Gao1 Zu3(great great grandfather) 高祖 Liu2 Bang1
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| 2) Wen2(culture/gentle/tatoo/coverup/writing/character) Huan2 Di4 文桓帝 Yao2 Xing(mood/interest/prosper/excitement/start/encourage/ promote/ permit/maybe) 姚兴 394-416 (366-416) aka Zi(son/learned scholar/viscount /seed/sth small and hard/copper)lue4(brief/sketchy/slightly /delete/capture/scheme) (子略) Was an emperor of the Chinese/Qiang state LATER Qin. He was the son of the founding emperor Yao Chang (Emperor Wucheng). Mostly used the title Heavenly Prince (Tian Wang). He destroyed the rival F. Qin and proceeded to expand his hegemony over nearly all of W. China, as he temporarily seized all of W. Qin's territory and forced S. Liang, N. Liang, W. Liang, and Qiao Zong's W. Shu (西蜀) all to at least nominally submit to him, but late in his reign, defeats on the battlefield, particularly at the hands of the rebel general Helian Bobo (who founded Xia), and internecine struggles between his sons and nephews greatly damaged the LATER Qin state, and it was destroyed soon after his death. Yao Xing was an avid Buddhist, and it was during his reign that Buddhism first received official state support in China. The monk Kumarajiva also visited Chang'an at Yao Xing's request in 401. Yao Xing was born in 366, when his father Yao Chang was a general under the F. Qin emperor Fu Jian. Yao Chang's wife, the LATER Empress She, was mentioned as his mother, but when Yao Xing LATER became emperor, he posthumously honored one of Yao Chang's concubines, Consort Sun, as empress dowager, which allows an inference that he could have been born of Consort Sun but raised by Empress She. When he grew older, he served as an assistant to Fu Jian's crown prince Fu Hong (苻宏). When Yao Chang declared a rebellion and established LATER Qin in 384, Yao Xing was at the F. Qin capital Chang'an, and he immediately fled to his father. For the next several years, as Yao Chang fought with F. Qin and W. Yan, Yao Xing was often entrusted with guarding the base of operations (initially Beidi (北地 Tongchuan, Shaanxi), LATER Chang'an after W. Yan captured and then abandoned it), while his father engaged in campaigns. In 386, after Yao Chang declared himself emperor, he created Yao Xing crown prince. He was considered to be firm and gracious, and he spent much time studying literature despite the work necessary in maintaining home base. In 392, while Yao Chang was away on a campaign, Yao Xing, at the suggestion of the general Yao Fangcheng (姚方成), executed a number of F. Qin generals whom Yao Chang had taken captive earlier. While Yao Chang was angry on the surface, he appeared to be secretly happy that Yao Xing realized the danger that these generals posed. In 393, when the F. Qin emperor Fu Deng attacked the LATER Qin vassal Dou Chong (窦冲), Yao Chang, at the suggestion of the prime minister Yin Wei (尹纬), sent Yao Xing against Fu Deng, in order to establish Yao Xing's authority over the troops. Yao Xing was able to stop Fu Deng's attack on Dou fairly easily. Around the new year 393, Yao Chang fell seriously illater He told Yao Xing, on his death bed, to trust the several officials that he entrusted his administration with─Yin, Yao Huang (姚晃), Yao Damu (姚大目), and Di Bozhi (狄伯支). When Yao Huang asked Yao Chang for strategies to defeat Fu Deng, Yao Chang refused to answer, merely stating that he trusted that Yao Xing would be able to accomplish it. He soon died, and Yao Xing succeeded him, although initially not keeping Yao Chang's death a secret and entrusting the troops to his uncles Yao Xu (姚绪) and Yao Shuode (姚硕德) and his brother Yao Chong (姚崇), while preparing a campaign against F. Qin.--Despite Yao Xing's hopes of keeping his father's death a secret, Fu Deng received news of it anyway─and immediately prepared a major attack against LATER Qin. Fu Deng had his brother Fu Guang (苻广) defend the base of Yongcheng (雍城 Baoji, Shaanxi) and Fu Chong defend the base of Hu Kong Castle (胡空堡 Xianyang, Shaanxi), and, in his anxiety, did not make sure that his army had sufficient water supply. Yao Xing set up his army at Mawei (马嵬 Xianyang, Shaanxi) to prevent F. Qin forces from reaching the river near Mawei, and F. Qin forces were stricken by thirst, but still fought harder. Yao Xing initially ordered Yin to be cautious, but Yin, realizing the trouble the F. Qin forces were already in and believing that morale would be destroyed if he undertook a cautious strategy, fought back fervently, and the F. Qin forces collapsed. Then, Fu Deng's brother Fu Guang (苻广) and son Fu Chong abandoned the two bases that they were holding, and Fu Deng was unable to recapture them. He then sought help from the prince of W. Qin, Qifu Gangui, who sent a relief force headed by Qifu Yizhou (乞伏益州). As Fu Deng sought to join up with Qifu Yizhou, Yao Xing ambushed and captured him, and then executed him. He disbanded Fu Deng's troops and gave Fu Deng's Empress Li to Yao Huang. Fu Deng's crown prince Fu Chong would assume imperial title and attempt to resist LATER Qin a few months longer, but LATER in the year died in battle against W. Qin after Qifu Gangui turned against him, ending F. Qin. LATER Qin assumed nearly all of F. Qin's remaining territory. In 395, LATER Qin established peace with LATER Yan, thus obviating likelihood of war on the E. border─although LATER in 395, when LATER Yan's crown prince Murong Bao carried out a disastrous campaign against N. Wei's prince Tuoba Gui, LATER Qin sent a relief force to aid N. Wei, although LATER Qin forces did not actually engage LATER Yan. Further, in 397, with LATER Yan under heavy attack by N. Wei after its founding emperor Murong Chui died and was replaced by Murong Bao, LATER Qin refused to provide aid to LATER Yan. LATER in 397, Empress Dowager She died. Yao Xing was described to be in such great mourning that he was unable to handle matters of state for some time. And then, he continued to wear mourning clothes. Overall, during this period, Yao Xing was described as diligent and willing to listen to different opinions, ruling the empire efficiently. He engaged in campaigns on the various borders, enlarging LATER Qin's territories and influence. In 399, Yao Xing sent his brother Yao Chong the Duke of Qi and the general Yang Foxong (杨佛嵩) to attack the important Jin city of Luoyang, and in winter 399 captured Luoyang and the surrounding cities. Also in 399, Yao Xing, in response to astrological signs that were considered signs of disaster, stopped claiming the title of emperor, instead using the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang), to show humility to the gods. He also accordingly demoted his officials and noble by one rank. In 400, Yao Xing sent his uncle Yao Shuode the Duke of Longxi to launch a major attack against W. Qin. Despite W. Qin's initial success in cutting of Yao Shuode's supply line, Yao Xing himself led a force to aid Yao Shuode, defeating W. Qin's prince Qifu Gangui in battle, nearly capturing Qifu Gangui's entire army and proceeding to take most of W. Qin's cities. Qifu Gangui himself surrendered to S. Liang's prince Tufa Lilugu, thus temporarily ending W. Qin's existence. In fall 400, believing that he was being suspected by Tufa Lilugu, Qifu Gangui fled from S. Liang and surrendered to LATER Qin. Yao Xing created him the Marquess of Guiyi and, in 401, took the unusual action of giving Qifu Gangui his army back and ordering him to defend his old capital Wanchuan (苑川 Baiyin, Gansu), and while Qifu Gangui was in name a LATER Qin general, he acted independently at times.
LATER in 401, Yao Xing, under suggestion from Yao Shuode, launched a major attack against LATER Liang. To avoid conflict, Tufa Lilugu ordered S. Liang forces to yield a path for LATER Qin forces, and Yao Shuode therefore easily reached the LATER Liang capital Guzang (姑臧 Wuwei, Gansu), sieging the city. S. Liang, N. Liang, and W. Liang all sent messengers submitting as vassals. After two months of siege, LATER Liang's emperor Lu Long also submitted as a vassal, and was given the title Duke of Jiankang, although he remained in control of Guzang and continued to use the Heavenly Prince title internally as wellater N. Liang's duke Juqu Mengxun became so apprehensive that he offered to yield his territory and relocate his entire army into LATER Qin proper, but LATER reneged on the promise, although he remained LATER Qin vassal for years. In 402, N. Wei attacked the LATER Qin vassal Mo Yigan (没奕干), and this led to the breakdown of relations between N. Wei and LATER Qin. When N. Wei's Emperor Daowu (Tuoba Gui) sought marriage with LATER Qin, Yao Xing, because of this and because he heard that Emperor Daowu already had Empress Murong as his wife, refused. In summer 402, Yao Xing personally led a major attack against N. Wei, which had by this point taken over nearly all of LATER Yan's territory north of the Yellow River. In fall 402, Yao Xing's forward commander Yao Ping (姚平) the Duke of Yiyang was surrounded by N. Wei's Emperor Daowu at Chaibi (柴壁 Linfen, Shanxi), and despite counterattacks by both Yao Ping and Yao Xing, the N. Wei siege became increasingly tighter, and in winter 402, Yao Ping and his army were captured following a failed attempt to break out, ending Yao Xing's campaign against N. Wei. Also in 402, Yao Xing created his concubine Consort Zhang empress. He also created his son Yao Hong as crown prince and other sons as dukes. (Yao Xing had long wanted to created Yao Hong, described as kind, loving, and studious, as crown prince, but hesitated because Yao Hong was also regarded as having a weak personality and prone to illnesses.) Around this time, Yao Xing also appeared to have become a devout Buddhist, under the influence of the monk Kumarajiva. This appeared to have a major influence on his actions LATER on─as he appeared to avoid decisive actions that may lead to many deaths, while trying to act gently toward his enemies. This had an unfortunately deleterious effect on his empire, which, for the most part, stopped expanding. In 405, he gave Kumaraijiva an honorific title, treating him like a god, and often led his officials in listening to Kumaraijiva's sermons. At his request, Kumarajiva translated more than 300 sutras into Chinese. Yao Xing also built many towers and temples. Because of his influence, it was described that 90% of the population became Buddhists. In 403, with his LATER Liang state continuously under attack by N. Liang and S. Liang, Lu Long surrendered the Guzang region─the only territory still remaining under LATER Liang control─to LATER Qin, thus ending LATER Liang. Yao Xing moved Lu Long and his clan to Chang'an and made him and his brother Lu Chao (吕超) officials. However, because N. Liang and S. Liang were only nominal vassals, Guzang was effectively a lone island of L, Qin controlater In 404, S. Liang's prince Tufa Rutan (Tufa Lilugu's brother) stopped claiming princely title and using his own era name, in a further showing of submission to LATER Qin, although internally he remained effectively independent. In 405, at the request of the Jin general Liu Yu, Yao Xing returned 12 commanderies that had switched their allegiance from Jin to LATER Qin during the Jin civil war from 398 to 405, despite his officials' opposition. (This gesture, however, would not be reciprocated by Liu, who would destroy LATER Qin after Yao Xing's death.) In 406, in response to Tufa Rutan's tribute of 3,000 horses and 30,000 sheep, Yao Xing became so touched that he yielded Guzang to Tufa Rutan, thus ending LATER Qin's actual control of the Guzang region. In 407, believing that Qifu Gangui was becoming difficult to control, when Qifu Gangui arrived in Chang'an for an official visit, he detained Qifu Gangui to be a civilian official, while giving command of Qifu Gangui's army to Qifu Gangui's heir apparent, Qifu Chipan. LATER in 407, LATER Qin and N. Wei agreed to peace─returning previously captured generals to each other. The LATERQin general Liu Bobo (who would LATER change his name to Helian Bobo), who was then in charge of Shuofang (朔方 Ordos, Inner Mongolia), because his father Liu Weichen (刘卫辰) had been killed by N. Wei forces in 391, became angry and declared a rebellion, establishing Xia. Liu Bobo used guerilla tactics against LATER Qin, wearing LATER Qin's armies and cities down. From this point on, LATER Qin began to decline. In 407, Murong Chao, the emperor of S. Yan, whose mother and wife were then in LATER Qin, requested to have them delivered to S. Yan. Yao Xing agreed to do so if Murong Chao would agree to be a vassal and either deliver F. Qin palatial musicians (who were taken by W. Yan and eventually passed through LATER Yan and then S. Yan) or 1,000 Jin citizens to LATER Qin, before his request would be agreed. Murong Chao agreed to yield as vassal, and delivered the musicians to LATER Qin. Yao Xing then delivered his mother and wife to him, along with gifts. Also in 407, Qiao Zong, who had taken control of Jin's Yi Province (益州 Chongqing and Sichuan) and declared himself the Prince of Chengdu, became a LATER Qin vassalater In 408, noticing that S. Liang was under severe attack by its neighbors (including having suffered a terrible defeat to Xia in 407), Yao Xing launched a campaign to try to destroy S. Liang, despite opposition by his official Wei Zong (韦宗), who felt that Tufa Rutan would not be defeated easily. He commissioned his son Yao Bi (姚弼) the Duke of Guangping along with Qifu Gangui and Lian Cheng (敛成) to attack S. Liang, while simultaneously commissioning Qi Nan (齐难) to attack Xia. Both ventures ended badly. Yao Bi and LATER Yao Xian (姚显) the Duke of Changshan were defeated by Tufa Rutan, and Yao Xing was forced to agree to a new peace with S. Liang while having lost prestige based on the defeat. Even more disastrous was the Qi's mission, however, as Qi fell into a trap laid by Liu Bobo and was captured with his entire army, causing all of modern N. Shaanxi to fall into Xia hands. LATER in 408, Tufa Rutan effectively repudiated his vassal status by again claiming the title Prince of Liang (instead of the LATER Qin-created title of Duke of Guangwu) and changing era name. There also began to be increasing tendencies by Yao Xing's brothers and sons to plot to take over power. For example, in 409, his brother Yao Chong (姚冲, note different tone than another brother) tried to force Di Bozhi to join him in a plot to attack Chang'an, and when Di refused, poisoned Di to death, but was discovered LATER and forced to commit suicide. Also in 409, Qifu Gangui escaped and returned to Wanchuan to join his son Qifu Chipan. He soon redeclared independence and reestablished W. Qin as its prince. He soon launched several campaigns against LATER Qin and inflicted much damage, although he would apologize in 411 and again declared himself a LATER Qin vassalater However, he resumed his attacks. LATER in 409, the Jin general Liu Yu launched a major attack on S. Yan, which sought aid from LATER Qin. Initially, Yao Xing sent messengers to try to persuade Liu Yu to withdraw, and also sent a relief force commanded by Yao Qiang (姚强), but was forced to withdraw Yao Qiang's force when he suffered a major loss at Liu Bobo's hands and was nearly captured. Without aid from LATER Qin, S. Yan fell to Jin in early 410. LATER in 410, at Qiao Zong's request, Yao Xing sent an army commanded by Gou Lin (苟林) to join Qiao Zong's army, commanded by Huan Qian (桓谦) and Qiao Daofu (谯道福) to attack Jin's Jing Province (荆州 Hunan and central Hubei). However, Liu Yu's brother Liu Daogui (刘道规) defeated both armies, killing Huan Qian and forcing Gou to flee. As of 411, Yao Bi, who was greatly favored by Yao Xing, was deep into a conspiracy to try to undermine the crown prince Yao Hong. In 412, Qifu Gangui was assassinated by his nephew Qifu Gongfu (乞伏公府), the son of the founding prince Qifu Guoren. Many LATER Qin officials try to persuade Yao Xing to take the opportunity, as Qifu Gongfu and Qifu Chipan battled for control of the state, to attack W. Qin. Yao Xing refused, believing it improper to attack a state that was still mourning. Also in 412, Yao Xing created his concubine Consort Qi empress (Empress Zhang died). In 413, Liu Yu's general Zhu Lingshi (朱龄石) attacked Qiao Zong's W. Shu state and destroyed it, reannexing it to Jin. Yao Xing, although W. Shu's suzerain, was unable to aid it. In 414, Yao Bi made several attempts to be made crown prince by having officials close to him suggesting Yao Xing to replace Yao Hong with him. Yao Xing refused, but did not rebuke Yao Bi. Yao Xing grew seriously ill that year, and Yao Bi planned a coup to take over. His brother Yao Yu revealed his plot to the other brothers Yao Yi, Yao Huang, Yao Chen, and Yao Xuan, who mobilized their own forces to be ready to attack Yao Bi if necessary. Yao Xing was forced to relieve Yao Bi of his posts, and the other sons demobilized and arrived at Chang'an for an official visit. The sons accused Yao Bi of many crimes, but Yao Xing took no further action. Indeed, in 415, Yao Bi retailiated by falsely accusing Yao Xuan of crimes, and Yao Xing arrested Yao Xuan. In summer 415, the Jin general Sima Xiuzhi (司马休之), having been forced to escape after Liu Yu attacked him, fled to LATER Qin. Yao Xing commissioned Sima Xiuzhi with an army to let him harass Jin borders, despite warnings by his officials of a prophecy that the Simas would regain Guanzhong and the Luoyang region. In fall 415, Yao Xing fell ill again, and Yao Bi secretly gathered forces again to plan a coup. Yao Xing found out and arrested Yao Bi, but at Yao Hong's urging did not execute him but instead released him. In winter 415, Yao Xing sent his daughter, the Princess Xiping, to N. Wei to be married to Emperor Daowu's son Emperor Mingyuan, in order to affirm the alliance between the two states. Emperor Mingyuan welcomed her with the ceremony due an empress. However, Princess Xiping was unable to forge a golden statue, as required by Tuoba Tribe traditions to be a sign of divine favor, to become an empress, so she was only created an imperial consort, but she was treated with the honors due an empress. In 416, Yao Xing went on a trip to Huayin (华阴), near Chang'an, and fell ill on the trip and headed back to Chang'an. His attendant Yin Chong (尹冲) -- one of Yao Bi's supporters─planned to then assassinate Yao Hong as Yao Hong would come out of the city to welcome Yao Xing. Yao Hong's supporters received news of this and persuaded Yao Hong not to come out to welcome Yao Xing. Yin's assistant Yao Shami (姚沙弥) then tried to persuade Yin to take Yao Xing and join with Yao Bi to seize power, but Yin hesitated and did not do so. Once Yao Xing returned to the Chang'an palace, he transferred power to Yao Hong and ordered Yao Bi arrested. Meanwhile, Yao Xing's son Yao Geng'er (姚耕儿), believing that Yao Xing had died, persuaded his brother Yao Yin (姚□) the Duke of Nanyang to start a coup, and Yao Yin joined with Yin Chong (perhaps in anticipatory support of Yao Bi's claims) to attack the palace, battling with Yao Hong's troops. Yao Xing, despite his illness, made an appearance and announced an edict ordering Yao Bi to commit suicide. As soon as Yao Yin's troops saw Yao Xing, they abandoned Yao Yin. That night, Yao Xing entrusted Yao Hong's administration to his brother Yao Shao (姚绍) the Duke of Dongping, Liang Xi (梁喜), Yin Zhao (尹昭), and Lian Manwei (敛曼嵬), and he died the next day. Yao Hong succeeded him, but he soon had to face even more challenges from his brothers and cousins as well as attacks by Xia and Jin, and by 417 LATER Qin had fallen to Jin. Era names * Huangchu (皇初 huang ch_) 394-399 * Hongshi (弘始 hong sh_) 399-416 Personal information * Father o Yao Chang (Emperor Wucheng) * Mother o Empress She (but might be Consort Sun) * Wives 1)o Empress Zhang (created 402) 2)o Empress Qi (created 412) * Children 1)o Yao Hong (姚泓), the Crown Prince (created 402), LATER emperor 2)o Yao Yi (姚懿), the Duke of Taiyuan (created 402) 3)o Yao Bi (姚弼), the Duke of Guangping (created 402, forced to commit suicide 416) 4)o Yao Huang (姚咣), the Duke of Chenliu (created 402) 5)o Yao Xuan (姚宣), Duke (created 402) 6)o Yao Chen (姚谌), Duke (created 402) 7)o Yao Yin (姚□), the Duke of Nanyang (created 402, executed by Yao Hong 416) 8)o Yao Pu (姚璞), the Duke of Pingyuan (created 402, executed by Liu Yu 417) 9)o Yao Zhi (姚质), Duke (created 402) 10)o Yao Kui (姚逵), Duke (created 402) 11)o Yao Yu (姚裕), Duke (created 402) 12)o Yao Guoer (姚国儿), Duke (created 402) 13)o Yao Geng'er (姚耕儿) 14)o Yao Huangmei (姚黄眉), Duke of Longxi of N. Wei 15)o Princess Xiping, concubine of Emperor Mingyuan of N. Wei 3) Yao2 Hong2(of water: deep) 姚泓 416-417 (388-417) aka Yuan2(first/basic/component)zi(son/learned scholar/viscount/seed/sth small and hard/copper) (元子), Was the last emperor of the Chinese/Qiang state LATER Qin. He was the oldest son and heir of Yao Xing (Emperor Wenzhao), who was already regarded as kind but weak during his father's reign, and after his father's death, with the state already weakened by attacks by the rebel Xia state and with his brothers and cousins repeatedly rebelling, the Jin general Liu Yu took advantage of Yao Hong's weaknesses to conquer LATER Qin. After he surrendered, Liu Yu had him delivered to the Jin capital Jiankang and executed. Yao Hong was born in 388, during the reign of his grandfather Yao Chang (Emperor Wuzhao), two years after Yao Chang took Chang'an as his capital and created Yao Hong's father Yao Xing as his crown prince. He was Yao Xing's oldest son. In 402, when Yao Xing, who became emperor in 394, created him crown prince, after much hesitation, as Yao Hong was loving and kind, but weak in his personality and often illater Yao Hong also favored arts and literature. LATER in 402, when Yao Xing battled Emperor Daowu of N. Wei, Yao Hong was in charge at the capitalater In 407, Yao Xing transferred some imperial authorities to him. In 409, when Yao Xing was battling the rebel general Liu Bobo, who had established Xia, Yao Hong was again in charge of the capital when Liu Jue (刘厥) rebelled, and Yao Hong defeated his rebellion. When his subordinates suggested that the victory be commemorated on an open bulletin, written on cloth, Yao Hong declined, reasoning that it was his responsibility to make sure that no rebellion occurred, and that such a victory over a rebel was nothing to be proud of. By 411, Yao Hong's brother Yao Bi (姚弼) the Duke of Guangping, who was much favored by Yao Xing for his talents, was conspiring with his associates to seize the crown prince position from Yao Hong. For the next several years, Yao Bi tried to undermine Yao Hong's authority whenever he could, and in 414, Yao Bi falsely accused Yao Hong's associate Yao Wenzong (姚文宗) of crimes, causing Yao Xing to force Yao Wenzong to commit suicide. This caused many imperial officials to fear Yao Bi's power, and many joined his conspiracy. As Yao Xing grew ill that year, Yao Bi secretly planned a coup, causing his brothers Yao Yi (姚懿), Yao Huang (姚咣), and Yao Chen (姚谌) to mobilize their forces to prepare to act against him. Yao Xing, who then recovered somewhat, was then advised by his officials Liang Xi (梁喜) and Yin Zhao (尹昭) to execute or at least strip Yao Bi of his authority. Yao Xing relieved Yao Bi of his posts, and Yao Yi, Yao Huang, and Yao Chen demobilized. In 412, however, Yao Bi falsely accused another brother, Yao Xuan (姚宣) (who had spoken against him in 411 as well) of crimes, causing Yao Xuan to be imprisoned. Yao Xing gave Yao Xuan's forces to Yao Bi, who then returned to his plots. Yao Xing discovered this and executed Yao Bi's associates Tang Sheng (唐盛) and Sun Xuan (孙玄), but when Yao Xing arrested and was ready to execute Yao Bi as well, Yao Hong pled for Yao Bi's life, and Yao Xing spared Yao Bi. In 416, Yao Xing went to the vacation palace at Huayin (华阴), and he had Yao Hong formally serve as regent at Chang'an and stay in the palace. Yao Xing grew gravely ill at Huayin, however, and was on the way back to Chang'an when his attendant Yin Chong (尹冲), a conspirator with Yao Bi, planned to assassinate Yao Hong when he comes out of the palace to welcome his father. Yao Hong's associates, however, heard rumors of the plot and persuaded him not to come out of the palace. Yin Chong's assistant Yao Shami (姚沙弥) then suggested to Yin that they deliver Yao Xing to Yao Bi's home and start a rebellion there, but Yin hesitated and did not carry this suggestion out. As soon as Yao Xing returned to the palace, he ordered that Yao Bi's home be searched and that all weapons be seized. When Yao Yin (姚□) the Duke of Nanyang, another brother who was in alliance with Yao Bi, then attacked the palace with Yin Chong, planning to put Yao Bi on the throne, Yao Xing publicly ordered that Yao Bi be forced to commit suicide, causing Yao Yin's force to collapse. The next day, Yao Xing, after entrusting Yao Hong to his brother Yao Shao (姚绍) the Duke of Dongping, Liang Xi, Yin Zhao, and Lian Manwei (敛曼嵬), died. Yao Hong initially did not announce news of Yao Xing's death, but did so only after executing Yao Yin and Yao Bi's other associates -- including Lu Long the Duke of Jiankang and the F. prince of LATER Liang, and Yin Yuan (尹元). Yao Hong then took the throne and, not using the secondary imperial title that his father had used ("Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang)), directly claimed imperial title. Yao Hong, who immediately faced threats from both Jin and Xia forces, was heavily dependent on his uncle Yao Shao to face both these external threats, and the rebellions by his brothers and cousins, who apparently believed him to be an easy target to seize the throne from. The Jin general Liu Yu, seeing LATER Qin's unrest, launched a major attack in fall 416 and quickly seized the E. half of LATER Qin, including Luoyang. Late 416, Yao Yi, who was in charge of Puban (蒲阪 Yuncheng, Shanxi), rebelled, but with little popular support, Yao Shao was able to quickly capture Puban and arrest him. However, rebellions continued. In 417, Yao Hong's cousin Yao Hui (姚恢) the Duke of Qi rebelled, abandoning his post of Anding (安定 Pingliang, Gansu) and using all forces at Anding (a major defense post during LATER Qin) against Yao Hong. Yao Shao and his son Yao Zan (姚赞), however, were able to capture and kill Yao Hui quickly as wellater Meanwhile, Jin forces advanced, and when Yao Shao and Yao Zan then engaged Liu Yu's generals Tan Daoji and Shen Linzi (沈林子), they were unable to stop them, and Yao Shao, humiliated by the defeats, died of illness. Yao Zan tried to continue to resist, but was continuously defeated. Yao Hong decided to lead an army of several tens of thousands against Liu Yu's main army, commanded by Tan and Shen, but concerned that a branch force commanded by Shen Linzi's brother Shen Tianzi (沈田子), which in actuality had less than 1,000 men but had advanced to Qingni (青泥 Xi'an, Shaanxi), would attack his rear, tried to attack Shen Tianzi first, but was defeated by the heavily outnumbered Shen Tianzi, causing his army to collapse, and he was forced to return to Chang'an without having faced Liu Yu's main army. Liu Yu's fleet, commanded by Wang Zhen'e (王镇恶), then arrived at Chang'an, and the soldiers, after landing, attacked the LATER Qin garrison at the city gates overlooking the Wei River. Yao Hong tried to personally relieve the garrison at the city gates, but his army and the garrison force trampled themselves and collapsed without engaging Wang, and he fled back to the palace. Back at the palace, Yao Hong considered surrendering. His 10-year-old son Yao Fo'nian (姚佛念) believing they would be ececuted anyway opted suicide. Yao Hong declined, and Yao Fo'nian himself climbed up a wall and jumped to his death. Yao Hong, instead, along with his empress, surrendered to Wang, who arrested him and had him delivered to the Jin capital Jiankang. Yao Hong was executed there, and most members of the Yao clan who were captured or who surrendered were also executed. LATER Qin was at its end. Era name * Yonghe (永和 y_ng he) 416-417 Personal information * Father o Yao Xing (Emperor Wenzhao) * Wife o Empress (name unknown) * Children o Yao Fo'nian (姚佛念) (b. 407, committed suicide 417) |