In the late Western Jin, these northern minorities were at odds with each other. Some upper-class people of these minorities took advantage of this conflict to realize their own political ambitions. They successively established their own governments in which the noble marshals would take the supreme position.
西晋末年，北方民族关系日趋紧张，一些少数民族的上层分子利用各族人民反抗西晋的斗争，以实现自己的政治欲望，纷纷建立由少数民族统帅占最高统治地位的割据政权。
In the last years of theu Disturbances of the Eight KingsM, many kings were defeated and killed. The strength of royal families was weakened. Besides the uprisings of the refugees and immigrants, the noble class people of minorities also poured the oil on the fire and made themselves into the rebels, among them Liu Yuan and Shi Le were the most eager ones.
“八王之乱”后期，参战诸王相继败死，西晋皇室衰弱，在各地流民不断起义时,内迁的少数民族上层分子也相继起兵反晋，其中刘渊、石勒起兵最早。
Liu Yuan, also named Yuan Hai, son of a Xiongnu noble Liu Bao, was a well educated person and had profound empathy in Chinese culture.
刘渊，字元海，匈奴贵族刘豹之子，汉化程度很深。
When Li Te and Zhang Chang held rebel against the Western Jin and the royal Kings were busy in killing each other, he was elected the Da Chanyu (King of Xiongnu tribes).
当李特、张昌先后举兵反晋，宗室诸王混战于北方之际，匈奴贵族共推刘渊为大单于。
In 304, he launched a campaign to overthrow the Jin government and soon his armies expanded as much as 50000. Establishing capital at Lishi (now Lishi in Shanxi province). Liu Yuan assumed himself King of Han and the Han and other minorities were all his subjects.
304年（永兴元年），刘渊开始起兵。很快发展到五万人，定都于离石（山西离石），建国号“汉”，自称汉王，胡、汉各族很多人归附他。
Shi Le, sold as family servant, was Jie minority and attended the uprising while Liu Yuan called as King of Han.
石勒出身羯族，曾被卖为家奴,刘渊称汉王时，他参加起义。
In 308, Liu Yuan declared himself emperor and move the capital to Pingyang (southwest of now Linfen city, Shanxi) and waged his army to attack Luoyang.
308年（永嘉二年），刘渊称帝，迁都平阳（今山西临汾县），接着派大军进攻洛阳。
In 310, Liu Yuan died, his son Liu Cong killed his brother and secured the throne.
310年，刘渊死，其子刘聪杀兄自立为帝。
In the following year, Shi Le destroyed as much as 100,000 Jin army men in Ku county, in April (now luyi county, Henan) which turned out to be a heavy strike to Jin.
次年四月，石勒在苦县（河南鹿 邑）消灭十余万晋军，晋军元气大伤。
In June of 311, Liu Cong sent troops to conquer the Western Jin capital Luoyang and captured Emperor Huai.
六月，刘聪大军攻下洛阳，俘获晋怀帝。
Now the Western Jin existed in name only.
西晋名存实亡。
Because this incident took place in the 5th year of Yongjia (311) of Emperor Huai, it was known as “the Yongjia Disturbance”.
因为此事发生在怀帝永嘉五年(311 )，史称“永嘉之乱”。
During the disturbance, the northern people flocked to the south to escape the war, so this incident is also called “the Southward AAovement of Yongjia”.
北方百姓为躲避战乱，大量南迁,又称“永嘉南渡”。
In 316, the Xiongnu army entered Chang’ an, captured Emperor Min of Jin and ended the Western Jin Dynasty.
公元316年，匈奴兵攻人长安，俘了晋愍帝，西晋至此灭亡。
The Western Jin Dynasty lasted 51 years, accommodated four emperors encompassing three generations. It was the only unified government and also the first dynasty collapsed by minorities force in Chinese history during the period between the Wei, the Jin and the Southern and Northern Dynasties.
西晋享国51年，历三代四帝，是魏晋南北朝历史上唯一统一的政权，也是中国历史上第一个被外族消灭的王朝。
Afterwards, the imperial of China was left in chaos of wars in more than two hundred years.
此后，中国进入了一个长达200余年的战乱时期。