han12
漢
EMPEROR ZHANG
75 – 88 Hàn Sùzōng Xiào Zhāng-huángdì Liú Dá (漢 肅宗 孝 章皇帝 劉 炟), Twentieth Emperor of Han, the Regulating Emperor. Born in 57, the first son of his father to be born to a woman of noble family, he was adopted by the Empress (who was childless) and appointed Heir in 60. He had just come of age when he succeeded his father in 75. His reign began with a vicious Northern Xiongnu invasion of the Chinese territories in Central Asia, which had to be abandoned as a result. Only a skeleton force was left behind with the impossible task of reestablishing Chinese rule without a budget - at which they were surprisingly successful. Overtures of peace with the Northern Xiongnu stalled, faltered and failed in 87, mostly due to the intrigues of the vassalised Southern Xiongnu, who realised that the Chinese would have no reason to keep them as a buffer state if there was peace with the Northern Xiongnu. As it happened, the Northern Xiongnu state began to collapse around this time, anyway. But this did not mean that the pressure was off - the north of west China was also under threat, from raids of the Qiang nomads. Chinese subjects were no longer willing to dwell so close to the border and, despite the Emperor's best efforts, a no-man's land began to develop in the north. Domestically China remained prosperous and Zhāngdì toured his realm dispensing justice and displaying beneficience. However, the realm's finances were increasingly stretched; the Emperor re-introduced the state monopoly on salt and government trade to deal with this, but such actions rankled the Confucian elite. They were salved somewhat by his patronage of Confucian scholarship; most famously Zhāngdì hosted the Conference at White Tiger Hall in 79 to resolve the conflict between supporters of the Old and New Texts of the Five Classics (the most important of the Confucian texts), at which the new texts were approved. There were other reforms, too: In 85 Zhāngdì had the calendar reformed to bring it back into line with the seasons and in 87 he authorised an overhaul of court ceremonial, but when presented with the final proposal its complexity caused him to balk at its implementation. He died in 88, enormously respected, but leaving an heir who was only ten years old. He received the posthumous title Sùzōng (肅宗), Reverent Patriarch.
He took as a concubine (first) Sòng-guìrén (宋貴人), a cousin of his adoptive mother, slandered by his Empress, she died in prison, accused of witchcraft in 82.
He took as a concubine (second) Sòng-guìrén (宋貴人), younger sister of his first concubine, she too died in prison in 82 accused of witchcraft.
He married Zhāngdé Dòu-huángtàihòu (章德 竇皇太后), granddaughter of the Eighteenth Emperor, Guāngwǔdì (see HAN 10). She was appointed Empress in 78, shortly after entering the Emperor's harem. She was childless, so she killed the concubine Liáng-guìrén, mother of the Heir and adopted the Heir as her own son. She became Empress Dowager in 88 after her husband's death and Regent on behalf of her underage 'son.' Her brother, Dòu Xiàn (窦 憲) had defacto control of government, but after he killed her lover she had him sent to campaign against the northern nomads. The Emperor came of age in 91, eliminated her clan and placed her under house arrest; she died in 97.
He took as a concubine (third) Dòu-guìrén (竇貴人) in 77.
He took as a concubine (fourth) Liáng-huánghòu (梁皇后), born in 62, she was appointed an Honoured Lady (貴人) and assisted the Empress in destroying the first and second concubines. This accomplished, her son was appointed Heir, but the Empress soon turned on her; her father was executed in 83 and she died “of grief” soon after, her child, Hédì, the future Twenty-First Emperor, was adopted by the Empress. He only discovered that Liáng was his mother in 97, at which point he posthumously promoted her to Empress.
He took as a concubine (fifth) Liáng-guìrén (梁貴人), elder sister of the fourth concubine, she too died 'of grief' in 83.
He took as a concubine (fifth) Shēn-guìrén (申貴人).
1) Qiānshèng Zhēn-wáng Liú Kàng (千乘 貞王 劉 伉), King of Qiānshèng from 79, until his death at Luoyang in 93. He had issue:
a) Lèān Yí-wáng Liú Chǒng Fúhú (樂安 夷王 劉 寵 伏胡), King of Qiānshèng (千乘王) from 93 until 95 when he became King of Lèān. He died at Luoyang in 121, but had issue:
i) Bóhǎi Xiào-wáng Liú Hóng (勃海 孝王 劉 鴻), King of Lèān from 121, he was sent away from Luoyang to his kingdom in 125. In 145 his son became Emperor and he was promoted to King of Bóhǎi. He died in 146.
He had relations with Chén-fūrén (陳夫人), a singing girl, whose son became Emperor - but she received only the title of Mistress, finally, in 175, she was promoted to Honoured Lady.
(1) Hàn Xiào Zhì-huángdì Liú Zuǎn (漢 孝 質皇帝 劉 纘), Twenty-Seventh Emperor of Han (son of Chén) (see below).
ii) Qīnghé-wáng Liú Yánpíng (清河王 劉 延平), King of Qīnghé in succession to a childless cousin, from 109 until his death in 144. He had issue:
(1) Qīnghé-wáng Liú Suàn (清河王 劉 蒜), King of Qīnghé from 144. In 145 he was a candidate for Emperor after the death of Chōngdì, Twenty-Sixth Emperor and again in 146 after the death of the his cousin Zhìdì, Twenty-Seventh Emperor, but he was passed over at the urging of the palace eunuchs who did not believe they would be able to control him. In 147, two men of Qīnghé attempted to overthrow Huándì, the Twenty-Eighth Emperor, in favour of their king Liú Suàn. They lost, he was demoted to Marquis of Wèishì (尉氏侯) and committed suicide.
2) Píngchūn Dào-wáng Liú Quán (平春 悼王 劉 全), King of Píngchūn from 79 until his death in Luoyang, later that same year.
3) Qīnghé Xiào-wáng Liú Qìng (清河 孝王 劉 慶), King of Qīnghé (son of the elder Sòng). Born in 78, he was Imperial Heir from 79 until 82, when machinations of the Empress saw his mother killed and him demoted to King of Qīnghé. He never mentioned this, maintained a close relationship with the new heir and thereby avoided death. He received apartments in the Imperial Palace in 90. In 92 he aided his Imperial brother in eliminating the Dou family of in-laws. He was sent to his Kingdom in 106 and died there in the same year. In 121, he posthumously received an Imperial title.
He married Gānlíng-dàguìrén Gěng-jī (甘陵大貴人 耿姬), maternal grandaughter of Mingdi the Nineteenth Emperor (see HAN 11). She was appointed Honoured Lady of the Pleasant Tomb by her step-son, the Twenty-Third Emperor, in 121.
He took as a concubine Zuǒ-jī Shàoé (左姬 小娥), former concubine of Hédì, the Twenty-First Emperor, she studied the histories and practiced writing. She died before 106, and was posthumously raised to Empress only in 121.
a) Gōngzōng Xiào Ān-huángdì Liú Hù (漢 恭宗 孝 安皇帝 劉 祜), Twenty-Third Emperor of Han (son of Zuǒ) (see below).
b) Qīnghé Mǐn-wáng Liú Hǔwēi (清河 愍王 劉 虎威), King of Qīnghé. District Marquis of Shèng (盛鄉侯) until 106, when he became King. He died childless in 109 and was succeeded by a cousin.
c) Guǎngchuān-wáng Liú Chángbǎo (廣川王 劉 常保), King of Guǎngchuān from 107 until he died, childless, in 108.
a) Nièyáng-chánggōngzhǔ Liú Shìnán (涅陽長公主 劉 侍男), Senior Princess of Nièyáng from 121. She married Xìyáng-hóu Cén Xī (細陽侯 岑 熙), descendent of an important General at the time of the restoration of Han, he was Marquis of Xìyáng, Palace Attendent, General of the Household and finally Administrator of Wei or Dong Commandery, where he was extremely popular for his morally upstanding government.
i) Xìyáng-hóu Cén Fú (細陽侯 岑 福), Marquis of Xìyáng and a Gentleman of the Yellow Gates.
b) Wǔyīn-chánggōngzhǔ Liú Biédé (舞陰長公主 劉 別得), Senior Princess of Wǔyīn from 121. She married Gāomì-hóu Dèng Bāo (高密侯 鄧 褒), Marquis of Gāomì, General of the Household and Minister Steward and a maternal great-grandson of the Nineteenth Emperor. She had issue (see HAN 11).
c) Púyáng-chánggōngzhǔ Liú Jiǔcháng (濮陽長公主 劉 久長), Senior Princess of Púyáng from 121. She married Mǐn-hóu Gěng Liáng Wújin (湣侯 耿 良 無禁), Marquis of Mǐn and a Palace Attendent.
(1) Mǐn-hóu Gěng Xié (湣侯 耿 協), Marquis of Mǐn.
d) Píngshì-chánggōngzhǔ Liú Zhídé (平氏長公主 劉 直得), Senior Princess of Píngshì from 121. She married Zhēngqiāng-hóu Lái Dìng (征羌侯 來 定), a maternal grandson of the Nineteenth Emperor and Marquis of Zhēngqiāng from 133 and a General of the Household in the reign of the Twenty-Fifth Emperor. She had issue (see HAN 11).
e – k) Six other daughters.
4) Hàn Xiào Hé-huángdì Liú Zhào (漢 孝 和皇帝 劉 肇), Twenty-First Emperor of Han (son of one of the Liángs) (see below).
5) Jìběi Huì-wáng Liú Shòu (濟北 惠王 劉 壽), King of Jìběi (Son of Shēn). King from 90, he only moved to his kingdom in 106 after the death of his brother Hédì, Twenty-First Emperor. He died in 120, and was so well-regarded that he received a funeral three times more opulent than he was legally entitled to. He had issue:
a) Jìběi Jié-wáng Liú Dēng (濟北 節王 劉 登), King of Jìběi from 120 until his death in 135. He had issue:
i) Jìběi Āi-wáng Liú Duō (濟北 哀王 劉 多), King of Jìběi from 135 until his death in 138. He was childless and was therefore succeeded by one of his uncles.
b) Lèchéng-wáng Liú Cháng (樂成王 劉 萇), King of Lèchéng in 120. He was almost immediately accused of failure to adhere to proper mourning protocol and dallying in the harem of the old King of Lèchéng. Spared the death penalty, he was demoted to Marquis of Línhú (臨湖侯).
c) Jìběi Lí-wáng Liú Ānguó (濟北 厘王 劉 安國) District Marquis of Zhàn (戰鄉侯) from 120 until 139 when he became King of Jìběi. He died in 145, but had issue:
i) Jìběi Xiào-wáng Liú Cì (濟北 孝王 劉 次), born in 137, he was King of Jìběi from 145. In 147, aged only eleven, he was commended by the Empress Dowager & Regent Shùnliè Liáng (順烈 梁皇太后 妠) for the exceptional filial piety he had displayed towards his deceased father. He died in 162, but had issue:
(1) Jìběi-wáng Liú Luán (濟北王 劉 鸞), King of Jìběi from 162 until his death. He had issue:
(a) Jìběi-wáng Liú Zhèng (濟北王 劉 政), King of Jìběi. He died, childless, in 206 and his kingdom was abolished.
ii) Liú Měng (劉 猛), Village Marquis from 146.
d) Hàn Shou-huángdì Liú Yì (漢 孝 少皇帝 劉 懿), Twenty-Fourth Emperor of Han (see below).
e – f) Two sons, who received Village Marquisates.
6) Héjiān Xiào-wáng Liú Kāi (河間 孝王 劉 開), or perhaps Liú Gōng (劉 恭), King of Héjiān (Son of Shēn). Though King from 90, he did not leave the capital to reside in his kingdom until the death of Hédì, Twenty-First Emperor, in 106. He died in 131, but had issue:
a) Héjiān Huì-wáng Liú Zhèng (河間 惠王 劉 政), King of Héjiān from 131. Initially cruel and extravagent until curbed by his Chancellors. He died in 141, but had issue:
i) Héjiān Zhēn-wáng Liú Jiàn (河間 貞王 劉 建), King of Héjiān from 141 until his death in 151. He had issue:
(1) Héjiān Ān-wáng Liú Lì (河間 安王 劉 利), King of Héjiān from 151 until his death in 179. He had issue:
(a) Chóngdé-hóu Liú Gāi (崇德侯 劉 陔), King of Héjiān (河間王) from 179 until the end of the Han Dynasty in 220 when he was demoted to Marquis of Chóngdé (Honouring Virtue).
(b) Jìnán-wáng Liú Kāng (濟南王 劉 康), King of Jìnán from 174 until his death. He had issue:
(i) Jìnán-wáng Liú Yūn (濟南王 劉 贇), King of Jìnán. He was killed in 207 by rebels during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, but had issue:
(i) Chóngdé-hóu Liú Kāi (崇德侯 劉 開), King of Jìnán (濟南王) from 207 until the end of the Han Dynasty in 220 when he was demoted to Marquis of Chóngdé (Honouring Virtue).
(ii) Dōngwǔchéng-hóu Liú Dé (東武城侯 劉 德), Marquis of Dōngwǔchéng.
(iii) Liú Dǔ (劉 篤) Because of criminal activity, he was not granted a Marquisate when his brothers were,
b) Líwú-hóu Liú Yì (蠡吾侯 劉 翼), Marquis of Líwú. King of Píngyuán (平原王) from 119 until accused of a plot to seize the Imperial throne in 121, after which he was demoted to District Marquis. In 130 he was promoted to Marquis of Líwú. He died in 140, but in 146 after his son acceded to the imperial throne, he posthumously received the Imperial title.
He married Ma.
He took as a concubine Xiàochóng Yàn-huánghòu Míng (孝崇 匽皇后 明), she was promoted to Honoured Lady in 146, following her son's appointment as Emperor, and to Empress in 150, taking up residence in the Dowager's palace. She died in 152.
i) Hàn Xiào Huán-huángdì Liú Zhì (漢 孝 桓皇帝 劉 志), Twenty-Eighth Emperor of Han (son of Yan) (see below)
ii) Bóhǎi-wáng Liú Kuī (勃海王 劉 悝), King of Bóhǎi (son of Yan). Younger twin brother of the future Twenty-Eighth Emperor, he became Marquis of Líwú (蠡吾侯), with the brother's accession to the Imperial throne in 146. In 147, he became King of Bóhǎi. Dogged by accusations of decadence, in 165 he was charged with rebellion and demoted. He was reappointed to his kingdom in 168. Falsely accused of impiety in 172 by court eunuchs, he committed suicide. He had issue:
(1 – 70) More than seventy children, who all died in prison after 172.
iii) Píngyuán-wáng Liú Shí (平原王 劉 碩), King of Píngyuán from 148 (probably son of Yan). He was an alcoholic, so control of his affairs was entrusted to his step-mother.
i) Chángshè-chánggōngzhǔ Liú (長社長公主 劉), Senior Princess of Chángshè. She married Yúmí-hóu Gěng Yuán Bóxù (隃麋侯 耿 援 伯绪), Marquis of Yúmí and Administrator of Hedong.
ii) Yìyáng-chánggōngzhǔ Liú (益陽長公主 劉), Senior Princess of Yìyáng. She married a member of the Kòu (寇) Clan.
c) Ānpíng Jìng-wáng Liú Dé (安平 靖王 劉 得), King of Ānpíng from 122 until his death in 151. He had issue:
i) Ānpíng-wáng Liú Xù (安平王 劉 續), King of Ānpíng from 151. He was kidnapped by the Yellow Turban Rebels in 184. He was ransomed at great cost to his kingdom, only to be convicted of impiety against the Emperor and executed shortly thereafter.
ii) Gānlíng Wēi-wáng Liú Lǐ (甘陵 威王 劉 理), Marquis of Jīng (經侯), until 148, when he became King of Gānlíng. He died in 172, but had issue:
(1) Gānlíng Zhēn-wáng Liú Dìng (甘陵 貞王 劉 定), King of Gānlíng from 172 until his death in 176. He had issue:
(a) Gānlíng Xiàn-wáng Liú Zhōng (甘陵 獻王 劉 忠), King of Gānlíng from 176 . He was imprisoned by his own subjects during the Yellow Turban Rebellion of 184, but reinstated afterwards. He died childless sometime before 206, when the Kingdom of Gānlíng was abolished.
(i) Liú Sì-zǐ (劉 嗣子), who was probably killed in 206. The Kingdom was abolished at this point.
d) Jiědú-tínghóu Liú Shū (解瀆亭侯 劉 淑), Village Marquis of Jiědú, posthumously granted the Imperial title. He had issue:
i) Jiědú-tínghóu Liú Cháng (解瀆亭侯 劉 萇), Village Marquis of Jiědú. He was posthumously granted the Imperial title.
He married Xiàorén Dǒng-huánghòu (孝仁 董皇后), who was Dowager from 169 and brought up Xiàndì, the future Thirty-First Emperor, her grandson, after his mother was killed in 181. The boy was not the heir, and did not succeed to the throne on his father's death in 189. She, however, had come to favour the child and attempted to interfere in politics on his behalf- she was dismissed from the Capital and died in the same year. Later that year, however, her cousin, General Dǒng Zhuō (董 卓), used his relationship to her to justify seizing control of government as Regent.
(1) Hàn Xiào Lìng-huángdì Liú Hóng (漢 孝 靈皇帝 劉 宏), Twenty-Ninth Emperor of Han (son of Dǒng) (see below)
e) Rènchéng-wáng Liú Bó (任城王 劉 博), King of Rènchéng from 161. Before that he had been Village Marquis of Cēnhù (參戶亭侯).
f – n) Ten sons who received Village Marquisates.
7) Chéngyáng Huái-wáng Liú Shū (城陽 懷王 劉 淑), King of Chéngyáng from 90 until he died, childless, in 94.
8) Guǎngzōng Shāng-wáng Liú Wànsuì (廣宗 殤王 劉 萬歲), he became King of Guǎngzōng in 93 and died the same year.
1) Wǔdé-chánggōngzhǔ Liú Nán (武德長公主 劉 男), Princess of Wǔdé from 79.
2) Píngyì-gōngzhǔ Liú Wáng (平邑公主 劉 王), Princess of Píngyì from 79. She married Féng Yóu (馮 由), a maternal grandson of the Nineteenth Emperor and a Gentleman of the Yellow Gates (see HAN 11).
3) Yīnān-gōngzhǔ Liú Jí (陰安公主 劉 吉), Princess of Yīnān from 93.