Contents
Biography & Historical Record
Xiahou De was a general serving under Cao Cao during the late Eastern Han Dynasty. He is primarily noted in historical texts for his role during the Hanzhong Campaign, where he assisted Xiahou Yuan in defending the strategic passes against the forces of Liu Bei. In 219, while guarding the area of Mount Dingjun, he was ambushed and killed by the Shu Han general Yan Yan.
Role in Romance of the Three Kingdoms
In the novel, Xiahou De is portrayed as a commander stationed at Mount Tiandang. During the Hanzhong Campaign, he was deceived by the stratagems of Huang Zhong and Yan Yan. He led his forces out to pursue the Shu army, only to be lured into a trap where he was slain by Yan Yan amidst the confusion of the ambush.
Xiahou De — Historical & Literary Timeline
Death at Mount Dingjun/Tiandang
Participating in the defense of Hanzhong against Liu Bei, he is killed in combat against the veteran general Yan Yan.
Key Relationships
Family
- Xiahou Yuan (夏侯渊, Hạ Hầu Uyên): Paternal clan relative and supreme commander. Assisted Xiahou Yuan in defending the mountain strongholds during the Hanzhong Campaign (218–219 AD).
- Xiahou Shang (夏侯尚, Hạ Hầu Thượng): Brother / clan relative who served in the defensive garrison of Hanzhong.
Friends
- Han Hao (韩浩, Hàn Hạo): Senior general of Cao Wei. Co-commanded the fortified strategic grain depot at Mount Tiandang alongside Xiahou De during the Hanzhong Campaign (219 AD).
- Zhang He (张郃, Trương Cáp): Senior Wei general who garrisoned Mount Tiandang before falling back to reinforce Mount Dingjun (219 AD).
- Cao Cao (曹操, Tào Tháo): Paramount warlord and King of Wei whose western territories Xiahou De defended.
Enemies
- Yan Yan (严颜, Nghiêm Nhan): Veteran general of Shu Han. In Chapter 70 of *Romance of the Three Kingdoms*, Yan Yan led a covert mountain ambush during the assault on Mount Tiandang (219 AD); when Xiahou De rushed out to fight the fires, Yan Yan ambushed him from behind and cut him down with a single stroke of his blade.
- Huang Zhong (黄忠, Hoàng Trung): Senior veteran general of Shu Han. Orchestrated the multi-pronged assault on Mount Tiandang that shattered Xiahou De’s defenses and set the grain depots ablaze (219 AD).
- Liu Bei (刘备, Lưu Bị): Founding First Sovereign of Shu Han who led the conquest of Hanzhong (218–219 AD).
Others
- No information
In Novel
Chapter 69
- Xiahou De (夏侯德, Hạ Hầu Đức): Xiahou De is a Wei officer associated with the Hanzhong campaign. He serves among the commanders attempting to hold the region against Liu Bei’s advancing forces.
Chapter 70
- Xiahou De (夏侯德, Hạ Hầu Đức): Xiahou De participates in the fighting around Hanzhong. He is killed during the campaign, as Shu forces break through the Wei defenses.
History
Identification
- Xiahou De (夏侯德, Hạ Hầu Đức) is primarily known as a fictional character in the Romance of the Three Kingdoms tradition.
Role in the Novel
- He is presented as a relative of the Xiahou clan and as a military officer serving Cao Cao.
- His role is associated with the Hanzhong campaigns in the novel.
Classification
- Novel / Legendary.