The Jin Dynasty had developed an alliance with the Tuoba against the Xiongnu state Han Zhao.

In 315 the Tuoba chief had been granted the title of the Prince of Dai.

After the death of its founding prince, Tuoba Yilu, however, the Dai state had stagnated and largely remained a partial ally and a partial tributary state to Later Zhao and Former Yan, finally falling to Former Qin in 376.

The Former Qin state had begun to break apart as well after the defeat of its emperor Fu Jiān by Jin forces at the Battle of Fei River in his failed bid to unify China.

By 386, Tuoba Gui, the grandson (or son) of the final Prince of Dai, Tuoba Shiyijian, had reasserted independence, initially with the title of Prince of Dai, and then as the Prince of Wei, and his state is therefore known in history as Northern Wei.

Northern Wei was initially a vassal of Later Yan, but by 395 had rebelled against Later Yan, and by 398 had conquered most of Later Yan territory, establishing itself over the territory north of the Yellow River.

In 399, Tuoba Gui declares himself emperor, and that title will be used by Northern Wei's rulers for the rest of the state's history.