Gao1 Zu3(great great grandfather) 高祖 Liu2 Bang1

səhifə	13/37
tarix	24.06.2016
ölçüsü	2.47 Mb.

1 ... 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 ... 37

[17] Xi (W.) Qin Kingdom 385-400,409-431(4)
1)Xuan1(declare/drain) Lie4(strong/sacrifice oneself for a just cause/subside/intense) Wang2 宣烈王 Qi3(beg)fu2(ben over/lie prostrate/hot season/admit guilt/volt) Guo2(country)ren2(benevolence/kernel) 乞伏国仁 385-388 (died 388), formally Prince Xuanlie of Wanchuan (苑川宣烈王) Was the founding ruler of the Chinese/Xianbei state W. Qin. Qifu Guoren's father Qifu Sifan (乞伏司繁) was a Xianbei tribal chief in the modern S./SW. Gansu region who, after being defeated by the F. Qin general Wang Tong (王统), surrendered in 371 and was allowed to keep his tribe together as a F. Qin vassalater In 376, Qifu Sifan died, and Qifu Guoren succeeded him. When the F. Qin emperor Fu Jian sought to conquer Jin Dynasty (265-420) to unite China in 383, Qifu Guoren was initially going to serve as a general in his advance troops, but at that time, Qifu Guoren's uncle Qifu Butui (乞伏步颓) rebelled, and Fu Jian sent Qifu Guoren to put down his uncle's rebellion. Instead, Qifu Guoren and Qifu Butui joined forces, and Qifu Guoren declared that F. Qin had worn out its people and that he was establishing an independent state─although at that time he didn’t declare any new titles. In 385, after hearing about Fu Jian's death at the hands of another rebel general, Yao Chang (the founder of LATER Qin), Qifu Guoren did declare himself chanyu and changed the era name, thus effectively declaring a break from F. Qin, and thus this date was typically considered the founding date of W. Qin. He divided his domain into 12 commanderies, and he established his capital at Yongshicheng (勇士城 Lanzhou, Gansu). Over the next two years, he gradually drew the Xianbei and other ethnicities into his state. In 387, however, contrary to his prior stance against F. Qin, Qifu Guoren accepted the title of Prince of Wanchuan bestowed on him by the F. Qin emperor Fu Deng and nominally became a F. Qin vassal again, although he did not use the F. Qin era name. In summer 388, Qifu Guoren died. His son Qifu Gongfu (乞伏公府) was still young, and his subordinates supported his brother Qifu Gangui to succeed him.

2) Wu3(swordplay/valiant/fierce)Yuan2(first/basic/component) Wang2 武元王 Qi3(beg)fu2fu2(ben over/lie prostrate/hot season/admit guilt/volt) (Qian2 male/sovereign)Gangui1(go back to/converge/turn over to) 乞伏乾归 388-400, 409-412 Qifu Gangui or Qifu Qiangui[1] (乞伏乾归) (died 412), formally Prince Wuyuan of Henan (河南武元王) Was a prince of the Chinese/Xianbei state W. Qin. He was a brother of the founding prince, Qifu Guoren (Prince Xuanlie), who became prince after Qifu Guoren's death in 388 because Qifu Guoren's son Qifu Gongfu (乞伏公府) was considered too young for leadership. He expanded the state's power and influence a little and in 400 after military losses to LATER Qin, his state was annexed by LATER Qin and he himself became a LATER Qin generalater However, after LATER Qin was weakened by defeats at the hands of its rebel general Liu Bobo's Xia state, Qifu Gangui redeclared independence in 409, but ruled only three more years before he was killed by Qifu Gongfu in a coup. His son Qifu Chipan (Prince Wenzhao) defeated Qifu Gongfu and succeeded him as prince. Qifu Gangui was known for using military strategies designed to expose weaknesses and to mislead enemies into acting in an overly dangerous manner, and then strike when the enemy became overconfident. In 385 Qifu Guoren named his brother Qifu Gangui a major generalater Gangui defeated the F. Qin general Wang Guang (王广) in battle. In 388, Qifu Guoren died. His son Qifu Gongfu was considered too young to take over the leadership, and the officials and generals supported Qifu Gangui to succeed Qifu Guoren, with the titles Grand Chanyu and Prince of Henan. (This title does not imply dominion over modern Henan; rather, but portions of modern Gansu and Qinghai that are south of the Yellow River.) Qifu Gangui created his wife Lady Bian princess, and he also established a governmental structure designed similarly to a Han Chinese governmental structure. Over the next several years, Qifu Gangui used a variety of military and diplomatic pressure to get the various people around his─including people of Xianbei, Qiang, and Han ethnicities, to submit to him. LATER in the year, he moved the capital from Yongshi (勇士城 Lanzhou, Gansu) to Jincheng (Lanzhou). In 389, the F. Qin emperor Fu Deng, to whom Qifu Guoren had nominally submitted as a vassal, created Qifu Gangui the Prince of Jincheng─a title that signified less dominion than his original title of Prince of Henan, because Jincheng Commandery only roughly corresponded to modern Lanzhou─but Qifu Gangui accepted the title. In 390, the khan of Tuyuhun, Murong Shilian (慕容视连), submitted to W. Qin as a vassal, and Qifu Gangui created him the Prince of Bailan. However, after Murong Shilian died LATER that year and was succeeded by his more ambitious son Murong Shipi (慕容视罴), Murong Shipi rejected that title. In 391, Qifu Gangui's general Yuezhi Jiegui (越质诘归) rebelled, but after Qifu Gangui personally led an army against him, Yuezhi surrendered─and Qifu Gangui married the daughter of a clansman to Yuezhi, showing Qifu Gangui's tendency to try to personally connect with tribal chiefs to get them to submit to him. However, LATER 391, the strategy could have said to have backfired as the tribal chief Mo Yigan (没奕干) initially submitted and sent two sons as hostages to him, seeking his aid in a campaign against another tribal chief, Da Dou (大兜). Qifu Gangui aided him and defeated Da in battle, and then sent Mo's sons back to him, to try to get Mo to be more grateful of him. However, Mo instead turned against Qifu Gangui and aligned himself with the Xiongnu chief Liu Weichen (刘卫辰), and Qifu Gangui, in anger, attacked Mo and, in battle, fired an arrow that struck Mo's eye. During the campaign against Mo, however, Lu Guang the prince of LATER Liang took this opportunity to attack W. Qin, forcing Qifu Gangui to withdraw to face him. This incident appeared to start several years of intermittent battles between W. Qin and LATER Liang. In 393, Qifu Gangui created his son Qifu Chipan as crown prince. In 394, after the death of the LATER Qin emperor Yao Chang, Fu Deng prepared a major offensive against Yao Chang's son and successor Yao Xing, and as part of the preparation he requested aid from Qifu Gangui and created Qifu Gangui the Prince of Henan and bestowed on him the nine bestowments. However, Fu Deng's campaign ended in failure, as his forces were defeated by Yao Xing's, and his brother Fu Guang (苻广) and son Fu Chong abandoned his bases, forcing him to flee into the mountains. He then married his sister the Princess Dongping to Qifu Gangui as his princess and created him the Prince of Liang. Qifu Gangui sent his brother Qifu Yizhou (乞伏益州) to aid Fu Deng, but as Fu Deng came out of the mountains to join Qifu Yizhou's forces, Yao Xing ambushed and captured him, and then executed him. Qifu Yizhou then withdrew. Fu Deng's son Fu Chong fled to Huangzhong (湟中 Xining, Qinghai), then under Qifu Gangui's control, and claimed imperial title. However, in winter 394, Qifu Gangui expelled him, and he fled to one of his father's last remaining generals, Yang Ding (杨定) the Prince of Longxi. Yang led his forces to join Fu Chong's to attack Qifu Gangui. Qifu Gangui sent Qifu Yizhou and two other generals, Qifu Ketan (乞伏轲弹) and Yuezhi Jiegui against Yang and Fu Chong, and Yang was initially successful against Qifu Yizhou. However, the three W. Qin generals then counterattacked and killed Yang and Fu Chong in battle. Around the new year 395, Qifu Gangui claimed the title Prince of Qin─a greater title that implicitly made himself a rival of LATER Qin, and the state thus became known in history as W. Qin. In the summer, he sent Qifu Yizhou to attack the unsubmitting Di chief Jiang Ru (姜乳), despite warnings that Qifu Yizhou had become arrogant from his victories. Qifu Yizhou indeed became unattentive and was defeated by Jiang. LATER in the year, Qifu Gangui moved his capital from Jincheng to Xicheng (西城 Baiyin, Gansu). In fall 395, Lu Guang made a major attack on W. Qin. Under the advice of his officials Mi Guizhou (密贵周) and Mozhe Gudi (莫者□羝), Qifu Gangui submitted to Lu Guang as a vassal and sent his son Qifu Chibo (乞伏敕勃) as a hostage to Lu Guang, and Lu Guang withdrew. However, Qifu Gangui soon regretted this arrangement and executed Mi and Mozhe. In 397, determined to punish Qifu Gangui, Lu Guang launched a major attack against Xicheng . This frightened Qifu Gangui's officials enough that they recommended a retreat to Chengji (成纪 Tianshui, Gansu) to the east, but Qifu Gangui, seeing weaknesses in LATER Liang's forces despite their numbers, stood his ground. LATER Liang forces were initially successful, capturing several major W. Qin cities, but Qifu Gangui tricked Lu Guang's brother and major general Lu Yan (吕延) the Duke of Tianshui into believing that he was retreating, and Lu Yan fell into a trap Qifu Gangui set and was killed. Lu Guang, in fear, withdrew to his capital Guzang (姑臧 Wuwei, Gansu). In 398, Qifu Gangui sent Qifu Yizhou to attack LATER Liang, and he recovered some of the territory previously lost. LATER in 398, Qifu Yizhou battled Murong Shipi and defeated him. Murong Shipi, in fear, sent his son Murong Dangqi (慕容宕岂) as a hostage and sought peace. Qifu Gangui married the daughter of a clansman to Qifu Dangqi. In 400, Qifu Gangui moved his capital from Xicheng to Wanchuan (苑川 Baiyin).In summer 400 LATER Qin's general, Yao Xing's uncle Yao Shuode (姚硕德) launched a major attack against W. Qin. Initially, Qifu Gangui was successful in cutting off Yao Shuode's supply line, but Yao Xing then personally came to Yao Shuode's aid. Qifu Gangui divided his army to try to ascertain LATER Qin's intentions, but the armies lost communication in the fog, and LATER Qin attacked them and greatly defeated them, taking nearly the entire W. Qin army captive. Yao Xing advanced to Fuhan (□罕 Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu), forcing Qifu Gangui to flee back to Jincheng. With his army lost, however, Qifu Gangui concluded that he could not sustain a state any more, and instructed his officials to surrender to LATER Qin, while he himself surrendered to S, Liang's prince Tufa Lilugu, who welcomed him as an honored guest. Tufa Lilugu's brother Tufa Juyan (秃发俱延) suspected Qifu Gangui's intentions, and suggested that Tufa Lilugu exile him to the Yifu (乙弗) tribe (probably west of the Qinghai Lake), a suggestion that Tufa Lilugu rejected. However, worried that Qifu Gangui would try to reestablish his state, he sent an army to watch over him. Qifu Gangui, fearing that he would be executed, then regained trust from Tufa Lilugu by sending Qifu Chipan, his brothers, and their mother to the S. Liang capital Xiping as hostages. He himself, however, as soon as the S. Liang guard was down, fled to Fuhan and surrendered to LATER Qin. Upon Qifu Gangui's arrival in the LATER Qin capital Chang'an, Yao Xing created him the Marquess of Guiyi. In 401, Yao Xing inexplicably gave Qifu Gangui his entire captured army back to him and had him defend his old capital Wanchuan, effectively putting him back in the position he had before, but now as a LATER Qin vassalater He quickly put his governmental structure back in place, but now with inferior titles to show submission to LATER Qin. LATER in 401, Yao Xing sent Qifu Gangui to serve as Yao Shuode's assistant in a major campaign against LATER Liang's emperor Lu Long (Lu Guang's nephew), forcing Lu Long's submission. In 402, Qifu Chipan, who had previously made an unsuccessful attempt to escape from S. Liang to join his father, succeeded in fleeing to Wanchuan. The S. Liang prince Tufa Rutan sent Qifu Chipan's wife (who might be Tufa Rutan's daughter) and children to join him. In 403, Lu Long decided to give up his state (now consisting of little more than the capital city of Guzang) to LATER Qin, ending LATER Liang, and Qifu Gangui was one of the generals whom Yao Xing sent to escort Lu Long to Chang'an and to escort his replacement, the LATER Qin general Wang Shang (王尚) to Guzang, which was at the point effectively surrounded by S. Liang and N. Liang forces. For the next few years, Qifu Gangui appeared to begin to act more independently again. For example, in 405, apparently without LATER Qin sanction, he attacked Murong Dahai (慕容大孩), the khan of Tuyuhun, and LATER in the year he battled fellow LATER Qin vassal Yang Sheng (杨盛), the ruler of Chouchi. In 407, Qifu Gangui went on an official visit to Chang'an. Yao Xing, apprehensive about Qifu Gangui's strength and independence, detained him and made him a minister, giving his command to Qifu Chipan. In 408, with Tufa Rutan, who had previously submitted as a LATER Qin vassal, acting independently but yet suffering many internal problems, Yao Xing became resolved to destroy S. Liang, and Qifu Gangui was one of the generals he sent under the command of his son Yao Bi (姚弼) to try to destroy S. Liang. However, Yao Bi's campaign resulted in failure, and while Tufa Rutan nominally continued to submit for a time, he soon declared full independence. In 409, Qifu Gangui himself escaped and returned to Wanchuan. LATER in the year, he redeclared the W. Qin state with the title Prince of Qin and changed his era name. After his restoration, Qifu Gangui again created his wife Princess Bian as princess and Qifu Chipan as crown prince, and he temporarily set his capital at Dujianshan (度坚山 Baiyin, Gansu). In 410, he attacked LATER Qin's Jincheng Commandery and captured it, and LATER in 410 moved the capital back to Wanchuan. He then captured several more LATER Qin commanderies. However, in spring 411, he returned the captured officials to LATER Qin and sought peace, offering to again submit as a vassalater Yao Xing created him the Prince of Henan. However, in winter 411 he again captured several LATER Qin commanderies. In spring 412, he moved the capital to Tanjiao (谭郊 Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu), and left Qifu Chipan in charge of Wanchuan. In summer 412, Qifu Guoren's son Qifu Gongfu killed Qifu Gangui in a coup and also killed more than 10 of Qifu Gangui's sons. After a short campaign between Qifu Gongfu and Qifu Chipan, Qifu Chipan succeeded and killed Qifu Gongfu. He took the throne as Prince Wenzhao. Notes It is unclear whether the character 乾 in his name should be pronounced "Gan" or "Qian" (both of which are common pronunciations for the character in modern Mandarin, depending on context).

Era names * Taichu (太初 tai ch_) 388-400 * Gengshi (更始 g_ng sh_) 409-412

Personal information

* Father o Qifu Sifan (乞伏司繁), Xianbei tribal chief

* Wives

1)o Princess Bian (created 388 and again in 409)

2)o Princess Fu (created 394)

* Children

1)o Qifu Chipan (乞伏炽磐), the Crown Prince and the Duke of Pingchang, LATER Prince Wenzhao

2)o Qifu Chibo (乞伏敕勃)

3)o Qifu Muyigan (乞伏木奕干)

4)o Qifu Shenqian (乞伏审虔)

5)o Qifu Zhida (乞伏智达)

6)o Qifu Tanda (乞伏昙达)

7)o Qifu Louji (乞伏娄机)

8)o Qifu Qiannian (乞伏千年)

9)o Qifu Woling (乞伏沃陵)

10)o Qifu Shiyin (乞伏什寅) (executed by Qifu Mumo 429)

11)o Qifu Baiyang (乞伏白养) (executed by Qifu Mumo 430)

12)o Qifu Qulie (乞伏去列) (executed by Qifu Mumo 430)

13)o Princess Pingchang, wife of Juqu Xingguo (沮渠兴国), the heir apparent of Juqu Mengxun, the prince of N. Liang

3) Wen2(culture/gentle/tatoo/coverup/writing/character) Zhao1(clear/obvious) Wang 文昭王 Qi3(beg)fu2(ben over/lie prostrate/hot season/admit guilt/volt) Chi4(flaming/ablaze)pan2(firm/stable/rock) 乞伏炽磐 412-428 (died 428) Was a prince of the Chinese/Xianbei state W. Qin. During his reign, W. Qin reached its prime after he destroyed and seized the territory of the rival state S. Liang in 414, but it then began a gradual decline under attacks by Xia and N. Liang. When he died in 428, he left his state in a troubled position, and by 431, his state was destroyed, and his son Qifu Mumo captured and then killed by the Xia emperor Helian Ding. It is likely that he was born prior to W. Qin's establishment by his uncle Qifu Guoren (in 383), because he was Qifu Gangui's oldest son, and it also is likely that his mother was Qifu Gangui's wife Princess Bian. In 388, after Qifu Gangui died, Qifu Chipan became prince. By 393 he was already described as brave and intelligent, and more capable than his father. He quickly became a key official in his father's administration. In 400, Qifu Gangui suffered a major defeat at the hands of the LATER Qin emperor Yao Xing, and most of his state was seized by LATER Qin. Qifu Gangui concluded that he could not sustain a state any more, and instructed his officials to surrender to LATER Qin, while he himself surrendered to S. Liang's prince Tufa Lilugu, who welcomed him as an honored guest. Tufa Lilugu's brother Tufa Juyan (秃发俱延) suspected Qifu Gangui's intentions, and suggested that Tufa Lilugu exile him to the Yifu (乙弗) tribe (probably west of the Qinghai Lake), a suggestion that Tufa Lilugu rejected. However, worried that Qifu Gangui would try to reestablish his state, he sent an army to watch over him. Qifu Gangui, fearing that he would be executed, then regained trust from Tufa Lilugu by sending Qifu Chipan, his brothers, and their mother to the S. Liang capital Xiping as hostages. He himself, however, as soon as the S. Liang guard was down, fled to Fuhan (□罕 Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu) and surrendered to LATER Qin. It might have been around this time that Qifu Chipan married the daughter of Tufa Lilugu's brother Tufa Rutan, and LATER, when Qifu Chipan tried to flee to LATER Qin to join his father but was captured on the way, Tufa Rutan urged for his life against Tufa Lilugu's initial desire to execute him, and Tufa Lilugu agreed with Tufa Rutan. After Tufa Lilugu died in 402 and was succeeded by Tufa Rutan, Qifu Chipan successfully escaped and fled to his father, who by then had been made a key LATER Qin generalater Tufa Rutan sent Qifu Chipan's wife and children to him. Qifu Gangui, who was then in control of his old capital Wanchuan (苑川,Baiyin, Gansu), sent Qifu Chipan to the LATER Qin capital Chang'an to visit the emperor Yao Xing, and Yao Xing made him a commandery governor. In 407, concerned that Qifu Gangui was becoming stronger and more difficult to control, Yao Xing detained him while he was visiting Chang'an, and had Qifu Chipan take over his post. LATER that year, when Tufa Rutan, who had nominally been a LATER Qin vassal, considered renouncing that status, he sent messengers to Qifu Chipan urging him to join the rebellion. Qifu Chipan beheaded Tufa Rutan's messengers and sent their heads to Chang'an. In 408, believing that LATER Qin was growing weaker, he built a castle at Kanglang Mountain (_□山 Lanzhou, Gansu) to both prepare to defend himself against LATER Qin's enemies and against a potential LATER Qin campaign against him. In 409, he captured Fuhan from the LATER Qin rebel Peng Xi'nian (彭奚念) and secretly sent messengers to inform Qifu Gangui of this. Qifu Gangui, who was then attending Yao Xing at Pingliang (平凉 Pingliang, Gansu), then escaped and fled back to Wanchuan to join him. Soon, Qifu Gangui moved his home base to Dujianshan (度坚山 Baiyin, Gansu) but left Qifu Chipan in command of Fuhan. Late that year, Qifu Gangui redeclared independence with the title Prince of Qin, and he created Qifu Chipan crown prince again. Qifu Chipan became the person that his father relied on the most on military matters. He made the scholar Jiao Yi (焦遗) Qifu Chipan's teacher, and told Qifu Chipan to serve Jiao like a father, and Qifu Chipan did so. In 411, Qifu Gangui, after some campaigns against LATER Qin, agreed to nominally resubmit at a vassal, and Yao Xing created him the Prince of Henan and Qifu Chipan the Duke of Pingchang. LATER that year, Qifu Gangui sent Qifu Chipan and his brother Qifu Shenqian (乞伏审虔) on a campaign against S. Liang, and they had a major victory over Tufa Rutan's crown prince Tufa Hutai (秃发虎台), capturing more than 100,000 animals. In spring 412, Qifu Gangui moved the capital to Tanjiao (谭郊 Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu), leaving Qifu Chipan in command of Wanchuan. In summer 412, while at Tanjiao, Qifu Gangui was assassinated by Qifu Guoren's son Qifu Gongfu (乞伏公府), who also killed more than 10 brothers of Qifu Chipan. Qifu Gongfu then took up a defense position at Daxia (大夏 Linxia ). Qifu Chipan sent his brothers Qifu Zhida (乞伏智达) and Qifu Muyigan (乞伏木奕干) to attack Qifu Gongfu, while moving the capital to Fuhan. Qifu Zhida, meanwhile, defeated Qifu Gongfu and executed him, his sons, and his brother Qifu Achai (乞伏阿柴). Qifu Chipan was now the undisputed heir, and he claimed the title Prince of Henan. Early in his reign, Qifu Chipan continued his state's expansion at the expense of Tuyuhun, S. Liang and LATER Qin, and he further forced local tribes which were not under his father's rule into submission. In 414, upon receiving news that Tufa Rutan was attacking rebellious Tuoqihan (唾契汗) and Yifu tribes, leaving Tufa Hutai in command of the S. Liang capital Ledu (乐都 Haidong Prefecture, Qinghai), Qiifu Chipan decided to make a surprise attack on Ledu putting it under siege. Soon, Ledu fell, and he relocated Tufa Hutai and his subordinates to Fuhan, while sending his army further to face Tufa Rutan. Tufa Rutan's troops, hearing that Ledu had fallen, collapsed, and Tufa Rutan surrendered, ending S. Liang and allowing Qifu Chipan to seize the remaining S. Liang territory. Qifu Chipan welcomed him as an honored guest, creating him the Duke of Zuonan, and created Tufa Rutan's daughter his princess. However, in 415 he poisoned Tufa Rutan to death. Having annexed S. Liang into his state, in 414 Qifu Chipan claimed the greater title of Prince of Qin. He also resumed his attacks on LATER Qin. However, now that there was no longer S. Liang serving as a buffer between them, he soon got into constant warfare with N. Liang's prince Juqu Mengxun, often at W. Qin's expense. In 416, he made peace with Juqu Mengxun. Meanwhile, in 416, with LATER Qin under major attack from the Jin general Liu Yu, he sent messengers to Liu Yu offering to be a vassal, and Liu Yu gave him the title Duke of Henan. By 417, Liu Yu had destroyed LATER Qin, but he did not further head west to attack W. Qin, which seized a number of LATER Qin cities on the borders. By 418, however, Jin had against lost the Guanzhong region to Xia's emperor Helian Bobo, and Xia, strengthened by its victories over Jin, now posed a major threat against W. Qin. In 420, Qifu Chipan created his son Qifu Mumo crown prince. That year, Qifu Chipan also received a commission as a major general from Liu Yu, who had by now seized the Jin throne and established LS. In 421, the peace with N. Liang ended, perhaps because N. Liang had destroyed W. Liang in 420 and now could concentrate on warfare with its S. neighbor W. Qin. The battles were often inconclusive, but the war continued to wear W. Qin down. In 423, Qifu Chipan made the declaration to his officials that he now believed that N. Wei was the state favored by the gods, and that its emperors were capable, and so he would offer to be a N. Wei vassalater He then sent messengers to N. Wei, offering suggestions on how to conquer Xia. In 426, he again requested that N. Wei attack Xia. (perhaps Xia made attacks on W. Qin) LATER in 426, Qifu Chipan would suffer a major defeat that would debilitate his state. He was attacking N. Liang when N. Liang's prince Juqu Mengxun persuaded the Xia emperor Helian Chang (Helian Bobo's son and successor) to attack Fuhan. Helian Chang, in response, sent his general Hulu Gu (呼卢古) to attack Wanchuan and Wei Fa (韦伐) to attack Nan'an (南安 Dingxi, Gansu), and while W. Qin was able to hold Wanchuan, Nan'an fell, at great loss. In winter 426, Xia forces commanded by Hulu and Wei attacked Fuhan, forcing Qifu Gangui to move the capital to Dinglian (定连 Linxia), and Hulu and Wei then captured another important W. Qin city, Xiping (西平 Xining, Qinghai), and while they then withdrew, W. Qin had been dealt a major blow. In 427, Qifu Chipan moved his capital back to Fuhan, and hearing that N. Wei had captured the Xia capital Tongwan (统万 Yulin, Shaanxi) and forced Helian Chang to flee to Shanggui (上□ Tianshui, Gansu), he sent his uncle Qifu Wotou (乞伏握头) to offer tributes to N. Wei. By this point, however, W. Qin was also still under constant attack by N. Liang and Chouchi. In summer 428, Qifu Chipan, after telling Qifu Mumo to try to make peace with N. Liang by returning Juqu Mengxun's advisor Juqu Chengdu (沮渠成都), whom he had captured in 422), died, and Qifu Mumo succeeded him.

Era names * Yongkang (永康 ) 412-419 * Jianhong (建弘 jian hong) 419-428

Personal information

* Father o Qifu Gangui (Prince Wuyuan)

* Wife o Princess Tufa (created 414, executed 423), daughter of Tufa Rutan, prince of S. Liang

* Major Concubines

1)o Left Consort Tufa, daughter of Tufa Rutan

* Children

1)o Qifu Mumo (乞伏暮末), the Crown Prince (created 420), LATER prince

2)o Qifu Yuanji (乞伏元基)

3)o Qifu Keshuluo (乞伏轲殊罗)

4)o Qifu Chenglong (乞伏成龙)

4) Qi3fu2Mu4(dusk/evening/sunset)mo4(tip/end/minor details/last stage/powder/dust) 乞伏暮末 428-431 (died 431) 乾绉陕绉aka An1(peaceful/ safe/find a place for/install/bring/harbour/ampere)shi2(stone/stone inscription) ba2(cross mountains/post script) (安石跋) Was the last prince of the Chinese/Xianbei state W. Qin. When he succeeded his father Qifu Chipan (Prince Wenzhao) in 428, W. Qin was already in a state of decline, under incessant attack by N. Liang, Xia, Tuyuhun, and Chouchi, but under Qifu Mumo, who had a violent temper, W. Qin declined further, and in 431 the Xia emperor Helian Ding, his own state nearing destruction, captured and executed Qifu Mumo, ending W. Qin. His mother was neither his father Qifu Chipan's princess Princess Tufa, nor her sister Consort Tufa. In 420 Qifu Chipan created him crown prince -- and by that time, he was already a major general, In 424, his father sent him and his uncle Qifu Muyigan (乞伏木奕干) to attack N. Liang, and they were victorious. A campaign that Qifu Mumo carried out with his father against N. Liang in 426 would be far more disastrous, however, as the N. Liang prince Juqu Mengxun not only repelled their attacks but persuaded the Xia emperor Helian Chang to attack W. Qin's capital Fuhan (□罕 Linxia, Gansu). Helian Chang, in response, sent his general Hulu Gu (呼卢古) to attack Wanchuan (苑川 Baiyin, Gansu) and Wei Fa (韦伐) to attack Nan'an (南安 Dingxi, Gansu), and while W. Qin was able to hold Wanchuan, Nan'an fell, at great loss. In winter 426, Xia forces commanded by Hulu and Wei attacked Fuhan, forcing Qifu Gangui to move the capital to Dinglian (定连 Linxia), and Hulu and Wei then captured another important W. Qin city, Xiping (西平 Xining, Qinghai), and while they then withdrew, W. Qin had been dealt a major blow. In 428, Qifu Chipan died, and Qifu Mumo succeeded him. --Immediately after he took the throne, he, hearing that his uncle Qifu Qiannian (乞伏千年) had been a drunkard and ignoring his duties, sent messengers to severely rebuke Qifu Qiannian, but the rebukes were such that instead of causing Qifu Qiannian to change his ways, Qifu Qiannian became so fearful that he fled to N. Liang. Qifu Mumo first had to face a major attack that Juqu Mengxun launched against W. Qin in light of his father's death. As his father had instructed before death, Qifu Mumo sent Juqu Chengdu (沮渠成都), a N. Liang general whom Qifu Chipan captured in 422, whom Juqu Mengxun respected, back to N. Liang, and the states entered into a peace agreement. However, just several months LATER the peace appeared to be over, for Juqu Mengxun resumed his attacks on W. Qin. In spring 429, Juqu Mengxun captured Xiping. Also in spring 429, Qifu Mumo created his wife Lady Liang princess, and his son Qifu Wanzai (乞伏万载) crown prince. In 429 Mumo’s mother had, during Qifu Chipan's reign, been accidentally injured by slingshots fired by Qifu Chipan's official Xin Jin (辛进), while Xin was attending Qifu Chipan on a hunt. The injury disfigured her face. In 429, Qifu Mumo asked his mother how she got injured, and she told him. In anger, Qifu Mumo not only executed Xin but executed 27 other individuals related to Xin. In summer 429, Juqu Mengxun launched another major attack on W. Qin, and Qifu Mumo left his uncle Qifu Yuanji (乞伏元基) in control of Fuhan while temporarily withdrawing himself to Dinglian. He then also had to contend with rebellions by his generals Zhai Chengbo (翟承伯) and Mozhe Yojuan (莫者幼眷), but when Juqu Mengxun's heir apparent Juqu Xingguo attacked Dinglian, Qifu Mumo defeated and captured him. He then also fought off another joint attack by N. Liang and its ally Tuyuhun's general Murong Muliyan (慕容慕利延). Juqu Mengxun sent a large amount of grain to Qifu Mumo, requesting to ransom Juqu Xingguo, but Qifu Mumo refused. Juqu Mengxun then created Juqu Xingguo's brother Juqu Puti (沮渠菩提) heir apparent instead, while Qifu Mumo made Juqu Xingguo an official and married his sister Princess Pingchang to Juqu Xingguo. For some time, Qifu Mumo's brother Qifu Keshuluo (乞伏轲殊罗) had been having an affair with Qifu Chipan's concubine Consort Tufa. After Qifu Mumo heard rumors, he secured the palace, and Qifu Keshuluo, in fear that the affair had been discovered, plotted with their uncle Qifu Shiyin (乞伏什寅) to assassinate Qifu Mumo, and then to take Juqu Xingguo and flee to N. Liang. They therefore had Consort Tufa try to steal Qifu Mumo's bedchamber keys, but the wrong keys were stolen, and the plot was exposed. Qifu Mumo executed Qifu Keshuluo's associates but spared Qifu Keshuluo, but also arrested Qifu Shiyin and whipped him. Qifu Shiyin, in anger, stated, "I owe you a life, but do not owe you a whipping." In anger, Qifu Mumo cut Qifu Shiyin's abdomen open and threw his body into a river. In 430, having heard that two other uncles, Qifu Baiyang (乞伏白养) and Qifu Qulie (乞伏去列) were complaining about Qifu Shiyin's death, he executed them as wellater At this time, W. Qin not only had to face N. Liang attacks, but had suffered a major earthquake in late 429 and a major drought for most of 430 as wellater Most of Qifu Mumo's people fled. He felt that his state could no longer stand. He sent his officials Wang Kai (王恺) and Wuna Tian (乌讷阗) to submit to N. Wei, requesting N. Wei troops to escort him to N. Wei territory. Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei was pleased, and promised that after he can destroy Xia, he would bestow Xia's Pingliang (平凉) and Anding (安定) Commanderies (Pingliang, Gansu) as Qifu Mumo's domain. Qifu Mumo therefore destroyed his own royal treasury and set Fuhan ablaze, heading east with the only 15,000 households that remained under him, to try to join N. Wei troops at Shanggui (上□ Tianshui, Gansu), but the Xia emperor Helian Ding (Helian Chang's brother and successor), upon hearing this, engaged him and stopped his advances, and he was forced to take up defensive position at Nan'an. By this point, Nan'an was all he could hold; all of his old territory in the west had been seized by Tuyuhun. In winter 430, N. Wei troops, commanded by Kuruguan Jie (库_官结), finally arrived at Nan'an, to escort Qifu Mumo to N. Wei territory. However, Qifu Mumo, persuaded by his general Qifu Jipi (乞伏吉毗) that the situation was still maintainable and that he should not give up his state easily, refused to follow Kuruguan, who then returned to N. Wei territory. He then had to immediately face a Qiang rebellion led by Jiao Liang (焦亮), who attacked Nan'an. Qifu Mumo was able to persuade Yang Nandang (杨难当), the ruler of Chouchi, to come to his aid, and their joint forces defeated Jiao Liang, who was then killed by his uncle Jiao Yi (焦遗). In spring 431, with his own territories nearly all taken by N. Wei, Helian Ding, after defeating the troops that Yang sent to aid W. Qin, had his uncle Helian Weifa (赫连韦伐) put Nan'an under siege. Even Qifu Mumo's closest associates surrendered. Qifu Mumo, with no way to go, exited the city and surrendered to Helian Weifa. Helian Weifa delivered Qifu Mumo and Juqu Xingguo to Shanggui, where Helian Ding was at the time. Jiao Yi and his son Jiao Kai (焦楷) tried to put together a resistance to try to revive W. Qin, but Jiao Yi then died of illness, and Jiao Kai fled to N. Liang. In summer 431, Helian Ding executed Qifu Mumo and 500 members of his clan. W. Qin was at its end. Era name

* Yonghong (永弘 y_ng hong) 428-431

Personal information

* Father o Qifu Chipan (Prince Wenzhao)

* Wife o Princess Liang (created 429)

* Children

1)o Qifu Wanzai (乞伏万载), the Crown Prince (created 429)

[18] Xia Empire 407-431(3)
1) Wu3(swordplay/valiant/fierce) Lie4(strong/sacrifice oneself for a just cause/intense)Di4 武烈帝 He4(conspicuous/grand)lian2 (link/join/including /repeatedly/even)Bo2(thriving/suddenly)bo2(thriving/suddenly) 赫连勃勃 407-425 (381-425) nickname Liu2 Bo2(thriving/suddenly) bo2(thriving/ suddenly) (刘勃勃), aka Qu1(bend/subdue/wrong/injustice) jie2(lonely) (屈孑) Was the founding emperor of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Xia. He is generally considered to be an extremely cruel ruler, one who betrayed every benefactor that he had, and whose thirst for killing was excessive even for the turbulent times that he was in. He built an impressive capital for his state at Tongwan (统万Yulin, Shaanxi) that remained difficult to siege, even hundreds of years LATER during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms Period. (Confusingly, the Book of Wei refers to him as Helian Qugai (赫连屈丐), based on a derogatory term that Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei used to refer to him.) Liu Bobo was born in 381, when his father Liu Weichen (刘卫辰) was an important Xiongnu chief and a vassal of F. Qin. It is not known whether his mother Lady Fu was Liu Weichen's wife or concubine. He was one of Liu Weichen's younger sons. After F. Qin collapsed in light of various rebellions after its emperor Fu Jian's defeat at the Battle of Fei River in 383, Liu Weichen took control of what is now part of Inner Mongolia south of the Yellow River and extreme N. Shaanxi, and while he nominally submitted to both LATER Qin and W. Yan as a vassal, he was actually a powerful independent ruler. However, in 391, he sent his son Liu Zhilidi (刘直力□ ) to attack N. Wei's prince Tuoba Gui, and Tuoba Gui not only defeated Liu Zhilidi, but crossed the Yellow River to attack Liu Weichen's capital Yueba (悦拔 Ordos, Inner Mongolia), capturing it and forcing Liu Weichen and Liu Zhilidi to flee. The next day, Liu Weichen was killed by his subordinates, and Liu Zhilidi was captured. Tuoba Gui seized Liu Weichen's territory and people and slaughtered his clan. However, Liu Bobo escaped and fled to the Xuegan (薛干) tribe, whose chief Tai Xifu (太悉伏) refused to turn him over despite N. Wei demands. Instead, Tai delivered Liu Bobo to the Xianbei tribal chief Mo Yigan (没奕干) the Duke of Gaoping, a LATER Qin vassal, and Mo Yigan not only gave Liu Bobo refuge but also married one of his daughters to Liu Bobo. Liu Bobo, from that point on, became highly dependent on his father-in-law(Mo Yigan). (Meanwhile, in 393, Tuoba Gui, because of Tai Xifu's refusal to deliver Liu Bobo to him, attacked Tai and slaughtered his people, although Tai himself escaped and fled to LATER Qin.) Little is known about Liu Bobo's life during the following years. In 402, Tuoba Gui's brother Tuoba Zun (拓拔遵) the Prince of Changshan attacked Mo's homebase of Gaoping (高平 Guyuan, Ningxia), and Mo was forced to flee to LATER Qin, abandoning his own people, who were scattered about, although LATER LATER Qin recaptured Gaoping and gave that city back to Mo.Sometime before 407, Liu Bobo, who had become known for being handsome, ability to speak well, alertness, and intelligence, came to the attention of LATER Qin's emperor Yao Xing. Yao Xing was so impressed by Liu Bobo's abilities when he met Liu Bobo that he wanted to make him a major general to defend against N. Wei. Yao Xing's brother Yao Yong (姚邕), however, spoke against it, believing Liu Bobo to be untrustworthy, stating: “Liu Bobo is arrogant toward his superiors and elders. He is cruel to his subordinates and associates. He is also greedy, treacherous, lacking in love, and inattentive to friendships. He changes his attitude quickly and abandons things quickly. If you overly trust and favor this type of person, he will surely create a disaster.” Yao Xing initially, at Yao Yong's counsel, did not give Liu Bobo a commission, but eventually was so seduced by his talent that he made him a general and the Duke of Wuyuan, giving him the responsibility of defending Shuofang (朔方 Ordos). In 407, after suffering a number of losses against N. Wei, Yao Xing decided to make peace with N. Wei. Upon hearing this, Liu Bobo became angry, because his father had been killed by N. Wei, and he planned rebellion. He therefore forcibly seized the horses that Yujiulu Shelun (郁久闾社仑), the khan of Rouran, had recently offered to Yao Xing as a tribute, and then made a surprise attack on his father-in-law Mo Yigan, capturing Gaoping and killing Mo, seizing his troops. He then declared himself a descendant of Yu the Great, the founder of Xia Dynasty, and named his state Xia. He claimed the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang). --Despite Liu Bobo's stated hatred for N. Wei, however, he concentrated his efforts on undermining L Qin, continually harassing LATER Qin's N. territories and draining LATER Qin's resources. He therefore did not settle in a capital city; rather, he roved about with his mobile cavalry, constantly looking for LATER Qin cities to pillage. Also in 407, Liu Bobo sought marriage with a daughter of the S. Liang prince Tufa Rutan, but Tufa Rutan refused. In anger, Liu Bobo launched a punitive raid against S. Liang but then retreated. Tufa Rutan gave chase and, believing that he greatly outpowered Liu Bobo, was careless in his military actions. Liu Bobo led him into a canyon and then blocked the exit with ice and wagons, and then ambushed him -- and the defeat was such that it was said that 60% to 70% of S. Liang's famed officials and generals died in the battle. Tufa Rutan barely escaped capture. In 408, Yao Xing sent his general Qi Nan (齐难) to launch a major attack on Liu Bobo. Liu Bobo initially withdraw to let Qi believe that he feared Qi, and Liu Bobo made a surprise counter-attack and captured Qi. Subsequently, much of LATER Qin's N. territories fell into Xia hands. In 409, Yao Xing himself launched an attack on Liu Bobo, but when he reached Ercheng (贰城 Yan'an, Shaanxi), he was nearly trapped by Liu Bobo, and escaped only after major casualties. This defeat forced Yao Xing to cancel a mission, commanded by his general Yao Qiang (姚强), to try to save S. Yan from being destroyed by Jin. (Without LATER Qin aid, S. Yan fell in 410.) For the next several years, Xia and LATER Qin forces battled constantly, often inconclusively, but with the wars becoming much more costly to LATER Qin than Xia, with S. Liang and W. Qin no longer being willing to be LATER Qin vassals as a result. In 412, when W. Qin's prince Qifu Gangui was assassinated by his nephew Qifu Gongfu (乞伏公府), Liu Bobo considered attacking W. Qin despite its status as an ally, but at the counsel of his advisor Wang Maide (王买德) did not do so. By 413, Liu Bobo finally resolved to build a capital -- one that he wanted to make absolutely impenetrable. He commissioned his cruel general Chigan Ali (叱干阿利) as the chief architect of the capital, which he named Tongwan -- because, as he stated, he wanted to unite China and be the lord of 10,000 states. Chigan ordered that the soil used in constructing the wall be steamed, so that it would be hardened and difficult to attack, and he often tested the walls during its construction; if an iron wedge were able to insert even one inch deep into the wall, the workmen who were in charge of that section of wall would be executed, and their bodies would be stuffed into the wallater Further, Liu Bobo himself ordered that when weapons and armors are made, that some of the metalsmiths would be executed -- because his orders were, for example, that arrows should be shot at armors; if the arrows could penetrate the armors, the smiths who forged the armors would be executed, and if the arrows could not penetrate the armors, then the smiths who made the arrows would be executed. As a result of this bloodshed, however, Tongwan became a highly defensible city, and the weapons and armors that he had were all of exceedingly high quality. Also in 413, Liu Bobo believed that his family name should be changed -- since his ancestors took on the Liu family name from the Han Dynasty imperial house, believing that one of their female ancestors was a Han princess, but Liu Bobo believed this to be improper. He therefore changed his family name to Helian -- intending it to mean that his might was so great that it would, alas 赫 be connected 连 to the heavens. He also ordered the nobles to change their family name to Tiefa 铁伐, intending it to mean that they were as strong as iron 铁 and be able to attack 伐 others. In 414, Helian Bobo created his wife Lady Liang "Heavenly Princess." (No further reference to the fate of his wife, Lady Mo, was recorded in history, after he killed her father.) He created his son Helian Gui (赫连_) crown prince, and created his other sons dukes. In 415, Helian Bobo entered into an alliance with Juqu Mengxun, the prince of N. Liang. In 416, with LATER Qin, now under the rule of Yao Xing's son Yao Hong, under a major attack by the Jin general Liu Yu, Helian Bobo believed that LATER Qin would fall to Jin, but that Jin would not be easily able to hold LATER Qin's capital region -- Guanzhong. He therefore intensified his own attacks on LATER Qin as well, and preparing to use the opportunity of LATER Qin's destruction to seize more territory. As LATER Qin neared destruction, Helian Bobo seized its W. territory, centering Anding (安定 Pingliang, Gansu), and then prepared for an eventual confrontation with Jin forces, which destroyed LATER Qin in 417 and captured its capital Chang'an. In winter 417, Liu Yu, intent on wanting to seize the Jin throne, left Chang'an under the command of his 11-year-old son Liu Yizhen (刘义真), and while he left several able generals to assist Liu Yizhen, those generals soon conflicted with each other and were killing each other -- and eventually, LIu Yizhen, believing that the main assistant Liu Yu left him, Wang Xiu (王修), to be about to rebel, had Wang executed. Meanwhile, Helian Bobo sent his crown prince Helian Gui, another son Helian Chang, and Wang Maide to command armies south, not initially engaging Jin forces but isolating Chang'an from the rest of Jin territory -- a task made easier when Liu Yizhen recalled Jin forces near Chang'an all to Chang'an. Liu Yu, hearing this, sent his general Zhu Lingshi (朱龄石) to replace Liu Yizhen and recalled Liu Yizhen, but as soon as Liu Yizhen and his troops left Chang'an, they were intercepted and crushed by Xia forces under Helian Gui. Liu Yizhen barely escaped, but the vast majority of the army was captured. Helian Bobo stacked the skulls of the Jin dead into a hill-like structure. Meanwhile, the people of Chang'an, who were angry that Liu Yizhen's forces pillaged the city before leaving, expelled Zhu, allowing Helian Bobo to enter Chang'an easily. Helian Bobo then claimed the title of emperor.

Most of Helian Bobo's officials suggested that he move the capital to Chang'an, but he, believing that Tongwan was in a better position to defend against N. Wei, refused and kept his capital at Tongwan, leaving Helian Gui in charge of Chang'an as viceroy. The campaign against Jin showcased Helian Bobo's abilities, but at this time, he also grew increasingly cruel in this way: “He was arrogant and cruel, treating the people like wild plants and mustard greens. He often climbed up towers with bows and arrows, and whenever he had a sudden thought of distrust, dislike, or anger at a person, he would kill that person personally. If any of his officials looked at him in a gazing manner, he would gouge out their eyes. Anyone who laughed frivolously would have their lips sliced open with knives. Anyone who dared to offer a contrary opinion would first have his tongue cut out and then head cut off.”In 424, for reasons lost to history, Helian Bobo decided to depose Crown Prince Gui and appoint another son, Helian Lun (赫连伦) the Duke of Jiuquan, a crown prince. Upon hearing this news, Helian Gui commanded his troops north from Chang'an and attacked Helian Lun. Their forces met at Gaoping, and Helian Gui defeated and killed Helian Lun. However, Helian Lun's brother Helian Chang then made a surprise attack on Helian Gui, killing him and seizing his troops, leading them back to Tongwan. Helian Bobo was pleased and created Helian Chang crown prince.

In summer 425, Helian Bobo died. Helian Chang succeeded him.

Era names * Longsheng (龙升 long sh_ng) 407-413 * Fengxiang (凤翔 feng xiang) 413-418 * Changwu (昌武 ch_ng w_) 418-419 * Zhenxing (真兴 zh_n x_ng) 419-425

Personal information

* Father o Liu Weichen (刘卫臣), Xiongnu chief, posthumously honored as Emperor Huan

* Mother o Lady Fu, posthumously honored as Empress Huanwen

* Wives

1)o Lady Mo, daughter of Xianbei chief Mo Yigan (没奕干)

2)o Empress Liang (created 414)

* Children

1)o Helian Gui (赫连_), the Crown Prince (appointed 414, killed in battle by Helian Chang 424)

2)o Helian Yan (赫连延), the Duke of Yangping (appointed 414)

3)o Helian Chang (赫连昌), initially the Duke of Taiyuan (appointed 414), LATER Crown Prince (appointed 424), LATER emperor

4)o Helian Lun (赫连伦), the Duke of Jiuquan (appointed 414, killed in battle by Helian Gui 424)

5)o Helian Ding (赫连定), initially the Duke of Pingyuan (appointed 414), LATER the Prince of Pingyuan, LATER emperor

6)o Helian Man (赫连满), the Duke of Henan (appointed 414, killed by N. Wei forces 427)

7)o Helian An (赫连安), the Duke of Zhongshan (appointed 414)

8)o Helian Zhuxing (赫连助兴)

9)o Helian Weiyidai (赫连谓以代)

10)o Helian Shegan (赫连社干), the Duke of Shanggu

11)o Helian Duluogu (赫连度洛孤), the Duke of Guangyang

12)o Helian Wushiba (赫连乌视拔), the Duke of Danyang

13)o Helian Tugu (赫连秃骨), the Duke of Wuling

14)o Princess, LATER Empress Helian of Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei

15)o Princess, LATER consort of Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei

16)o Princess, LATER consort of Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei

2) Qin2(Qin dynasty) Wang2 秦王 He4(conspicuous/grand/ hertz)lian2(join/including/repeatedly/even) Chang1(prosperous) 赫连昌 425-428 (died 434) aka Huan2(go/give back)guo2(country) (还国) nickname Zhe(break/snap/lose/bend/twist/turn back/be convinced/be filled with admiration/convert into/amount to/discount/fold/booklet for keeping accounts/roll over) (折), Was an emperor of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Xia. He was the successor and a son of the founding emperor Helian Bobo (Emperor Wulie). After his father's death in 425, he tried to expand Xia further, but soon his state began to collapse in light of pressure from rival N. Wei. In 427, his capital Tongwan (统万 Yulin, Shaanxi) fell to N. Wei forces, and in 428 he himself was captured. Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei did not kill him but instead treated him as an honored companion, marrying a sister to him and creating him high titles─initially the Duke of Kuaiji and LATER the Prince of Qin─but in 434 (after his brother and successor Helian Ding had been captured and executed, ending Xia), he tried to escape and was killed. In 414, when Helian Bobo, then carrying the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang), created his brother Helian Gui (赫连_) crown prince and created him and his other brothers dukes─in Helian Chang's case, Duke of Taiyuan. (perhaps Helian Chang was the third son.) In 416, after Helian Bobo had captured the LATER Qin city Yinmi (阴密 Pingliang, Gansu), he commissioned Helian Chang as the governor of Yong Province (雍州 central and N. Shaanxi, but at that point still mostly in LATER Qin hands) to defend Yinmi. In 417, after the Jin general Liu Yu had already captured the LATER Qin capital Chang'an and destroyed LATER Qin, but who had then left the Chang'an region (Guanzhong) in the hands of his 10-year-old son Liu Yizhen (刘义真) and several of his generals, Helian Bobo decided to try to conquer Chang'an. He had Helian Gui, Helian Chang, and his key advisor Wang Maide (王买德) command the troops. Helian Chang's responsibility was to cut off Tong Gate (潼关 Weinan, Shaanxi), so that Jin forces could not escape. In 418, Xia forces crushed Liu Yizhen's forces as he tried to withdraw from Chang'an, capturing or killing most of Liu Yizhen's army. Liu Yizhen's successor, the Jin general Zhu Lingshi (朱龄石) was expelled by the people of Chang'an and fled to Caogong Castle (曹公垒, Weinan), where Helian Chang besieged him and his brother Zhu Chaoshi (朱超石) by cutting off the water supply, and then attacking the castle, capturing and killing the Zhu brothers. In 424, for reasons lost to history, Helian Bobo decided to depose Crown Prince Gui and create another son, Helian Lun (赫连伦) the Duke of Jiuquan crown prince. Upon hearing this news, Helian Gui commanded his troops north from Chang'an and attacked Helian Lun. Their forces met at Gaoping (高平 Guyuan, Ningxia), and Helian Gui defeated and killed Helian Lun. However, Helian Chang then made a surprise attack on Helian Gui, killing him and seizing his troops, leading them back to the capital Tongwan. Helian Bobo was pleased and created Helian Chang crown prince. In 425, Helian Bobo died, and Helian Chang succeeded him as emperor. Helian Chang was a fierce soldier and he tried to expand his state's borders. In 426, with W. Qin's prince Qifu Chipan attacking N. Liang, N. Liang's prince Juqu Mengxun sent messengers to persuade Helian Chang to attack the W. Qin capital Fuhan (□罕 Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu). Helian Chang, in response, sent his general Hulu Gu (呼卢古) to attack Wanchuan (苑川 Baiyin, Gansu) and Wei Fa (韦伐) to attack Nan'an (南安 Dingxi, Gansu), and while W. Qin was able to hold Wanchuan, Nan'an fell, at great loss. In winter 426, Xia forces commanded by Hulu and Wei attack Fuhan, forcing Qifu Gangui to move the capital to Dinglian (定连 Linxia), and Hulu and Wei then captured another important W. Qin city, Xiping (西平 Xining, Qinghai), and while they then withdrew, W. Qin had been dealt a major blow. However, Helian Chang himself now had a threat on his own hands. In winter 426, Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei crossed the frozen Yellow River and made a surprise attack at Tongwan. On winter solstice, Helian Chang was holding a feast for his officials to celebrate, and suddenly, with N. Wei forces on the horizon, the entire Xia regime was shaken. Helian Chang himself engaged the N. Wei forces but was defeated, and as he retreated into the city, the city gates could not close quickly, and the N. Wei officer Doudai Tian (豆代田) entered the city and set the palace on fire, before withdrawing. The N. Wei forces pillaged the area around Tongwan, and then withdrew. Meanwhile, two other N. Wei forces were attacking two other key Xia cities─the general Daxi Jin (达奚斤) was attacking Puban (蒲阪 Yuncheng, Shanxi), and the general Pu Ji (普几) was attacking Shancheng (陕城 Sanmenxia, Henan). Pu was quickly able to capture Shancheng and then advanced into the Chang'an region, but died of an illness on the way, and so his army withdrew. Meanwhile, when Daxi approached Puban, the Xia general defending Puban, Helian Yidou (赫连乙斗) sent a messenger to Tongwan requesting help─but when the messenger arrived at Tongwan, he saw N. Wei forces attacking it, and he ran back to Puban, informing Helian Yidou incorrectly that Tongwan had fallen. Helian Yidou therefore abandoned Puban and fled to Chang'an, and after he arrived there, he and Helian Chang's brother Helian Zhuxing (赫连助兴), who was defending Chang'an, abandoned it and fled to Anding (安定 Pingliang, Gansu), and N. Wei thus captured the S. half of Xia. In spring 427, Helian Chang sent his brother Helian Ding the Duke of Pingyuan south, hoping to recapture Chang'an. Helian Ding became stalemated with Daxi Jin at Chang'an. Meanwhile, knowing that Helian Ding was occupied, N. Wei's Emperor Taiwu made another attack on Tongwan, and this time, Helian Chang initially wanted to recall Helian Ding from Chang'an; instead, Helian Ding advised him to defend Tongwan securely to wear out the N. Wei forces, and then he, after capture Chang'an, could then return and attack N. Wei forces on two sides. Helian Chang agreed and did not engage N. Wei forces. However, Helian Chang then received misinformation that N. Wei forces were out of food supplies and vulnerable. Helian Chang led his army out of the city and attacked the N. Wei forces. Initially, he was winning the battle, and he almost captured the N. Wei emperor. However, N. Wei forces then fought back and defeated Xia forces, killing Helian Chang's brother Helian Man (赫连满) and nephew Helian Mengxun (赫连蒙逊). Helian Chang was so panicked by the loss that he did not retreat back to Tongwan, but fled to Shanggui (上□ Tianshui, Gansu). N. Wei forces entered Tongwan and captured the nobles and imperial clan members, including Helian Bobo's and Helian Chang's empresses, as well as Helian Chang's sisters. The N. Wei emperor took three of Helian Chang's sisters as concubines. Upon hearing the news of Tongwan's fall, Helian Ding abandoned his campaign against Daxi and joined Helian Chang at Shanggui. Daxi gave chase, intending to destroy Xia. In spring 428, with Daxi's subordinate Weichi Juan (尉迟眷) sieging Shanggui, Helian Chang withdrew to Pingliang. Meanwhile, Daxi's forces arrived, but were being afflicted with diseases. Helian Chang took the opportunity to counterattack, forcing N. Wei forces to take refuge in Anding. Helian Chang attacked on a daily basis, and it appeared that Anding would fall to him. However, Daxi's subordinate Anchi Jia (安迟颉) and Weichi then, without Daxi's approval, undertook a daring plan─as N. Wei soldiers were by now familiar with Helian Chang's appearance, one day, when Helian Chang was again attacking Anding, Anchi and Weichi led soldiers to make a strike intending to capture him. Helian Chang fell off his horse, and Anchi took him captive. Helian Ding withdrew to Pingliang and took the throne himself. Helian Chang was delivered to the N. Wei capital Pingcheng (平城 Datong, Shanxi). Instead of killing him, Emperor Taiwu gave him the W. palace as his residence, with supplies fitting an emperor. He also created Helian Chang the Duke of Kuaiji and gave Helian Chang his sister Princess Shiping in marriage. He often had Helian Chang attend him on hunts. Because Helian Chang was respected as a mighty soldier, the N. Wei officials often feared that Helian Chang might assassinate the emperor, but the emperor trusted Helian Chang and continued to treat him wellater In 429, Helian Chang was effectively used as a witness at the imperial advisory council, for the prime minister Cui Hao as he confronted astrologers Zhang Yuan (张渊) and Xu Bian (徐辩), who were advising against a campaign against Rouran, which Cui advocated. The astrologers, who were previously Xia court astrologers, argued that the stars were favoring Rouran and that a campaign would be fruitless. Cui, himself an astrologer, pointed out that if Zhang and Xu could predict the future, then they should have warned Helian Chang, who was present at the council as well, before Tongwan fell─that if they knew what would happen and did not warn Helian Chang, then they were unfaithful; if they did not know what would happen, then they had no prophetic abilities. With Helian Chang present, Zhang and Xu knew that he would confirm that they never informed him of impending doom, and so they withdrew their opposition。 In 430, Emperor Taiwu promoted Helian Chang's title to Prince of Qin. The reason is unclear, but perhaps he was considering using Helian Chang to counter his brother Helian Ding, against whom Emperor Taiwu was waging a campaign against─and in winter 430, he did have Helian Chang try to persuade Helian Shegan into surrendering Pingliang to him; Helian Shegan initially refused, but did surrender after less than two months. In 431, pressured by N. Wei forces, Helian Ding, after first destroying W. Qin and its prince Qifu Mumo, intended to head west to attack N. Liang and capture its territory, but on the way was intercepted, defeated, and captured by the Tuyuhun khan Murong Mugui (慕容慕_). Xia was at its end. In 434, for reasons unknown, Helian Chang turned against Wei and fled west from Pingcheng. He was intercepted by the Wei generals west of the Yellow River and killed. N. Wei then executed his surviving brothers. Era name * Chengguang (承光 cheng gu_ng) 425-428

Personal information * Father o Helian Bobo (Emperor Wulie) * Wives 1)o Empress (name unknown)

2)o Princess Shiping of N. Wei (married 428)

3) Ping2 Yuan2(plains/flatlands) Wang2 平原王 He4Lian2Ding4(calm/decide/fixed/subscribe to a newspaper/book seats or tickets/surely) 赫连定 428-431 (died 432), aka Zhi2(straight/numb/directly/continuosly/straightforward)fen (直_), Was the last emperor of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Xia. He was a son of the founding emperor Helian Bobo (Emperor Wulie) and a younger brother of his predecessor Helian Chang. After Helian Chang was captured by rival N. Wei's army in 428, Helian Ding took the throne himself and for several years tried to resist N. Wei attacks, but by 430 he had lost nearly his entire territory. In 431, he attempted to head west to try to attack N. Liang and seize its territory, but on the way, he was intercepted by Tuyuhun's khan Murong Mugui (慕容慕_) and captured, ending Xia. In 432, Murong Mugui turned him over to Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei, and Emperor Taiwu executed him. In 414, when Helian Bobo created his son Helian Gui (赫连_) crown prince and the other sons dukes, Helian Chang was created the Duke of Pingyuan. Helian Ding was said to have been a delinquent and frivolous youth, and Helian Bobo had low opinions of him and gave him little authority. After Helian Bobo's death in 425, Helian Ding's older brother Helian Chang (who had replaced Helian Gui as crown prince in 424) succeeded him. Helian Chang gave Helian Ding more authorities than before, and Helian Ding quickly became one of the major generals that his brother relied on. After rival N. Wei's general Daxi Jin (达奚斤) captured the important city of Chang'an in 426, Helian Chang sent Helian Ding south in spring 427 from the capital Tongwan (统万 Yulin, Shaanxi) to try to capture Chang'an. He became stalemated with Daxi at Chang'an. Meanwhile, knowing that Helian Ding was occupied, Emperor Taiwu of N. Wei made an attack on Tongwan, and Helian Chang initially wanted to recall Helian Ding from Chang'an; instead, Helian Ding advised him to defend Tongwan securely to wear out the N. Wei forces, and then he, after capture Chang'an, could then return and attack N. Wei forces on two sides. Helian Chang agreed and did not engage N. Wei forces. However, subsequently, receiving false information that N. Wei forces had run out of food, he decided to attack N. Wei forces and was soundly defeated, and he fled to Shanggui (上□ Tianshui, Gansu). N. Wei captured Tongwan. Upon hearing the news of Tongwan's fall, Helian Ding abandoned his campaign against Daxi and joined Helian Chang at Shanggui. Daxi gave chase, intending to destroy Xia. It might have been at this time that Helian Chang promoted Helian Ding to the title of Prince of Pingyuan. In spring 428, after initially withdrawing further from Shanggui to Pingliang (平凉 Gansu), Helian Chang went back on the offensive and sieged Daxi's army, which was then afflicted by illnesses, at Anding (安定 Pingliang). However, during the siege, the N. Wei officers Anchi Jia (安迟颉) and Weichi Juan (尉迟眷) made a surprise attack on him, and he fell of his horse and was captured. Helian Ding gathered the remaining troops and withdrew to Pingliang. He took the throne himself.

Meanwhile, Daxi, ashamed that he was nearly destroyed by Helian Chang at Anding and was only saved by his officers Anchi and Weichi's ingenuity, proceeded further, without adequate food supplies, to try to attack Helian Ding at Pingliang, taking up a dangerous position without adequate water supply as wellater A low-level N. Wei officer who had been charged with crime then fled to the Xia camp and revealed the lack of food and water supplies that Daxi's forces were having. Helian Ding then attacked and captured Daxi. Upon hearing this, the N. Wei general Qiudun Dui (丘敦堆), who was defending Anding, panicked and fled to Chang'an, and then further fled Chang'an with Chang'an's commanding general Tuoba Li (拓拔礼) to Puban (蒲阪 Yuncheng, Shanxi), allowing Xia forces to recover Chang'an and the surrounding Guanzhong region. In summer 428, Helian Ding sent an embassy to N. Wei requesting peace. Instead, N. Wei's Emperor Taiwu issued an edict ordering him to surrender, which he did not do. On a hunt at which he could see the old capital Tongwan from a distance, Helian Ding lamented that if Helian Bobo had made him crown prince, Tongwan would not have fallen. However, he himself did not dare to try to recapture Tongwan. In spring 430, LS launched a major attack against N. Wei, and N. Wei in response temporarily abandoned its territory south of the Yellow River. Helian Ding then entered into an alliance with Emperor Wen of LS against N. Wei, agreeing to destroy N. Wei and divide its territory north of the Yellow River -- with provinces east of the Taihang Mountains going to LS and west of Taihang going to Xia. However, neither party actually intended to attack N. Wei's territory north of the Yellow River first, waiting for the other to act, and N. Wei's Emperor Taiwu took advantage of this and decided to try to destroy Helian Ding first. In fall 430, he personally launched a direct assault on Pingliang. Meanwhile, W. Qin's prince Qifu Mumo, unable to stand pressures from N. Liang and Tuyuhun, sought to surrender to N. Wei, and with N. Wei promising to give Xia's Pingliang and Anding Commanderies to him as his domain, he abandoned his capital Fuhan (□罕 Linxia Hui Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu) and headed east, intending to join N. Wei forces at Shanggui. Upon hearing this, Helian Ding personally tried to intercept Qifu Mumo, who was forced to stop at Nan'an (南安 Longxi, Gansu), with his territory having otherwise all fallen to Tuyuhun. By this time, though, the N. Wei emperor had arrived at Pingliang, and, with Helian Chang (whom he had created Prince of Qin) with him, he had Helian Chang to try to persuade the defender of Pingliang, Helian Ding's younger brother Helian Shegan (赫连社干) the Duke of Shanggu to surrender. Helian Shegan initially refused. Helian Ding, hearing that Pingliang was under attack, tried to return to Pingliang to relieve it, but on the way he encountered the N. Wei general Tuxi Bi (吐奚弼), who tricked him by pretending to be a weak force, drawing an attack from him. Tuxi then defeated Helian Ding, who was then forced to withdraw to Chungu Plains (鹑觚原 Pingliang). N. Wei forces surrounded him, and his army became hungry and thirsty. After several days, he forcibly fought his way out of the siege, but his forces mostly collapsed, and he himself was badly injured. He gathered the remaining forces and fled to Shanggui. Around the new year 431, Helian Shegan and another brother, Helian Duluogu (赫连度洛孤) the Duke of Guangyang, surrendered Pingliang to N. Wei, and Anding fell as wellater The N. Wei emperor seized Helian Ding's empress and gave her to his general Doudai Tian (豆代田) as a concubine. The other Xia cities' defenders also fled or were captured, allowing N. Wei to take those cities. Helian Ding himself felt he could not hold Shanggui much further, sent his uncle Helian Weifa (赫连韦伐) the Duke of Beiping to attack W. Qin's only remaining city, Nan'an. The people of Nan'an suffered from the lack of food so much that they engaged in cannibalism. Qifu Mumo, unable to do anything else, surrendered. Helian Weifa delivered Qifu Mumo to Shanggui, and Helian Ding executed Qifu Mumo and his clan. Helian Ding then headed west and crossed the Yellow River at Zhicheng (治城 Linxia), intending to attack N. Liang and seize its territory. However, the khan of Tuyuhun, Murong Mugui (慕容慕_), had anticipated this and sent his brothers Murong Muliyan (慕容慕利延) and Murong Shiqian (慕容拾虔) to intercept Helian Ding, and as the Xia army was crossing the river, Tuyuhun forces attacked and captured Helian Ding, ending Xia. Murong Mugui did not kill Helian Ding initially. In fall 431, however, he sent messengers to N. Wei to declare his loyalty and to indicate that he was willing to deliver Helian Ding to N. Wei. In response, N. Wei's Emperor Taiwu created Murong Mugui the Prince of Xiqin and gave him rewards, and in spring 432 Murong Mugui delivered Helian Ding to N. Wei. The N. Wei emperor executed Helian Ding. Era name * Shengguang (胜光 sheng gu_ng) 428-431

Personal information

* Father o Helian Bobo (Emperor Wulie) * Wife o Empress (name unknown)

Sovereignties established by Wu Hu ---Sovereignties established by Chinese and Wu Hu but traditionally not counted in the Sixteen Kingdoms

1 ... 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 ... 37