian was a prominent general and statesman of the Eastern Han Dynasty. A native of modern-day Xianyang, Shaanxi Province, he was part of the powerful Dou clan which dominated court politics during his tenure. However, his father Dou Xun fell into disgrace and died in 70, leaving Dou Xian an orphan. His fortunes were greatly enhanced, though, when his two sisters entered the imperial harem in 77. In the following year, the eldest of these two sisters became , the wife of Emperor Zhang of Han, and lasted briefly as empress dowager and regent during the early reign of Emperor He of Han.

In AD 90, Dou Xian was the Han general responsible for the collapse of the Northern Xiongnu, the greatest northern nomadic enemy of the Han Dynasty. However, a vacuum of power was made for the Xianbei people to occupy Xiongnu lands and incorporate Xiongnu into their forces, allowing the Xianbei to perpetuate their rule over the northern steppe for centuries.