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Qin, known as the Former Qin and Fu Qin (苻秦) in historiography, was a dynastic state of China ruled by the Fu (Pu) clan of the Di peoples during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. Founded in the wake of the Later Zhao dynasty's collapse in 351, it completed the unification of northern China in 376 during the reign of Fu Jiān, being the only state of the Sixteen Kingdoms to achieve so. Its capital was Chang'an up to Fu Jiān's death in 385. The prefix "Former" is used to distinguish it from the Later Qin and Western Qin dynasties that were founded later.
Fu Jian, courtesy name Yonggu (永固) or Wenyu (文玉), also known by his posthumous name as the Emperor Xuanzhao of Former Qin (前秦宣昭帝), was the third monarch of the Di-led Chinese Former Qin dynasty, ruling as Heavenly King. Under his reign, the Former Qin unified Northern China by conquering the Former Yan, Chouchi, Former Liang, and Dai, as well as the Eastern Jin's Yi Province, until he was repelled at the Battle of Fei River in 383. Following this defeat, the Former Qin state disintegrated and Fu was assassinated in 385 by Yao Chang, his former subordinate who then founded the Later Qin dynasty. He was considered by traditional histories to be a virtuous and just ruler, who, ironically, by sparing too many of his enemies after defeating them, led to his own downfall.
Yao Chang, courtesy name Jingmao (景茂), also known by his posthumous name as the Emperor Wuzhao of Later Qin (後秦武昭帝), was the founding emperor of the Qiang-led Chinese Later Qin dynasty. His father Yao Yizhong had been a powerful general and Qiang chieftain under the Later Zhao emperor Shi Hu, but after Later Zhao's collapse after Shi Hu's death, Yao Chang's older brother Yao Xiang tried to start an independent state but was defeated and killed by Former Qin forces. Yao Chang became a Former Qin general, but after an incident in 384 after the Former Qin emperor Fu Jiān's defeat at the Battle of Fei River, Yao Chang feared that Fu Jiān would kill him and therefore rebelled. He subsequently captured and killed Fu Jiān, who had saved his life when Yao Xiang was defeated, causing many historians to view him as a traitor and murderer.
Empress Mao was an empress of the Chinese/Di state Former Qin. Her husband was Fu Deng.
Lü Guang, courtesy name Shiming (世明), also known by his posthumous name as the Emperor Yiwu of Later Liang (後涼懿武帝), was the founding emperor of the Di-led Chinese Later Liang dynasty. He was initially a Former Qin general, but in light of Former Qin's collapse starting in 384, he decided to found his own state, initially including nearly all of modern Gansu. As his reign continued, however, his domain dwindled after Southern Liang and Northern Liang declared independence. His death in 400 left Later Liang in an unstable state, and it would be no more by 403.
Yao Xing, courtesy name Zilüe (子略), also known by his posthumous name as the Emperor Wenhuan of Later Qin (後秦文桓帝), was an emperor of the Qiang-led Chinese Later Qin dynasty. He was the son of the founding emperor Yao Chang. For most of his reign, he did not use the title of emperor, but used the title Heavenly King. During his reign, he destroyed the rival Former Qin and proceeded to expand his hegemony over nearly all of western China, as he temporarily seized all of Western Qin's territory and forced Southern Liang, Northern Liang, Western Liáng, and Qiao Zong's Western 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, 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.
Fu Chong was the last emperor of the Di-led Former Qin dynasty of China. He assumed the throne in 394 after the death of his father, Fu Deng. He later died in battle against the Western Qin dynasty, thus marking the collapse of the Former Qin.
Qifu Gangui or Qifu Qiangui, also known by his posthumous name as the Prince Wuyuan of Western Qin (西秦武元王), was a prince of the Xianbei-led Chinese Western Qin dynasty. He was a brother of the founding prince, Qifu Guoren, 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 subsequently expanded the state's power and influence, but only to an extent, and in 400 after military losses to the Later Qin dynasty, his state was annexed by the Later Qin and he himself became a Later Qin general. However, after the Later Qin was weakened by defeats at the hands of its rebel general Helian Bobo's Hu Xia dynasty, 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 defeated Qifu Gongfu and succeeded him as the ruling prince.
Queen Fu was a queen of the Xianbei-led Chinese Western Qin dynasty. Her husband was Qifu Gangui.
Yao Xiang (331?–357), courtesy name Jingguo, posthumously honored Prince Wu of Wei, was an ethnic Qiang warlord during the Sixteen Kingdoms and Jin dynasty (266–420) in Chinese history. He was the fifth son and heir of the Later Zhao general Yao Yizhong. After the destruction of Zhao and the death of Yizhong in 352, he went south to serve under the Jin dynasty. However, due to animosity between him and the Jin commander, Yin Hao, he broke away and roved the Central Plains to establish a base while fighting against Jin and the Former Qin. Although he suffered major losses from time to time, his charismatic personality allowed him to win and keep the support of the people wherever he went. In the end, he was killed in an ambush in 357 while fighting Qin forces at Sanyuan. After his death, his brother, Yao Chang, surrendered to Qin and became one of its generals. In 384, he rebelled and established the Later Qin, posthumously honouring Yao Xiang as a prince in the process.
Deng Qiang was a Chinese military general of the Former Qin dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He came to prominence during the reign of Fu Sheng when he helped defeat and kill the Qiang warlord Yao Xiang, but for most of his career he would serve Sheng's successor, Fu Jian. He was a leading figure in the rise of Former Qin, along with Wang Meng, as he led Fu Jian's army to victory against Zhang Ping and Former Yan. He stamped out corruption in the government and put down the rebellions of Fu Jian's relatives and Zhang Yu (張育). He and his peer Zhang Ci were known as the "Enemies of Ten Thousands (萬人敵)", a title previously held by the generals Guan Yu and Zhang Fei during the end of the Han dynasty.
Zhang Ci, originally named Gong Ci, was a Chinese military general of Former Qin during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was the adopted son of the warlord Zhang Ping and fought during his father's war against Former Qin in 358. After he was captured in battle, Zhang Ci served Qin's ruler Fu Jian, participating in his campaigns against Former Yan, Dai and the Jin dynasty until his presumed death in 386 while serving Fu Pi. He and Deng Qiang were known as the "Enemies of Ten Thousands (萬人敵)", a title previously held by the generals Guan Yu and Zhang Fei during the end of the Han dynasty. His name can be rendered as Zhang Hao.
Yang An was a military general of Former Qin and possibly a prince of Chouchi. He was mostly active in Qin's conquest of western China, helping Fu Jian in conquering Chouchi, Yizhou and Liangzhou. Although not as grand as his contemporaries, Deng Qiang and Zhang Ci, the Spring and Autumn Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms classed him as an important general of Qin whose merits were comparable to the two.
Huan Shiqian, childhood name Zhen'e, was a Chinese military general of the Jin dynasty (266–420). He was the nephew of Huan Wen and Huan Chong. Shiqian rose to fame in 354, when he single-handedly saved Huan Chong from being surrounded by Former Qin forces. He later led and followed in campaigns against Qin during the 370s as Fu Jian invaded the south to conquer Jin. Shiqian was remembered by the people of his time for his ferocity and bravery.
Fu Xiong, courtesy name Yuancai, originally named Pu Xiong (蒲雄), was a Di military general of Former Zhao and Former Qin during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was the father of Fu Jiān, the third ruler of Former Qin. During the confusion following Shi Hu's death, he served as a general under his father Pu Hong, and during the reign of his brother Fu Jiàn, he was given the role of Prime Minister. Fu Xiong's biggest contribution to the state was when he repelled a major invasion from the Grand Marshal of Jin, Huan Wen, at the Battle of Bailu Plain in 354. After Fu Jiān killed Fu Sheng and took the throne in 357, he was posthumously honoured as Emperor Wenhuan.
Dou Chong was a Di military general and ruler of Former Qin during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. Dou Chong rose to prominence after the Battle of Feishui in 383, remaining loyal to Fu Jian after most of Qin's generals had betrayed the state and becoming a key general. Dou Chong continued his service with Qin under Fu Pi and Fu Deng, but by 393, despite receiving much favour from Fu Deng, he rebelled and declared himself the King of Qin. Dou Chong's Qin only lasted for a year before he was defeated and captured by Later Qin.
Yang Ding was a ruler of Chouchi and a military general of Former Qin during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. His family was a part of the Yang clan that ruled Chouchi but fled to Former Qin after they failed to usurp their relatives' throne. Yang Ding became the son-in-law of Qin's ruler, Fu Jian, and after the Battle of Feishui, he became one of the state's most powerful supporters up to its destruction in 394. However, he also took advantage of Qin's period of weakness by restoring the Chouchi state in 385, which had been conquered by Qin in 371. His reign is seen as the start of Later Chouchi (後仇池).
Quan Yi, courtesy name Ziliang, was a minister of Former Qin and Later Qin during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. Quan Yi was one of the followers of the Qiang general, Yao Xiang, who surrendered from Later Zhao to the Jin dynasty. After Yao Xiang was killed in 357, Quan Yi followed Xiang's brother, Yao Chang and surrendered to Former Qin, where he served for 28 years. Following the disastrous Battle of Fei River in 383, Quan Yi attempted to stop Murong Chui from marching to north, but was outmaneuvered. As Western Yan troops encircled the capital Chang'an, Quan Yi fled to Yao Chang, now ruler of Later Qin, who he served until his death.
Shi Yue was a military general of Former Qin during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. Initially starting out as an envoy to Former Yan, he helped the Qin army in capturing Xiangyang and in quelling the rebellion of Fu Jian's cousin, Fu Luo. He was most noted to be one of the main oppositions towards Fu Jian's plan to conquer the Jin dynasty (266–420) in 382, whose failure to win him over led to the disastrous defeat of the Qin army at the Battle of Feishui. After the defeat, he was entrusted the important task of defending Ye, where he urged Fu Pi to get rid of the suspicious Murong Chui but failing to convince his superior once more. Shi was killed in battle against Murong Nong in 384, and his head was used as an offering to Nong's father, Chui.
Zhang Ping was a warlord during the Sixteen Kingdoms period of China. He was initially the Inspector of Bingzhou under the Later Zhao dynasty who later gained autonomy over the province following the decline of the state at the start of the 350s. He wavered his loyalty between Former Qin, Former Yan and the Eastern Jin dynasties until he was able to muster the strength to briefly compete with the Former Qin and Former Yan as a rival state in 357. That year, he went to war with Fu Jiān but was decisively defeated and forced back into submission. Shortly after his defeat, Zhang surrendered to the Former Yan. In 361, Zhang Ping rebelled against the Former Yan over a territorial dispute but was killed by invading Former Qin forces in the process.
References
- ↑ Wei Shou. "列傳 匈奴劉聰 羯胡石勒 鐵弗劉虎 徒何慕容廆 臨渭氐苻健 羌姚萇 略陽氐吕光" [Biographies of Xiongnu Liu Cong, Jiewu Shi Le, Titfu Liu Hu, Tuhe Murong Hui, Linweidi Fu Jiān, Qiang Yao Chang, Lueyangdi Lü Guang]. Book of Wei (in Chinese). Vol. 95. Retrieved 28 July 2011.
- ↑ 晉書 卷一百一十五 載記第十五 "登既代衛平，遂專統征伐。是時歲旱眾饑，道殣相望，登每戰殺賊，名為熟食，謂軍人曰：「汝等朝戰，幕便飽肉，何憂於饑！」士眾從之，啖死人肉，輒飽健能鬥。姚萇聞之，急召碩德曰：「汝不來，必為苻登所食盡。」"
- ↑ 晉書 卷一百一十五 載記第十五 "登收合餘兵，退據胡空堡，遣使齎書加竇沖大司馬、驃騎將軍、前鋒大都督、都督隴東諸軍事，楊定左丞相、上大將軍、都督中外諸軍事，楊璧大將軍、都督隴右諸軍事。遣沖率見眾為先驅，自繁川趣長安。登率眾從新平逕據新豐之千戶固。使定率隴上諸軍為其後繼，璧留守仇池。又命其並州刺史楊政、冀州刺史楊楷率所統大會長安。萇遣其將軍王破虜略地秦州，楊定及破虜戰于清水之格奴阪，大敗之。登攻張龍世於鴦泉堡，姚萇救之，登引退。萇密遣其將任瓫、宗度詐為內應，遣使招登，許開門納之。登以為然。雷惡地馳謂登曰：「姚萇多計略，善禦人，必為奸變，願深宜詳思。」登乃止。萇聞惡地之詣登也，謂諸將曰：「此羌多奸智，今其詣登，事必無成。」登聞萇懸門以待之，大驚，謂左右曰：「雷征東其殆聖乎！微此公，朕幾為豎子所誤。」"