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Emperor He of Southern Qi
南齊和帝
Emperor of Southern Qi
Reign501-502
PredecessorXiao Baojuan
Born488
Died2 May 502(502-05-02) (aged 13–14)
Burial
Gong'an Mausoleum (恭安陵)
Names
Xiāo Bǎoróng (蕭寶融)
Era name and dates
Zhōngxīng (中興): 501-502
Posthumous name
Emperor He (和皇帝)
FatherEmperor Ming
MotherEmpress Liu Huiduan

Emperor He of Southern Qi ((南)齊和帝) (488–2 May 502;[1] r. 14 April 501[2]– 20 April 502[3]), personal name Xiao Baorong (蕭寶融), courtesy name Zhizhao (智昭), was the last emperor of the Chinese Southern Qi dynasty. He was put on the throne by the generals Xiao Yingzhou (蕭穎冑) and Xiao Yan in 501 as a competing candidate and substitute for the throne to his violent and arbitrary older brother Xiao Baojuan. In 502, with Xiao Baojuan having been defeated and killed and Xiao Yingzhou dead, Xiao Yan seized the throne from Emperor He and took the throne himself, ending the Southern Qi dynasty and starting the Liang dynasty. Soon, Xiao Yan had the 14-year-old former Emperor He put to death.

Background

Xiao Baorong was born in 488, when his father Xiao Luan was the Marquess of Xichang and a mid-high-level official under Emperor Wu, a cousin of Xiao Luan's. His mother was Xiao Luan's wife Marchioness Liu Huiduan (劉惠端), who died the following year (489). After Xiao Luan seized power from and killed Emperor Wu's grandson Xiao Zhaoye in a coup in 494, and then further took the throne later that year from Xiao Zhaoye's brother Xiao Zhaowen as Emperor Ming, Xiao Baorong, as the new emperor's son, was created the Prince of Sui Commandery (随郡王).[4] In 499 (after Emperor Ming's death in 498), Xiao Baorong's older brother Xiao Baojuan, who had inherited the throne, changed his title to Prince of Nankang instead. (Sometime between 494 and 499, Xiao Baorong married Wang Shunhua, the granddaughter of the early Southern Qi prime minister Wang Jian, as his wife.) Also in 499, Xiao Baojuan made Xiao Baorong the governor of the important Jing Province (荊州, modern central and western Hubei),[5][6] although the actual responsibilities for governing the province were in staff members' hands, particularly those of the chief of staff, Xiao Yingzhou.[7]

Rebellion against Xiao Baojuan

Xiao Baojuan was an arbitrary and violent ruler, and he often executed high-level officials based on his perception of them as threats to his rule. In winter 500, he executed his prime minister Xiao Yi (蕭懿), and Xiao Yi's brother Xiao Yan, the governor of Yong Province (雍州, modern northwestern Hubei) declared a rebellion from the capital of Yong Province, Xiangyang (襄陽, in modern Xiangfan, Hubei). In response, Xiao Baojuan sent the general Liu Shanyang (劉山陽) to Jing Province, ordering him to rendezvous with Xiao Yingzhou and then attack Xiangyang. Xiao Yan, however, persuaded Xiao Yingzhou that Liu's orders were to attack both Jing and Yong Provinces, and Xiao Yingzhou, after making Liu believe his good faith by executing Xiao Yan's messenger Wang Tianhu (王天虎), surprised and killed Liu, seizing his forces.[8] He then openly declared rebellion and supported Xiao Baorong as nominal leader. Xiao Yingzhou and Xiao Baorong remained at Jiangling (江陵, in modern Jingzhou, Hubei), the capital of Jing Province, which was then made into the provisional capital, while Xiao Yan advanced east against Xiao Baojuan's forces. In spring 501, Xiao Baorong was proclaimed emperor (as Emperor He), but actual powers were in Xiao Yingzhou's hands.

While Xiao Yan's campaign east initially stalemated at Yingcheng (郢城, in modern Wuhan, Hubei), by fall 501 he had captured Yingcheng and continued to advance east. He quickly arrived at the capital Jiankang, putting it under siege. (During the siege of Jiankang, Xiao Yingzhou, anxious over the facts that Xiao Baojuan's general Xiao Gui (蕭璝) was approaching Jiangling and that Xiao Yan was so easily able to reach Jiankang and becoming popularly supported, died; from that point on, Emperor He was controlled by Xiao Yingzhou's lieutenant Xiahou Xiang (夏侯詳) and Xiao Yan's brother Xiao Dan (蕭憺), both of whom supported Xiao Yan.) Xiao Baojuan's forces, commanded by the generals Wang Zhenguo (王珍國) and Zhang Ji (張稷) were initially able to hold the defenses. However, Xiao Baojuan's associates and henchmen then told him that they believed that the reason why Jiankang remained under siege was that Wang and Zhang were not fighting with all their strength—which led Wang and Zhang to be apprehensive, and they assassinated Xiao Baojuan and surrendered.[9]

After Xiao Baojuan's defeat

Xiao Yan, after triumphing over Xiao Baojuan, for several months appeared to act as if Emperor He did not exist, having Xiao Zhaoye's mother Empress Dowager Wang Baoming serve as titular regent in Jiankang instead and effectively ruling in her name. He had her grant him progressively higher titles, including the titles of Duke of Liang and then Prince of Liang, and also granting him the nine bestowments.[10][11] All of Xiao Baorong's brothers were gradually killed, except for Xiao Baoyi (蕭寶義) the Prince of Jin'an, who was disabled, and Xiao Baoyin the Prince of Poyang, who fled to Northern Wei, and Xiao Baoyuan the Prince of Luling, who would soon die of illness. Only in late spring 502 did Xiao Dan send Emperor He on a journey back east toward the capital, but before he reached the capital, Xiao Yan had him issue an edict yielding the throne to Xiao Yan, ending Southern Qi and starting the Liang Dynasty. The edict was confirmed and ratified by Empress Dowager Wang.

Xiao Yan (as Emperor Wu of Liang) initially created Xiao Baorong the Prince of Baling, issuing orders to have a palace built at Gushu (姑孰, in modern Ma'anshan, Anhui) for Xiao Baorong. However, just one day later, on advice of the official Shen Yue, who believed that Xiao Baorong would pose a future threat,[12] Xiao Yan sent messengers to force Xiao Baorong to commit suicide by drinking poisoned wine. Xiao Baorong refused to commit suicide, but indicated that he was willing to be killed, and he got himself drunk. Xiao Yan's messenger Zheng Boqin (鄭伯禽) then killed him.[13] He was buried with honors due an emperor.

Yan Jianyuan

Yan Jianyuan (Chinese: 顏見遠) (fl.480s - early May 502[14]) was a native of Linyi, Langya Commandery (now Shandong Province). He was on the staff of Xiao Baorong, and died several days later due to a hunger strike and anger.[15][16][17] Yan Jianyuan is a member of the Yan clan of Langya (琅琊顏氏). He had a son, Yan Xie (颜协; 498 - 539[18]).[19] Yan Xie had two sons: Yan Zhiyi (颜之仪)[20] and Yan Zhitui (颜之推).[21]

Family

Consorts:

Ancestry

Xiao Lezi
Xiao Chengzhi (384–447)
Xiao Daosheng (427–482)
Empress Dowager Gong
Emperor Ming of Southern Qi (452–498)
Jiang Zun
Empress Yi
Emperor He of Southern Qi (488–502)
Liu Daohong
Liu Jingyou
Empress Mingjing (d. 489)
Lady Wang

References

  1. ^ According to Xiao Baorong's biography in Book of Southern Qi, he died aged 15 (by East Asian reckoning) on the wuchen day of the 4th month of the 2nd year of the Zhongxing era of his reign. This corresponds to 2 May 502 on the Julian calendar. [(中興二年四月)戊辰，薨，年十五。] Nan Qi Shu, vol.08
  2. ^ According to Xiao Baorong's biography in Book of Southern Qi, he ascended the throne on the yisi day of the 3rd month of the 1st year of the Zhongxing era of his reign. This corresponds to 14 Apr 501 on the Julian calendar. [中興元年春三月乙巳，即皇帝位...] Nan Qi Shu, vol.08
  3. ^ According to Xiao Baorong's biography in Book of Southern Qi, he relinquished the throne on the bingchen day of the 3rd month of the 2nd year of the Zhongxing era of his reign. This corresponds to 20 Apr 502 on the Julian calendar. [(中興二年三月)丙辰，禪位梁王。] Nan Qi Shu, vol.08
  4. ^ 《南齊書·明帝紀》：庚辰，立皇子寶義爲晉安王，寶玄爲江夏王，寶源爲廬陵王，寶夤爲建安王，寶融爲隨郡王，寶攸爲南平王。
  5. ^ 《南齊書·東昏侯本紀》：〔永元元年春正月〕癸卯，以冠軍將軍南康王寶融爲荊州刺史。
  6. ^ 《南齊書·東昏侯本紀》：永元元年，改封南康王，為持節、督荊雍益寧梁南北秦七州軍事、西中郎將、荊州刺史。永元元年，改封南康王，為持節、督荊雍益寧梁南北秦七州軍事、西中郎將、荊州刺史。
  7. ^ 《南齊書·卷三十八 列傳第十九 蕭景先 蕭赤斧 子穎胄》：和帝為荆州，以穎胄為冠軍將軍、西中郎長史、南郡太守、行荆州府、州事。
  8. ^ 《南齊書·卷三十八 列傳第十九 蕭景先 蕭赤斧 子穎胄》：是时或云山陽謀殺穎胄，以荆州同義舉，穎胄乃與梁王定契，斬王天虎首，送示山陽。發百姓車牛，聲雲起步軍征襄阳。十一月十八日，山陽至江津，單車白服，從左右數十人，詣穎胄，穎胄使前汶陽太守劉孝慶、前永平太守劉熙曅、鎧曹參軍蕭文照、前建威將軍陳秀、輔國家將軍孫末伏兵城內。山陽入門，即於車中亂斬之
  9. ^ 《南齊書·東昏侯本紀》：王珍國、張稷惧禍及，率兵入殿，分軍又從西上閣入后宫斷之，御刀豐勇之為內應。是夜，帝在含德殿吹笙歌作女兒子，卧未熟。聞兵入，趋出北户，欲還后宮。清曜閣已閉，閹人禁防黃泰平以刀傷其膝，仆地。顧曰：“奴反邪？”直后張齊斬首送梁王。
  10. ^ 《梁書·武帝本紀》：癸巳，受梁王之命。
  11. ^ 《南齊書·和帝本紀》：戊辰，詔進梁公爵為梁王，增封十郡。
  12. ^ (時上欲以南海郡為巴陵國，徙王居之。沈約曰：“古今殊事，魏武所云‘不可慕虚名而受實禍’。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.145
  13. ^ （上頷之，乃遣所親鄭伯禽詣姑孰，以生金進王。王曰：“我死不須金，醇酒足矣。”乃飲沉醉；伯禽就折殺之。） Zizhi Tongjian, vol.145
  14. ^ According to Yan Xie's biography in Book of Liang, Yan Jianyuan died several days after Xiao Yan ascended the throne as Emperor Wu of Liang. On the Julian calendar, Xiao Yan ascended the throne on 30 April 502, while Xiao Baorong died on 2 May of the same year. Thus, Yan Jianyuan's death should be a few days after 2 May. (高祖受禅，见远乃不食，发愤数日而卒。) Liang Shu, vol.50
  15. ^ 颜见远 https://www.70thvictory.com.tw/lishi/renwu/5/10825tl.htm
  16. ^ Knechtges, David R.; Chang, Taiping, eds. (2014). Ancient and Early Medieval Chinese Literature: A Reference Guide. Parts 3 & 4. Brill. p. 1776.
  17. ^ Brown, Kerry (2017). Berkshire Dictionary of Chinese Biography. Berkshire Publishing Group. p. 422. ISBN 9781933782614.
  18. ^ According to Yan Xie's biography in Book of Liang, he was 42 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died in the 5th year of the Da'tong era of Xiao Yan's reign. (大同五年，卒，时年四十二。) Liang Shu, vol.50. Thus by calculation, his birth year should be 498.
  19. ^ Book of Liang, vol.50
  20. ^ Book of Zhou, vol. 40
  21. ^ Book of Northern Qi, vol. 45
Regnal titles Preceded byXiao Baojuan (Marquess of Donghun) Emperor of Southern Qi 501–502 Dynasty destroyed Emperor of China (Southern) 501–502 Succeeded byEmperor Wu of Liang
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