They were described as the most influential among the Xiongnu tribes that resettled within the Great Wall, and a branch of them, the Liu clan, founded the Han-Zhao dynasty in 304 AD during the Sixteen Kingdoms period.
One common theory among modern Chinese historians is that the Chuge were descendants of the Xiutu (休屠), also transcribed as Xiuchu, who lived around Wuwei in the Hexi Corridor and were among the earliest of the Xiongnu to surrender to the Han dynasty in 121 BC.
After the marquis of Xubu's death, the chanyu position was abolished and a nominal king was installed instead in the rebel's territory, although Yufuluo still claimed the title in exile.
The Southern Xiongnu began to disintegrate, but while the other tribes distanced themselves from the chaos of the ongoing Han civil war, the Xiuchuge were drawn into the conflicts instead.
Due to the hostile tribes and their remoteness from the imperial court, a number of commanderies in Bing, including Shang, Shuofang and Yunzhong, were abolished and essentially abandoned.
In 304, taking advantage of the War of the Eight Princes, Liu Yuan and the Five Divisions rebelled in Bing province and founded the Han-Zhao dynasty.
Modern scholars such as Tang Changru have cast their doubt on Liu Yuan's lineage from the Southern Xiongnu chanyus and believe it to be a fabrication for legitimacy.
They had various Chinese surnames such as Bi (畢), Zhang (張), Li (李), Guo (郭), Dong (董), Cheng (成) and Huang (黃).