Emperor Ai of Han facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emperor Ai of Han漢哀帝 |
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Emperor Ai of Han and Dong Xian, by Chen Hongshou (17th century)
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| Emperor of the Han dynasty | |||||||||||||
| Reign | 7 May 7 BC - 15 August 1 BC | ||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Emperor Cheng | ||||||||||||
| Successor | Emperor Ping | ||||||||||||
| Born | 25 BC Dingtao Principality, Han Empire |
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| Died | 15 August 1 BC (aged 24) Chang'an, Han Empire |
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| Spouse | Empress Xiao'ai (consort) Dong Xian (lover) |
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| Father | Liu Kang | ||||||||||||
| Mother | Lady Ding | ||||||||||||
Emperor Ai of Han (born 25 BC, died 1 BC) was an important ruler of the Chinese Han dynasty. His personal name was Liu Xin. He became emperor when he was 20 years old. His uncle, Emperor Cheng of Han, who had no children, chose him as his heir. Emperor Ai ruled from 7 BC to 1 BC.
When Emperor Ai first became emperor, people were hopeful. They saw him as smart and capable. However, during his rule, problems grew. There was more corruption, and people had to pay heavy taxes. Emperor Ai was also strongly influenced by his grandmother, Consort Fu. She wanted a special title, which caused a lot of trouble in the royal court. At one point, four women held empress dowager titles at the same time. This was very unusual.
Emperor Ai also became known for his close relationship with an official named Dong Xian. Their bond was so strong that it became a famous story called "the passion of the cut sleeve." This story tells how Emperor Ai once cut off his sleeve rather than wake Dong Xian, who was sleeping on it. Dong Xian gained a lot of power and became a top commander.
Contents
Early Life and Royal Family
Emperor Ai was born in 25 BC. His father was Liu Kang, the Prince of Dingtao. Liu Kang was the brother of Emperor Cheng. Emperor Ai's mother was Consort Ding. From a very young age, he was raised by his paternal grandmother, Consort Fu. His father, Prince Kang, passed away in 23 BC. At just two years old, Liu Xin became the new Prince of Dingtao.
In 9 BC, when Liu Xin was 18, he visited the capital city, Chang'an. He impressed his uncle, Emperor Cheng, with his intelligence. Liu Xin brought important officials from his own region and showed a good understanding of classic texts. Emperor Cheng had no sons, so he was looking for an heir. He was considering either his younger brother or Liu Xin. Emperor Cheng decided that Liu Xin was more capable. Liu Xin's grandmother, Consort Fu, also helped by giving gifts to powerful people in the court.
In 8 BC, Emperor Cheng chose Liu Xin to be his Crown Prince. This meant Liu Xin would be the next emperor. Prince Xin showed humility by not moving into the grand crown prince's palace. He said he was only there to serve Emperor Cheng.
Becoming the Crown Prince
Emperor Cheng saw Prince Xin as his own son after naming him Crown Prince. He believed Prince Xin should no longer act as Prince Kang's son. When Emperor Cheng named another cousin as the new Prince of Dingtao, Prince Xin thanked him. Emperor Cheng was offended, thinking Prince Xin should only be grateful for things done for him as the emperor's heir.
Emperor Cheng also wanted to control Prince Xin's relationship with his grandmother, Consort Fu, and his mother, Consort Ding. He ordered them to stay in Dingtao and not visit Prince Xin in the capital. Later, Emperor Cheng's mother, Empress Dowager Wang, allowed Princess Dowager Fu to visit. She said Consort Fu was like a wet nurse who had raised him. However, Consort Ding was still not allowed to see Prince Xin.
Emperor Cheng died suddenly in April 7 BC. Crown Prince Xin then became Emperor Ai. His step-grandmother, Empress Dowager Wang, became the Grand Empress Dowager. Emperor Ai also made his own consort, Fu Daijun, empress.
As Emperor
Early Reign and High Hopes
Emperor Ai was 20 years old when he became emperor. He quickly stopped the practice of giving too much power to the Wang family, who were his uncle Emperor Cheng's relatives. Emperor Ai seemed dedicated to his duties and reduced government spending. People hoped he would be a strong and capable ruler after previous emperors.
In 7 BC, Emperor Ai supported a plan to reduce forced labor. This plan aimed to limit the number of servants wealthy families could have. It also suggested that servants should be freed after three years of service. However, this plan faced opposition from many servant owners. In the end, Emperor Ai only approved a smaller version of the plan, freeing servants who were over 50 years old.
Challenges and Power Struggles
Soon, problems arose concerning Emperor Ai's grandmother, Princess Dowager Fu, and his mother, Consort Ding. Princess Dowager Fu wanted a higher title, like an empress dowager. She also wanted her relatives to receive important positions, just like the Wang family had. Grand Empress Dowager Wang tried to help. She gave Emperor Ai's father, Prince Kang, a special title after his death. Then, she gave Princess Dowager Fu and Consort Ding empress dowager titles, but with the qualifier "of Dingtao." Several members of the Fu and Ding families were also given noble titles.
The Wang family, who had been powerful, began to lose their influence. Empress Dowager Fu was not happy with her title because it still included "of Dingtao." She wanted a title equal to the Grand Empress Dowager. Several officials who disagreed with her were removed from their positions.
By 5 BC, Empress Dowager Fu finally got what she wanted. Emperor Ai removed "of Dingtao" from his father's title. He then gave his grandmother and mother new, higher empress dowager titles. This meant there were now four official empresses dowager in the capital, each with their own budget. This was a very unusual situation.
During these years, Emperor Ai's government faced many challenges. He often approved good ideas but did not always act on them. He was also harsh in punishing officials who disagreed with him. Sometimes, he would change his mind later, which made him seem unsure. He would quickly promote officials he liked, then demote them if they upset him. His health was also often poor, which might have affected his decisions.
The Rise of Dong Xian
Around 4 BC, Emperor Ai began to show great favor to a young official named Dong Xian. Emperor Ai gave Dong Xian many honors very quickly, which worried others in the court. Dong Xian and his wife moved into the palace. Dong Xian's sister also became a royal consort. Dong Xian's father was given a noble title. Emperor Ai even ordered a luxurious home, like a palace, to be built for Dong Xian. Anyone who spoke against these honors for Dong Xian was severely punished.
In 3 BC, Emperor Ai made Dong Xian the Marquess of Gao'an. The next year, the prime minister, Wang Jia, tried to advise Emperor Ai to limit the honors given to Dong Xian. He warned that Dong Xian might face problems later, like other favorites of past emperors.
In 2 BC, Wang Jia again opposed giving more land to Dong Xian. Emperor Ai then accused Wang Jia of false crimes and forced him to die. In January 1 BC, Dong Xian became the commander of the armed forces. He was only 22 years old and became the most powerful official in the government. Many members of Dong Xian's family also gained important positions. This happened after Grand Empress Dowager Fu died in February 2 BC.
Death and Aftermath
Emperor Ai passed away in August 1 BC. The exact cause of his death is not fully known, but he had always suffered from illnesses. On his deathbed, Emperor Ai ordered that Dong Xian should take over the throne. However, royal advisors ignored this wish.
The Grand Empress Dowager quickly took back power from Dong Xian. She brought back Wang Mang as the regent, who would rule until a new emperor was chosen. Dong Xian and his wife soon died. Emperor Ai was officially succeeded by his cousin, Prince Jizi, who became Emperor Ping of Han. However, this was mainly a way for Wang Mang to gain control. Wang Mang eventually took the throne nine years later. Emperor Ai's rule, first influenced by his grandmother and then by Dong Xian, made people wish for the return of the Wang family's influence.
Era Names
- Jianping (建平) 6 BC – 3 BC
- Yuanshou (元壽) 2 BC – 1 BC
Family
Consorts:
- Empress Xiao'ai, of the Fu clan (孝哀皇后 傅氏), personal name Daijun (黛君)
- Zhaoyi of the Dong clan, sister of Dong Xian
See also
In Spanish: Emperador Ai de Han para niños
