Liu Cong (Han-Zhao) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Emperor Zhaowu of Han漢昭武帝 |
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Depiction of Liu Cong from "A Chained Remonstration" (鎖諫圖), attributed to the Tang dynasty painter, Yan Liben.
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| Emperor of Han-Zhao | |||||||||||||||||
| Reign | September 28, 310 – August 31, 318 | ||||||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Liu He | ||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Liu Can | ||||||||||||||||
| Born | Unknown | ||||||||||||||||
| Died | 31 August 318 | ||||||||||||||||
| Burial | Xuanguang Mausoleum (宣光陵) | ||||||||||||||||
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| Issue | see #Personal information | ||||||||||||||||
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| House | Liu | ||||||||||||||||
| Dynasty | Han-Zhao | ||||||||||||||||
| Father | Liu Yuan | ||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Consort Zhang | ||||||||||||||||
Liu Cong (died August 31, 318) was an emperor of the Xiongnu-led Chinese Han-Zhao dynasty. His courtesy name was Xuanming, and his nickname was Zai. He is also known by his posthumous name as the Emperor Zhaowu of Han (Zhao).
During his time as emperor, the Han-Zhao dynasty caused the fall of the Western Jin dynasty. This led to the Jin dynasty being re-established in the south as the Eastern Jin dynasty in 318. Liu Cong's armies captured the ancient Chinese capitals of Luoyang and Chang'an. He also captured two Jin emperors, Emperor Huai of Jin and Emperor Min of Jin. He treated them poorly and later had them executed.
Liu Cong's rule was full of contradictions. He was very intelligent and a skilled general under his father, Liu Yuan. However, as his reign continued, he became increasingly cruel and unstable. He stopped listening to good advice. He gave a lot of power to his eunuchs and his wives' relatives. This caused political problems and led to many officials being removed or punished.
Despite these issues, the Han-Zhao empire grew a lot under him. It expanded from a small state to cover much of modern Shanxi, Shaanxi, eastern Gansu, and parts of Shandong, Hebei, and Henan. However, the eastern part of the empire was controlled by a powerful warlord named Shi Le, whom Liu Cong could not control. After Liu Cong died, his successor and family members in the capital were killed by a relative of one of his wives, Jin Zhun. Soon after, the empire split into two parts.
Early Life and Rise to Power
Liu Cong was the fourth son of Liu Yuan. His mother was Consort Zhang. When he was young, people thought he was very smart and strong. He studied in the Jin capital, Luoyang, and his knowledge impressed many officials.
After his father, Liu Yuan, started the Han-Zhao dynasty in 304, Liu Cong became one of his main generals. He was given the title Prince of Chu. In 309, he and Shi Le won a big battle against the Jin general Wang Kuang. After this victory, he tried to attack Luoyang but was defeated. Later, he tried again with Wang Mi (王彌) but faced strong resistance. His father then called him back to the capital, Pingyang.
In summer 310, Liu Yuan became very ill. He named Liu Cong's older brother, Liu He, as the crown prince. He also gave large armies to his other sons, including Liu Cong, to help Liu He rule. However, some officials who were not given important roles persuaded Liu He that his brothers were a threat.
Three days after Liu Yuan's death, Liu He ordered attacks on his four brothers. But two of the attackers warned Liu Cong instead. Liu Cong prepared for the fight. Over the next few days, two of his brothers were defeated and killed. Two days later, Liu Cong attacked the palace. He killed Liu He and the officials who had advised him. After first offering the throne to his brother Liu Ai, Liu Cong decided to become emperor himself.
First Years as Emperor
After Liu Cong became emperor, he made his brother Liu Ai the crown prince. He promised to give Liu Ai the throne later. He made his wife, Princess Huyan, the empress. Their son, Liu Can, became the Prince of Jin and was put in charge of many troops. Liu Cong also honored his father's empress and his own mother as empresses dowager.
In 310, Crown Prince Ai's mother died. Liu Cong's feelings for his brother changed, though he kept him as crown prince for a while. Empress Huyan, however, wanted her son Liu Can to be the crown prince. Liu Cong started to think about this change.
Liu Cong continued to attack the Jin dynasty and its capital, Luoyang. His generals, Liu Yao, Liu Can, Shi Le, and Wang Mi, easily defeated Jin forces. They captured cities but had trouble holding them permanently. However, they made the Jin heartland weak. In spring 311, Shi Le destroyed the main Jin army in central China. Luoyang was left without defense.
In summer 311, Liu Cong ordered his generals to attack Luoyang. They captured the city and the Emperor Huai of Jin. The emperor was taken to the Han capital, Pingyang. This event is known as the Disaster of Yongjia. Wang suggested moving the capital to Luoyang, but Liu Yao burned much of Luoyang, and Liu Cong did not move the capital. In winter 311, Shi Le tricked Wang Mi and took control of his troops. After this, Shi Le became largely independent, even though he still claimed loyalty to Han.
In spring 312, Empress Huyan died. Soon after, Liu Cong took many daughters and granddaughters of his high-ranking officials as wives. This included several women from the Liu family. Crown Prince Ai was against this because of rules against marrying within the same family. But Liu Cong argued that these women were Han Chinese, while he was Xiongnu, so they were not from the same ancestry. From this point on, Liu Cong spent most of his time with these women and rarely handled government matters.
Also in spring 312, Liu Cong gave the former Jin emperor the title Duke of Kuaiji. Liu Cong once invited the duke to a feast. The duke skillfully flattered Liu Cong. The next day, Liu Cong gave one of his favorite wives to the duke as a gift.
In summer 312, Liu Cong began to show signs of trouble. He executed officials for minor reasons. When the general Wang Zhang tried to advise him, Liu Cong became angry and wanted to kill him. But Wang's daughter, who was one of Liu Cong's wives, helped him get released. Liu Cong later regretted his actions and promoted Wang. However, this event started a pattern of impulsive and often cruel actions that would continue throughout his reign.
Later in summer 312, Liu Cong wanted to make Liu Yin's daughter, Liu Ying, the empress. But his mother, Empress Dowager Zhang, insisted he choose another woman. So, he made Empress Zhang Huiguang the empress.
In fall 312, Han forces, led by Liu Can and Liu Yao, severely defeated the Jin general Liu Kun. Liu Kun had been a constant threat to Han. Han forces captured Liu Kun's headquarters and killed his parents. Although Liu Kun later recaptured his headquarters with help, he was no longer a serious threat to Han.
In spring 313, Liu Cong executed the former Jin emperor. At a New Year celebration, Liu Cong ordered the former emperor to serve wine to high-ranking officials. Some former Jin officials cried when they saw this humiliation. Liu Cong became angry. He falsely accused them of planning to betray Pingyang. He then executed those officials and poisoned the former emperor. He took the former emperor's wife back as his own.
Later in spring 313, Liu Cong's mother, Empress Dowager Zhang, died. Her grandniece, Empress Zhang, was so sad that she also died. Liu Cong then made Liu E empress and ordered a new palace built for her. His minister Chen Yuanda said this was too wasteful. Liu Cong angrily ordered Chen's execution. However, the new empress stepped in, and Chen was saved and even promoted. For the next year, Liu Cong's behavior improved somewhat under Empress Liu's and Chen's advice.
In summer 313, the nephew of the deceased Emperor Huai of Jin, Sima Ye, declared himself emperor in Chang'an. His forces were weak, so he was not a big threat to Han. Still, this made Liu Cong focus on Chang'an as a major target for his armies.
In spring 314, Empress Liu died. After her death, Liu Cong's rule became less stable, and his behavior worsened without her advice.
Later Reign
In 314, Liu Cong made his son Liu Can the prime minister, giving him great power. This made his brother, Crown Prince Liu Ai, fearful. Liu Ai's friends suggested he try to overthrow Liu Cong. Liu Ai did not agree, but the news leaked anyway. Liu Cong placed Liu Ai under house arrest.
Later in 315, Liu Cong took two daughters of his general Jin Zhun as wives. He even named three empresses at once: Jin Yueguang as Upper Empress, Jin Yuehua as Right Empress, and Consort Liu as Left Empress. This was against the usual custom of having only one empress. Later that year, Chen Yuanda told him that the Upper Empress had betrayed him. Liu Cong felt he had to remove her from her position.
In fall 315, to keep Shi Le's growing power in check, Liu Cong gave Shi Le imperial powers in the eastern part of the empire. Shi Le already controlled this area anyway.
Around this time, Liu Cong started to trust his eunuchs, Wang Chen and Xuan Huai, and a servant, Guo Yi, completely. He let them handle all government matters and stopped meeting regularly with his officials. This allowed Wang, Xuan, and Guo to act as they pleased, and they became very corrupt, often working with Jin Zhun. Many officials who spoke out against them were executed. Guo and Jin had old grudges against Crown Prince Ai. They convinced Liu Can that Crown Prince Ai was planning to overthrow Liu Cong and kill Liu Can. They showed Liu Can false evidence. Because of this, Liu Can began to plot against his uncle.
In fall 316, Liu Cong sent Liu Yao to attack Chang'an. Liu Yao captured the city and the Jin emperor, sending him to Pingyang. This ended the Western Jin dynasty. However, the Jin dynasty continued when Sima Rui, who was safely south of the Yangtze River, claimed the title "Prince of Jin" in 317 and declared himself emperor in 318, starting the Eastern Jin dynasty. Liu Cong made the former Jin emperor the Marquess of Huai'an. He also made Liu Yao the Prince of Qin and put him in charge of the western empire.
Around the new year of 317, Shi Le defeated Liu Kun and took over his territory. While this removed a threat to Han, Shi Le's power became even stronger and more independent from Liu Cong.
In spring 317, Liu Can carried out his plan to get rid of his uncle, Crown Prince Ai. He falsely told Crown Prince Ai that Pingyang was under attack and that his men should arm themselves. Then, Liu Can told his father that Crown Prince Ai was planning an attack. When Liu Cong's messengers saw Crown Prince Ai's armed men, they believed Liu Can's accusations. Liu Can then forced some tribal chiefs, whom Crown Prince Ai commanded, to falsely confess to a plot. Crown Prince Ai's men were all killed, and Crown Prince Ai was removed from his position and later killed. When the tribes revolted because of how their chiefs were treated, Liu Cong sent Jin Zhun to stop them, and Jin Zhun succeeded. In fall 317, Liu Cong made Liu Can the crown prince.
In early 318, at a feast, Liu Cong made the former Jin emperor, the Marquess of Huai'an, serve as a butler. Many former Jin officials cried when they saw their former emperor's humiliation. Also, around this time, there were many rebellions against Han. Each rebellion claimed they wanted to capture Liu Can to exchange him for the former Jin emperor. Liu Can therefore suggested that Sima Ye be executed, and Liu Cong agreed.
In summer 318, a large fire destroyed an imperial meeting hall in Pingyang. It killed 21 people, including Liu Cong's son, Liu Kang. Liu Cong was very sad about his son's death, and this seemed to affect his health badly. He asked Liu Yao and Shi Le to come to the capital to serve as regents, but both declined. Liu Cong died soon after, and Liu Can became emperor. However, later that year, Liu Can was killed by Jin Zhun, who then killed many members of the imperial family. Liu Yao and Shi Le defeated Jin Zhun, and Liu Yao became emperor. But Liu Yao and Shi Le soon had a disagreement, which led to Shi Le declaring his own independent state, Later Zhao. The empire that Liu Cong had built was split into two.
Personal Information
- Father
- Liu Yuan (Emperor Guangwen)
- Mother
- Consort Zhang
- Wives
- Empress Huyan (created 310, died 312), mother of Crown Prince Can
- Empress Zhang Huiguang (created and died 313)
- Empress Liu E (created 313, died 314)
- Other empresses after Liu E's death:
- Upper Empress Jin Yueguang (靳月光), daughter of Jin Zhun (created and died 315)
- Left Empress Liu (created 315)
- Right Empress Jin Yuehua (靳月華), daughter of Jin Zhun (created 315)
- Upper Empress Fan (created 316)
- Left Empress Wang (created 318)
- Middle Empress Xuan (created 318)
- Major Wives (Concubines)
- Consort Liu Ying (劉英), Liu E's sister (died 312)
- Four nieces of Liu E
- Consort Zhang, Empress Zhang Huiguang's sister
- Consort Wang, daughter of Wang Yu (王育)
- Consort Ren, daughter of Ren Yi (任顗)
- Consort Wang, daughter of Wang Zhang (王彰)
- Consort Fan, daughter of Fan Long (范隆)
- Consort Ma, daughter of Ma Jing (馬景)
- Children
- Liu Can (劉粲), later emperor
- Liu Yi (劉易) (died 316)
- Liu Yi (劉翼)
- Liu Li (劉悝)
- Liu Fu (劉敷) (died 316)
- Liu Ji (劉驥) (executed 318)
- Liu Luan (劉鸞)
- LIu Hong (劉鴻)
- Liu Mai (劉勱) (executed 318)
- Liu Quan (劉權)
- Liu Cao (劉操)
- LIu Chi (劉持)
- Liu Heng (劉恆)
- Liu Cheng (劉逞) (executed 318)
- Liu Lang (劉朗)
- Liu Gao (劉皋)
- Liu Xu (劉旭)
- Liu Jing (劉京)
- Liu Tan (劉坦)
- Liu Huang (劉晃)
- Liu Kang (劉康) (died 318)
- Liu Yue (劉約) (died 318?)
