The An Lushan rebellion spans the reigns of three Tang emperors before it is quashed, and involves a wide range of regional powers; besides the Tang dynasty loyalists, others involved are anti-Tang families, especially in An Lushan's base area in Hebei, and Arab, Gökturk, and Sogdian forces or influences, among others.

The rebellion and subsequent disorder result in a huge loss of life and large-scale destruction.

It significantly weakens the Tang dynasty, and leads to the loss of the Western Regions.

An Lushan’s rebellion ends on February 17, 763, when Yan falls (although the effects last past this).

This event is also known (especially in Chinese historiography) as the An–Shi Rebellion or An–Shi Disturbances, as it had continued after An Lushan's death under his son An Qingxu and his deputy and successor Shi Siming, or as the Tianbao Rebellion, as it began in the fourteenth year of that era.