han10
漢
THE FIRST EMPERORS OF LATER HAN
AD 23 – 25 Hàn Gēngshǐ-huángdì Liú Xuán Shènggōng (漢 更始皇帝 劉 玄 聖公), Sixteenth Emperor of Han, Emperor of the Greater Beginning. A great great great grandson of Liú Bāng the First Emperor of Han (see HAN 2). He became an outlaw in AD 20 when he attempted to avenge the death of his younger brother. In AD 22 he joined the revolt of Liu Bóshēng (劉 伯升) against Wáng Măng (王 莽), which aimed to restore the Han Dynasty. A year later, the rebels had enjoyed several successes and selected him as their candidate for Emperor. The revolt was successful and he was enthroned in Luòyáng in AD 23, restoring the Han Dynasty. But, as Emperor, he was more interested in luxuries of the palace and pleasures of the harem than governing - and order had not yet been restored to the provinces. Jealous of their prestige, he put his best generals to death, including Liu Bóshēng, to whom he owed all his successes. In 24 he shifted the capital back to Cháng'ān, in the hope of bringing the west firmly under his control, but instead he isolated himself from the former rebels at Luoyang who formed his support base. Liu Bóshēng's brother took the opportunity to declare himself Emperor Guāngwǔdì at Luòyáng, while some three hundred thousand angry peasants, calling themselves the Red Eyebrows, raised a rebellion and seized the capital of Cháng'ān. Gēngshǐ fled, but was captured. The rebels were merciful, at first, honouring him as Marquis of Wèiwēi (畏威侯) and then as King of Chángshā (長沙王), but then they became unsure as to what they should do with him. He was placed under house arrest and, finally, executed. He had issue:
He married a daughter of Zhào Méng (趙 萌), Great Marshal of the Right who handled all matters of government for Gēngshǐdì.
1) Chéngyáng-hóu Liú Qiú (成陽侯 劉 求), Marquis of Chéngyáng. Marquis of Xiāngyì (襄邑) from AD 25. Later he was transferred to be Marquis of Chéngyáng instead. He had issue:
a) Chéngyáng-hóu Liú Xún (成陽侯 劉 巡), Marquis of Chéngyáng. He was implicated in the King of Chu's criminal behaviour in 70, but was spared punishment (execution) by the Twentieth Emperor. He had issue:
i) Chéngyáng-hóu Liú Yaó (成陽侯 劉 姚), Marquis of Chéngyáng.
2) Gǔshú-hóu Liú Xīn (穀孰侯 劉 歆), Marquis of Gǔshú from AD 26.
3) Shòuguāng-hóu Liú Lǐ (壽光侯 劉 鯉), Marquis of Shouguang from AD 26. He killed Liú Pénzi's older brother in vengeance for his father, Gēngshǐdì, in 52. This was particularly unfair as the victim had been an exceedingly loyal servant of Gēngshǐdì. He was executed and a purge of Marquises followed.
25 – 27 Jiànshì-dì Liú Pénzi (建世帝 劉 盆子), Seventeenth Emperor of Han. Born in AD 7 as a great great great great great great great great grandson of Liú Bāng the First Emperor of Han (see HAN 2). He and his brothers were captured by the Red Eyebrow peasant rebels in AD 20, who made him watch their cattle. In AD 25, at the prompting of a shaman, the Red Eyebrows raised him as their puppet Emperor. The poor child was terrified and unfit for the position - he continued to serve as a cattleherd. Shortly after the rebels captured the capital, Cháng'ān, from the Sixteenth Emperor, Gēngshǐdì, and installed Liú Pénzi in the Palace. He was completely unable to control the rebels and tried to abdicate in 26, which led the rebels to apologise, but not to reform. They continued to rape and pillage Cháng'ān and the countryside until captured by the Eighteenth Emperor, Guāngwǔdì, in 27. Liú Pénzi was allowed to live in obscurity and from 40 onwards was on a government pension.
25 – 57 Hàn Shìzǔ Guāngwǔ-huángdì Liú Xiù Wénshū (漢 世祖 光武皇帝 劉 秀 文叔), Eighteenth Emperor of Han, the Brilliant Martial Emperor. Born in 5 BC, a great-great-great-great-grandson of Jǐngdì, the Sixth Emperor of Han (see HAN 6). His older brother, Liu Bóshēng, was leader of the revolt of AD 22 which overthrew the usurper Wáng Măng (王 莽) and restored the Han Dynasty. He joined this revolt, only to see his elder brother killed and a distant cousin proclaimed Emperor - Gēngshǐdì. He was appointed Acting Grand Marshal and sent off to pacify the north; there he faced and defeated a massive rebellion. He was then appointed King of Xiāo (蕭王) and ordered to return home; he accepted the title, but declined the order, putting him in effective rebellion himself. The new Emperor proved meanwhile ineffective and was overthrown by the Red Eyebrows, a group of peasant rebels more interested in robbing the Imperial tombs and the Capital, than in governing. In AD 25, Guāngwǔ declared himself Emperor at Luòyáng and soon took control of all of China north of the Yellow River. In 27 he advanced on Chángān and defeated the Red Eyebrows. This was the end of Chángān's time as Capital, for he chose to retain Luòyáng as his Capital. He spent the next few years defeating warlords in the east and south. This was complete by AD 30. Finally he moved on the far more entrenched warlords of the west, which were suppressed by 36. China was unified under the Han once more. Guāngwǔdì immediately tried to project his control over the barbarians as well. In Vietnam, this was difficult, the Trưng sisters (𠄩 婆 徵) rebelled from 40 – 42. In the north things were even worse: the Xiongnu nomads were once more ascendent, having been a major force in causing the fall of Wáng Măng. Fortunately for China they were riven by a succession dispute in 46 and split in two, the southern part becoming essentially a Chinese puppet, which served as a buffer from the weakened and hostile north. Domestically, Guāngwǔdì's policy was a restoration of the civil service to the form it had taken in the Former Han Dynasty, which had been all but destroyed by civil war. The idealistic reforms of Wáng Măng were abandoned, except for his division of the Chancellor's office into three: Grand Marshal, Grand Minister of the Masses and Grand Minister of Works; these offices were retained, but their power tightly circumscribed by the Emperor, who preferred to rule personally. Further, he abolished most of the feudal kingdoms, which had so destabilised affairs of Former Han and simplified provincial administration, ceding authority to the lower level governors in many areas, even giving them authority over the extremely lucrative iron and salt monopolies. Conscription was abolished and military service curtailed, perhaps in the hope that there would be fewer discharged or retired conscripts roaming the countryside as bandits. Guāngwǔdì died in 57, having restored peace and laid the foundations for a dynasty which would last another two hundred years. He was buried in a comparatively humble fashion (for an Emperor) at Yuán-líng (元陵).
He married (first) Guāngliè-huánghòu Yīn Lìhuà (光烈皇后 陰 麗華), before he became Emperor; initially passed over to be Empress, she was appointed Fiery Brilliant Empress in 41. In 57 her son became Emperor and she became Empress Dowager. She died in 64.
He married (second) Guāngwǔ-huánghòu Guō Shèngtōng (光武皇后 郭 聖通), Empress from 26 until demoted to Grand Queen of Zhōngshān (中山王太后) in 41 on account of her jealousy and poor character, her title was changed to Grand Queen of Pèi (沛王太后) in 44 and she lived comfortably at the Capital until her death in 52.
He took as a concubine Xū-měirén (許美人).
1) Dōnghǎi Gōng-wáng Liú Qiang (東海 恭王 劉 強), King of Dōnghǎi (son of Guō). Born in AD 25, he was appointed Imperial Heir in 26, only to be demoted in 43, following his mother's dismissal as Empress. He was then appointed King of Dōnghǎi. In 57 he was sent a forged document calling on him to rebel. He loyally sent it straight to the Imperial court and was rewarded with increased honours. He died in 58, but had issue:
a) Dōnghǎi Jìng-wáng Liú Zhèng (東海 靖王 劉 政), King of Dōnghǎi from 58, he was given over to luxury. In 90 he travelled to the funeral of his uncle Liú Yān, King of Zhōngshān and had sexual relations with several of his concubines; this was reported, but he received only a slap on the wrist from the Imperial government. He died in 102, but had issue:
i) Dōnghǎi Qǐng-wáng Liú Sù (東海 頃王 劉 肅), King of Dōnghǎi from 102. He donated large amounts of money in 110 and 115 to the Imperial government to help it put down the Qiang Rebellion. He died in 125, but had issue:
(1) Dōnghǎi Xiào-wáng Liú Zhēn (東海 孝王 劉 臻), King of Dōnghǎi from 125, he was rewarded by the Twenty-Fourth Emperor for his generosity and filial piety. He died in 156, but had issue:
(a) Dōnghǎi Yì-wáng Liú Zhī (東海 懿王 劉 祗), King of Dōnghǎi from 156 until his death in 200. He had issue:
(i) Chóngdé-hóu Liú Xiàn (崇德侯 劉 羨), King of Dōnghǎi from 200 until the fall of the Han Dynasty in 220, when he was demoted to Marquis of Chóngdé (Honouring Virtue).
(ii) Wènyáng-hóu Liú Wǎn (汶陽侯 劉 琬), Marquis of Wènyáng, and Chancellor of the Kingdom of Pingyuan from 193.
(2) Zhēng-xiānghóu Liú Jiǎn (蒸鄉侯 劉 儉), District Marquis of Zhēngxiāng from 127, he was rewarded by Shoudì, the Twenty-Fourth Emperor, for his filial piety and generosity.
(3) Liú Mǐn (劉 敏), who received a Marquisate in 127.
ii – xxiii) Twenty-one sons who received Marquisates
?) A son, who had issue (There may be a generation missing here)
i) Liú Jiā (劉 嘉), Minister of the Household. He was dismissed for missing court on Christmas day.
(1) Liú Shū (劉 舒) Administrator of Danyang. He had issue:
(a) Liú Yú Bóān (劉 虞 伯安), Reporting Officer, Filial and Uncorrupt, Magistrate of Dong Commandery and then Inspector of You in the far northeast, where he governed well. He was Chancellor of Ganling from 184, defeating the Yellow Turban Rebels in the area. He held a succession of posts: Director of the Imperial Secretariat, Minister of the Household, and Minister of the Imperial Clan, before being appointed Governor of You in 188 to quell the rebellion of Zhāng Chún (張 純). He remained there, reestablishing order. The Capital sent little aid, but several titles: Grand General, Grand Marshal and Grand Tutor. He was advanced as a potential Regent or Emperor, but he was entirely disinterested. He devoted himself to the management of You Province, now essentially independent, and under his tutelage, it enjoyed great prosperity. In 193, he was attacked by the warlord, Gōngsūn Zàn (公孫瓚), who eventually organised his conviction and execution.
(i) Liú Hé (劉 和), Palace Attendent. In 191 Xiàndì, the Thirty-First Emperor, sent him to You to fetch his father and save him from the Imperial Regent. The east was a war zone at this time and Hé was, inevitably, captured. In 195 he joined an expedition against his father's murderer, Gōngsūn Zàn (公孫 瓚). Ultimately these campaigns were successful.
a) Bǐyáng-chánggōngzhǔ Liú (比陽長公主 劉), Princess of Bǐyáng, she was promoted to Senior Princess in 88 by her daughter, who was by then Empress Dowager. She married Dòu Xūn (竇 勛), a maternal great grandson of the Eighteenth Emperor (see below) and had issue:
i) Guānjūn-hóu Dòu Xiàn Bódù (冠軍侯 窦 憲 伯度), Marquis of Guānjūn. He was corrupt and repeatedly embarrassed his clan as a result but had de facto control of the government after his sister became Empress Dowager in 88. Almost immediately, he killed the Dowager's lover and she had him sent to campaign against the northern nomads. Unexpectedly, he was completely victorious, destroying their sacred site of Longcheng and expanding Chinese control to the Khangai Mountains (i.e. Beyond the northern border of modern Mongolia). The Northern Xiongnu state, perennial threat to Chinese security since the founding of the Han Dynasty was now a Chinese vassal. In 90 he was rewarded with appointment as General in Chief. His clan now utterly dominated the government, but, while he was still away, the young Emperor Hédì, launched a coup and seizzed power for himself. When he returned in 92 he was stripped of his office as he entered the Palace and sent away to his Marquisate. When he arrived there he was ordered to commit suicide.
ii) Yǎn-hóu Dòu Dǔ (郾侯 窦 篤), became a Gentleman of the Yellow Gates in 78, after his sister became Empress. When she became Dowager in 88, he was promoted to General of the Household of the Feathered Forest, then Minister of the Guards in 89 and Marquis of Yǎn in 90. In 92 the Emperor seized power for himself and the Dòu family were stripped of their power. Dǔ died very shortly thereafter.
iii) Rǔyáng-hóu Dòu Jǐng (汝陽侯 窦 景), became a Palace Attendent in 88 after his sister became Empress Dowager, Marquis in 90 and Bearer of the Mace (Chief of Police in the Capital) in 91. He formed an elite guard from northern cavalrymen and they perpertrated theft, rape and murder throughout the Capital; the Dowager had him removed from his positions later that year. In 92 the Emperor seized power for himself and the Dòu family were stripped of their power. Jǐng died very shortly thereafter.
iv) Xiàyáng-hóu Dòu Xiāng (夏陽侯 竇 瓖). Like his brothers he benefitted when his sister became Empress Dowager in 88, becoming Administrator of Wei Commandery. Unlike his brothers, he was restrained and generally honest, even as his clan grew ever more powerful. In 89, following his brother's victories, he received a Marquisate and a promotion to Commandant of Attendent Cavalry. In 91 he was promoted again, to Minister of the Household, but the next year the Emperor Hédì seized power for himself and he was exiled to Changsha, ostensibly for making excessive gifts to the poor. Due to his good reputation he was not killed. In 98, the Liang consort clan, who had earlier been sidelined by the Dou, but were now ascendent, had him killed.
i) Zhāngdé Dòu-huángtàihòu (章德 竇皇太后), who entered the harem of Zhāngdì, Twentieth Emperor in 77. She was appointed Empress in 78. She was childless, but after killing the concubine Liáng-guìrén, mother of the Heir, adopted the Heir. She became Empress Dowager in 88 after her husband's death and Regent on behalf of her underage 'son.' The Emperor came of age in 91, eliminated her clan and placed her under house arrest in Changle Palace, the Palace of Prolonged Joy; she died in 97. (see below).
ii) Dòu-guìrén (竇貴人), she entered the harem of Zhāngdì, Twentieth Emperor in 77 and was promoted to Honoured Lady in 76 when her sister became Empress (see below).
2) Pèi Xiàn-wáng Liú Fǔ (沛 獻王 劉 輔), King of Pèi (son of Guō). He was Duke of Right Píngyì (右馮翊公) from 39 until 41 when he was made King of Zhōngshān (中山王) and given responsibility for the upkeep of his mother who had been demoted from the position of Empress. In 44 his title was changed to King of Pèi. One of his clients committed a murder in 52 which earned him three days in prison. A devoted scholar, he authored Pèi-wáng Tōnglùn (沛王 通論), a commentary on the Confucian Classics, which appears to have been lost. He died in 85, but had issue:
a) Pèi Lí-wáng Liú Dìng (沛 厘王 劉 定), King of Pèi from 85 until his death in 95. He married Zhōu-tàifūren (周太夫人), who would manage the kingdom's affairs for her sickly grandson from 109 until 144. He had issue:
i) Pèi Jié-wáng Liú Zheng (沛 節王 劉 正), possibly named Gài (丐) was King of Pèi from 95 until his death in 109. He had issue:
(1) Pèi Xiào-wáng Liú Guǎng (沛 孝王 劉 廣), King of Pei from 109, he was persistently ill and household affairs were managed by his grandmother. He died in 144, but had issue:
(a) Pèi Yōu-wáng Liú Róng (沛 幽王 劉 榮), King of Pei from 144 until his death in 164. He had issue:
(i) Pèi Xiào-wáng Liú Cóng (沛 孝王 劉 琮), King of Pei from 164 until his death. He had issue:
1. Pèi Gōng-wáng Liú Yào (沛 恭王 劉 曜), King of Pei. He had issue:
a. Chóngdé-hóu Liú Qì (崇德侯 劉 契), King of Pei until the fall of the Han Dynasty in 220, when he was demoted to Marquis of Chóngdé (Honouring Virtue).
(2) Liú Yì (劉 廙), Prefect of Luoyang, he had issue:
(a) Liú Mù (劉 穆), he had issue:
(i) Liú Jìnbó (劉 進伯), General on the Liao, was supposedly captured by the Xiongnu and subsequently became the progenitor of the Xiongnu Dúgū (獨孤) Clan, which became sinicised and came to prominence in the Tang Dynasty. More likely the Dugu clan invented a connection to him in order to give themselves a Chinese origin. Compare DOU OF TANG, a clan with a similar (and equally dubious) descent.
ii – iii) Two sons who received Marquisates.
b – m) Twelve sons who received Marquisates.
3) Chǔ-wáng Liú Yīng (楚王 劉 英), King of Chǔ (son of Xū). He was Duke of Chǔ from 39 until 41 when he was promoted to King. He was one of the first practitioners of Buddhism in China. He was close with Mingdi, the Nineteenth Emperor, who protected him from charges for his odd religious practices, which also included witchcraft and alchemy. In 70, however, he was finally charged with impiety, demoted to commoner and exiled to Danyang in the far south, where he committed suicide in 71. This enraged Emperor Mingdi who began a prolonged purge, which did not end until 77. He had issue:
a) Liù-hóu Liú Zhǒng (六侯 劉 種), Marquis of Chǔ (楚侯) from 77, later transferred to be Marquis of Liù. He had issue:
i) Liù-hóu Liú Dù (六侯 劉 度), Marquis of Liù. He had issue:
(1) Liù-hóu Liú Jū (六侯 劉 拘), Marquis of Liù
b – f) Five sons who received Marquisates.
a) Jìngxiāng-gōngzhǔ Liú (敬鄉公主 劉), Princess of Jìng District who married Fán Shǎng (樊 賞), son of Fán Wěi (樊 鮪) in the late 60's.
4) Hàn Xiǎnzōng Xiào Míng-huángdì Liú Zhuāng (漢 顯宗 孝 明皇帝 劉 莊), Nineteenth Emperor of Han (son of Guāngliè) (see below).
5) Jìnán Ān-wáng Liú Kāng (濟南 安王 劉 康), King of Jìnán (son of Guō). He was Duke of Jìnán from 39 until promoted to King in 41. He recruited a large number of guards to oppress the people of his kingdom and was accused of treason in 71. Fortunatly for him, he was a favourite of Zhāngdì, the Twentieth Emperor, and in 83 he was rewarded with a significant expansion of his kingdom. He became very wealthy, owning over 1400 slaves and a thousand horses. He died in 97, but had issue:
a) Jìnán Jiǎn-wáng Liú Cuò (濟南 簡王 劉 錯), King of Jìnán from 97. He killed a court physician for failing to secure the affections of a girl he liked. He died in 103, but had issue:
i) Jìnán Xiào-wáng Liú Xiāng (濟南 孝王 劉 香), King of Jìnán from 103 until his death in 125. He was praised for his filial piety.
ii) Jìnán Lí-wáng Liú Xiǎn (濟南 厘王 劉 顯), Marquis of Fùyáng (阜陽侯) from 108 until 125, when he succeeded his childless brother as King of Jìnán. He died in 128, but had issue:
(1) Jìnán Dào-wáng Liú Guǎng (濟南 悼王 劉 廣), King of Jìnán from 128 until he died childless in 153.
(2) Lèchéng-tínghóu Liú Wén (樂城亭侯文), Village Marquis of Lèchéng from 126.
iii – v) Three sons who received Marquisates in 108.
b) Dōng Wǔchéng-hóu Liú Dé (東武城侯 劉 德), Marquis of East Wǔchéng from 57.
c) Liú Dǔ (劉 篤), appointed a Marquis, but later demoted to commoner. He had issue:
i) Liú Wán (劉 丸), received his father's revived Marquisate, at the insistance of his cousin Liú Xiāng, King of Jìnán in 108.
d) Liú Yù (劉 昱), appointed a Marquis, but later demoted to commoner. He had issue:
i) Liú Sōng (劉 嵩), received his father's revived Marquisate, at the insistance of his cousin Liú Xiāng, King of Jìnán in 108.
e – i) Five sons who received Marquisates.
6) Dōngpíng Xiàn-wáng Liú Cāng (東平 憲王 劉 蒼), King of Dōngpíng (son of Guāngliè). Duke of Dōngpíng from 39, he was promoted to King in 41. Appointed Rapid Cavalry General by his brother Míngdì, the Nineteenth Emperor, he also performed duties on behalf of Míngdì whenever Míngdì was absent from the Capital. He was deeply involved in matters of official ritual and costume, but from 62 he attempted to dissociate himself from Imperial government, retiring to his Kingdom, where he wrote a hymn in praise of his Imperial father. He returned to prominence in 76, after successfully protesting Imperial extravagence. He was honoured at the Imperial Capital in 83 and died shortly after. He had issue:
a) Dōngpíng Huái-wáng Liú Zhōng (東平 懷王 劉 忠), King of Dōngpíng from 83 until his death in 84. He had issue:
i) Dōngpíng Xiào-wáng Liú Chǎng (東平 孝王 劉 敞), King of Dōngpíng from 84 until his death in 132. He was praised for the great devotion and filial piety which he showed at his mother's death. He had issue:
(1) Dōngpíng Qǐng-wáng Liú Duān (東平 頃王 劉 端), King of Dōngpíng from 132 until his death in 179. He had issue:
(a) Chóngdé-hóu Liú Kǎi (崇德侯 劉 凱), King of Dōngpíng from 179 until the fall of the Han Dynasty in 220, when he was demoted to Marquis of Chóngdé (Honouring Virtue).
ii – vii) Six sons who received Marquisates in 89.
b) Rènchéng Xiào-wáng Liú Shàng (任城 孝王 劉 尚), King of Rènchéng from 84 until his death in 101. He had issue:
i) Rènchéng Zhēn-wáng Liú Ān (任城 貞王 劉 安), King of Rènchéng from 101, he would greedily seize the property of his citizens, officials and guards, for which he was fined in 119. He died in 120, but had issue:
(1) Rènchéng Jié-wáng Liú Chóng (任城 節王劉 崇), Linked King of Rènchéng from 120, he donated money to the Imperial government in 140 to help turn back attacks from the Xiongnu and Qiang nomads. He also donated money for the Twenty-Fourth Emperor's tomb, which was not accepted. He died, childless, in 151.
c – g) Five sons who received Marquisates in 84.
h) A son, possibly the same as one of the above, who had issue:
i) Jīnyáng-tínghóu Liú Liáng (矜陽 亭侯 劉 梁), Marquis of Jīnyáng from 89.
a) Nèihuáng-gōngzhǔ Liú (內黃公主 劉), Princess of Nèihuáng, who married Dòu Mù (竇 穆), son of Dòu Róng Zhōugōng (竇 融 周公), a supporter of the usurper Wang Mang, who then switched to become an important supporter of Guāngwǔdì, the Eighteenth Emperor. Mù was Colonel of the City Gates, but in 61 he forged an Imperial edict to increase his family's influence and was exiled to Youyufeng. He returned, only to be exiled again in 70, convicted of bribing local officials and died in prison
i) Dòu Xūn (竇 勛), who survived his father's imprisonment, but was convicted and imprisoned and died in prison on a different charge later in the same year. He was posthumously given a Marquisate in 82. He married Bǐyáng-zhǔ Liú (比陽主 劉), a senior granddaughter of Guāngwǔdì, the Eighteenth Emperor, by his eldest son, the King of Donghai and had issue (see above)
ii) Dòu Xuān (竇 宣) He was arrested with his father in 70 and died in prison.
(1) Dòu Shàng (竇 尙) he fled to Longxi in 70 and founded a lineage there.
iii) Dòu Bà (竇 霸) He became Colonel of the City Gates after 88, and presumably lost that position in 92, when his family fell from power.
iv) Dòu Bāo (竇 褒) He became Court Architect after 88, and presumably lost that position in 92, when his family fell from power.
v) Ānfēng-hóu Dòu Jiā (安豐侯 窦 嘉), Marquis of Ānfēng from 71. He became Minister Steward in 88 when his aunt became Empress Dowager and Regent to Hedi, the Twenty-First Emperor. Hedi seized power for himself in 92 and Jiā was exiled to the countryside. He had issue:
(1) Ānfēng-hóu Dòu Wànquán (安豐侯 窦 萬全), Marquis of Ānfēng. He was exiled from 92 until 109. He had issue:
(a) Ānfēng-hóu Dòu Huìzōng (安豐侯 窦 會宗), Marquis of Ānfēng
(b) Dòu Zhāng Bóxiàng (窦 章 伯向), a scholar at court who received several honourary appointments and saw one of his daughters married to the Emperor but remained steadfastly devoted to his scholarly endeavours. He was appointed Minister Steward in 140 and Minister Herald in 143. Following the Twenty-Fifth Emperor's death in 144 he immediately resigned all his posts and retreated to his home rather than engage in intrigues with the newly ascendent Liang Clan.
(i) Dòu Táo (窦 陶).
(ii) Dòu Táng (窦 唐) a General of the Household.
(iii) Dòu Tǒng Jìngdào (窦 統 敬道) Administrator of Yanmen until 168 when his family was wiped out and he supposedly fled to the Xianbi nomads, who made him a Tribal Chief. (see DOU OF TANG)
(i) Dòu-guìrén (窦貴人), who entered the harem of Shùndì, Twenty-Fifth Emperor (see below). She was a talented writer and was soon promoted to an Honoured Lady. She had a fierce rivalry with another concubine, Liáng Nà (梁 妠), future Empress, and died mysteriously before 125.
(2) Dòu Qián (窦 潛).
(3) Dòu Fèng (窦 奉). He married a woman, who (allegedly) gave birth to a snake and was mourned at her death by a great serpant. He had issue:
(a) Dòu Wǔ (窦 武), he became Regent and Grand General in 167, when his daughter became the Empress Dowager. He was determined to end the power of the eunuchs (presumably so that his own power would be unopposed. The Empress Dowager opposed that, and when he was unable to win her over, he launched a coup, which was quelled by the heroic general Zhang Huan. Both he and his daughter fell from power, and the eunuchs took over full control of the state.
(i) Dòu Kè (窦 恪), he probably died before 168.
(ii) Dòu Jī (窦 機) Appointed Palace Attendent and Marquis in 168, he died later that same year, when his family was removed from power in a military coup.
(i) A son, who had issue:
1. Dòu Fǔ (窦 輔), Born in 167, a year before his entire family was wiped out after a military coup; he was smuggled off to Guiyang in the south and survived. In 200 he became an Attendent Officer to the Warlord/Governor of Jing (Central South China), Liu Biao (劉 表). In 208, he was captured by the Imperial Chancellor/Warlord of the North and employed as an official. He died in 211, while accompanying an army.
(i) Huánsī Dòu-huángtàihòu Miào (桓思 竇皇太后 妙), who married Huándì, Twenty-Eighth Emperor (see below) who then displayed absolutely no interest in her. At his death in 167, however, she became Empress Dowager and selected one of his cousins as the new Emperor. Almost immediately she squabbled with her father, who hoped to eliminate the power of the eunuchs; he led a military coup, which was defeated by a counter-coup and she was placed under house arrest in the Cloud Terrace of the Southern Palace, where she was treated harshly, dying of grief or at the hands of her eunuch-gaolor in 172.
(b) A son, who had issue:
(i) Hù-hóu Dòu Shào (鄠侯 窦 绍), Marquis of Hù, became a General in the 160s and was further promoted in 168, when his cousin became Empress Dowager. He was a wanton profligate and led the failed coup of his uncle, Dòu Wǔ (窦 武), against the eunuchs in 168; when they were defeated by a counter-coup, he committed suicide.
(ii) Xīxiāng-hóu Dòu Jìng (西乡侯 窦 靖), Marquis of Xīxiāng became a Palace Attendent in 168 and was killed in the military coup later that year.
i) A daughter, who, with the aid of a forged edict, married Liùān-hóu Liú Xū (六安侯 劉 盱).
7) Fùlíng Zhì-wáng Liú Yán (阜陵 質王 劉 延), King of Fùlíng (son of Guō). Duke of Huáiyáng (淮陽公) from 39 until he was promoted to King of Huáiyáng in 41. In 73 he was accused of witchcraft and treason and transferred to the tiny Kingdom of Fùlíng. He was again accused of conspiracy in 76 and demoted to Marquis of Jīnfù (今復侯). In 87, Zhāngdì, the Twentieth Emperor, visited him and found his poverty so pitiable that he promoted him again to the status of King. He died in 89, but had issue:
a) Fùlíng Qǐng-wáng Liú Fáng (阜陵 頃王 劉 魴), King of Fùlíng. He was involved in a plot with his father in 76 and therefore, in 89 was passed over to succeed as King in favour of his younger brother. However, his younger brother died childless, so in 93, he was allowed to be King after all. He died in 123, but had issue:
i) Fùlíng Huái-wáng Liú Huī (阜陵 懷王 劉 恢), King of Fùlíng from 123 until his death in 132. He had issue:
(1) Fùlíng Gōng-wáng Liú Biànqīn (阜陵 恭王 劉 便親), King of Fùlíng. He was passed over to succeed his father as King in favour of his younger brother, instead becoming Marquis of Bóqiú (勃逎亭侯) from 133. However, that brother died childless, so, in 147, he was made King of the revived Kingdom of Fùlíng. He died in 159, but had issue:
(a) Fùlíng Xiào-wáng Liú Tǒng (阜陵 孝王 劉 統), King of Fùlíng from 159 until his death in 167. He had issue:
(i) Fùlíng-wáng Liú Shè (阜陵王 劉 赦), King of Fùlíng from 167 until his death, around 200. As he was childless, his kingdom was abolished.
(2) Fùlíng Jié-wáng Liú Dài (阜陵 節王 劉 代), King of Fùlíng from his father's death in 132 until his own death in 145. He had no children, so the kingdom was temporarily abolished.
ii – vi) Five sons who received Marquisates.
b) Fùlíng Shāng-wáng Liú Chōng (阜陵 殤王 劉 沖), King of Fùlíng from the death of his father in 89. His kingdom was shrunk to a single county in 90 and he died in 91.
c – n) Twelve sons who received Marquisates in 96.
8) Guǎnglíng Sī-wáng Liú Jīng (廣陵 思王 劉 荊), King of Guǎnglíng (son of Guāngliè). Duke of Shānyáng (山陽公) from 39 until 41 when he was promoted to King of Shānyáng. He continued in that role until 57, when he sent a letter to his eldest half-brother, calling on him to rebel, by which he hoped to destroy both the half-brother and that half-brother's maternal clan. He was caught, however, and demoted to King of Guǎnglíng in 58. A few years later he called on a physiognomist in order to discover whether he should rebel; again he was reported to the Imperial court. In 67 he was again caught, this time engaging in curses against Míngdì, the Nineteenth Emperor. This time Míngdì resolved to punish him; his kingdom was abolished and Jing committed suicide. He had issue:
a) Guǎnglíng-hóu Liú Yuánshòu (廣陵侯 劉 元壽), Marquis of Guǎnglíng from 71, he was repeatedly shown Imperial favour. He died around 90, but had issue:
i) Guǎnglíng-hóu Liú Shāng (廣陵侯 劉 商), Marquis of Guǎnglíng from around 90. He had issue:
(1) Guǎnglíng-hóu Liú Tiáo (廣陵侯 劉 條), Marquis of Guǎnglíng.
b) Liú Píng (劉 平), who received a Marquisate in 71.
i) Liú Biāo (劉 彪), District Marquis.
c – d) Two sons who received Marquisates in 71.
9) Línhuái Huái-gōng Liú Héng (臨淮 懷公 劉 衡), Duke of Línhuái from 39 until his death in 41. (son of Guāngliè).
10) Zhōngshān Jiǎn-wáng Liú Yān (中山 簡王 劉 焉), King of Zhōngshān (son of Guō). Duke of Left Píngyì (左馮翊公) from 39 until promoted to King of Left Píngyì in 41. He was transferred to be King of Zhōngshān in 54, but continued to reside in the Capital rather than proceeding to his kingdom. He died in 90.
He took as a concubine (first) Yān-jī Hán Xù (焉姬 韓 序), whom he strangled to death in 72.
He took as a concubine (second) Xú (徐), who had sexual relations with his nephew, the King of Dōnghǎi, at his funeral.
a) Zhōngshān Yí-wáng Liú Xiàn (中山 夷王 劉 憲), King of Zhōngshān from 90 until his death in 118. He had issue:
i) Zhōngshān Xiào-wáng Liú Hóng (中山 孝王 劉 弘), King of Zhōngshān from 118 until his death in 140. He had issue:
(1) Zhōngshān Mù-wáng Liú Chàng (中山 穆王 劉 暢), King of Zhōngshān from 140 until his death in 174. He probably had issue:
(a) Zhōngshān Jié-wáng Liú Zhì (中山 節王 劉 稚), King of Zhōngshān from 174 until his death, probably shortly afterwards.
(2) Nánxiāng-hóu Liú Jīng (南鄉侯 劉 荊), Marquis of Nánxiāng from 141.
ii – iii) Two sons who received Marquisates.
b – l) Eleven sons who received Marquisates.
11) Lángyé Xiào-wáng Liú Jīng (琅邪 孝王 劉 京), King of Lángyé (son of Guāngliè); the kingdom's name literally means 'pure evil' - I do not know why. He was Duke of Lángyé from 39 until promoted to King in 41. He was a favourite of Míngdì, the Nineteenth Emperor, who treated him with great generosity. He wrote several poems and hymns. He died in 81, but had issue:
a) Lángyé Yí-wáng Liú Yǔ (琅邪 夷王 劉 宇), King of Lángyé from 81 until his death in 103. He had issue:
i) Lángyé Gōng-wáng Liú Shòu (琅邪 恭王 劉 壽), King of Lángyé from 103 until his death in 120. He had issue:
(1) Lángyé Zhēn-wáng Liú Zūn (琅邪 貞王 劉 尊), King of Lángyé from 120 until his death in 138. He had issue:
(a) Lángyé Ān-wáng Liú Jù (琅邪 安王 劉 據), King of Lángyé from 138 until his death in 185. He had issue:
(i) Lángyé Shùn-wáng Liú Róng (琅邪 順王 劉 容), King of Lángyé from 185 until his death in 193, at which point his kingdom was abolished
1. Lángyé-wáng Liú Xī (琅邪王 劉 熙), King of Lángyé from its restoration in 206 as a reward for his uncle's support of the now ascendent Cáo Cāo (曹 操). He was executed and his kingdom abolished in 216 when he attempted to switch his support to another warlord.
(ii) Liú Miǎo (劉 邈), he travelled to Chángān in 190 to offer tribute on behalf of his brother, the King of Lángyé. The Imperial court rewarded him with a Marquisate and appointment as Administrator of Jiujiang. He supported the General Cao Cao, future founder of the Cao Wei Dynasty.
(b – d) Three sons who received Marquisates.
(2 – 6) Four sons who received Marquisates.
ii – ix) Eight sons who received Marquisates.
b – n) Thirteen sons, who received Marquisates.
1) Wǔyáng-chánggōngzhǔ Liú Yìwáng (舞陽長公主 劉 義王), Senior Princess of Wǔyáng. She married Língxiāng-hóu Liáng Sōng Bósūn (陵鄉侯 梁 松 伯孫), Marquis of Língxiāng, a Gentleman of the Yellow Gates of great learning, who impeached the heroic and deceased general Mǎ Yuán (馬 援) over a minor slight but was promoted to the rank of Minister Coachman at the beginning of the reign of Míngdì, the Nineteenth Emperor. In 59, he was accused of corruption, and his fate was sealed when one of Mǎ Yuán's daughters became Empress in 60; he was charged with slander and treachery and died in prison in 62. His widow nevertheless continued to support his family, raising his nieces and making them concubines of Emperor Míngdì. They were purged in 83, and she was put under house arrest. She died before 97.
a) Liáng Hù (梁 扈), he survived his father's demise, but was exiled to the far southern province of Jiuzhen in 83. In 97, however, he caused it to be revealed to Hédì, the Twenty-First Emperor, that the Emperor's mother was actually a concubine of the Liáng clan and that the Emperor was, therefore, his cousin. As a result, his fortunes were restored; he became Gentleman of the Yellow Gates, a Colonel of the Northern Army and, in 110, Steward of the Changle Palace.
a) Daughters, who killed themselves at their father's death in 62.
2) Nièyáng-chánggōngzhǔ Liú Zhōnglǐ (涅陽長公主 劉 中禮), Princess of Nièyáng from AD 39, and promoted to Senior Princess in the reign of the Twentieth Emperor. She married Xiǎnqīn-hóu Dòu Gù Mèngsūn (顯親侯 竇 固 孟孫), who then became a Gentleman of the Yellow Gates. In 58, as General of the Feathered Forest, he was involved in a successful war with the Qiang nomads. Shortly thereafter, his wider family was disgraced, and he fell from power, but was recalled in 72 to lead a force recruited from the nomads against the Northern Xiongnu. Successful, he was given another force in 75 and, defeating the Xiongnu again, restored the Central Asian territories which had been lost half a century previously. He was promoted to Minister Herald in 75, Minister of the Household in 82 and Minister of the Guards in 83, but remained modest and unassuming. He had issue:
a) Dòu Biāo (竇 彪), a colonel in the Northern Army, he died, childless, before his father.
3) Guǎntáo-gōngzhǔ Liú Hóngfū (館陶公主 劉 紅夫), Princess of Guǎntáo from 39. She asked her brother Mingdi, the Nineteenth Emperor, to let her son have a position in government. He refused, claiming that close imperial relatives should not hold government positions. She married Hán Guāng (韓 光), Commandant of Attendent Cavalry. Accused of involvement in the King of Huaiyang's witchcraft plot in 73, he was executed.
4) Yùyáng-gōngzhǔ Liú Lǐliú (淯陽公主 劉 禮劉), Princess of Yùyáng. She married Yángān Sī-hóu Guō Huáng (陽安 思侯 郭 璜), Marquis of Yángān from 59. He was Steward of the Palace of Lasting Joy (the dwelling of the Empress Dowager) from 89. The Empress Dowager's family fell from grace in 92 and he was convicted of treason and died in gaol. She had issue:
a) Guō Jǔ (郭 舉), Palace Attendent and Colonel in the Northern Army. He married a daughter of Dou Xian (窦 宪), who fell from grace in 92. He was convicted of sexual impropriaties with the Empress Dowager and treason, dying in prison with his father in 92.
5) Lìyì-gōngzhǔ Liú Shòu (酈邑公主 劉 綬), Princess of Lìyì from 45. She married Yīn Fēng (陰 豐), who found her to be jealous and spoilt and killed her in 59. He was executed.