Huyan Yan | |
---|---|
呼延晏 | |
Grand Tutor (太傅) | |
In office 323 –? | |
Monarch | Liu Yao |
Personal details | |
Born | Unknown |
Died | Unknown |
Huyan Yan (fl.310 - 323) was a Xiongnu military general and minister of Han-Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was an important figure during the Disaster of Yongjia in 311 and was also a supporter of Liu Yao following Jin Zhun's coup in 318.
Not much is known about Huyan Yan except that he was from the Xiongnu Huyan clan, an ally to Liu Yuan's clan through Empress Huyan's marriage with him. He and his clan members worked as officers under Liu Yuan's state of Han-Zhao and would continue to do so going into Liu Yao's reign.
Huyan Yan's most important contribution to the state and arguably the period as a whole was during the Disaster of Yongjia in July 311. Liu Yao, Shi Le and Wang Mi were instructed by Liu Cong to take the capital of Luoyang from the Jin dynasty. As the Jin defences continued to falter, Liu Cong sent Huyan Yan with fresh troops to aid the trio in taking the capital. Before they could meet up, Huyan Yan placed his supplies at a rampart near Luoyang. [1]
Huyan Yan was first to arrive at Luoyang, setting fire to many of the city's important infrastructures, plundering its wealth and capturing prisoners as he waited for his reinforcements to arrive. The Jin emperor, Emperor Huai, who was in the capital wanted to escape the city by boat, but Huyan Yan had them burned too. Reinforcements finally arrived in the form of Wang Mi. The two men led their men into the palace, taking all that they could find in the building from treasures to servants. Emperor Huai attempted to flee, but Wang Mi and Huyan Yan's men found and held him. This event was the beginning of the end for Jin's control over their northern territories. [1]
The following year in 312, Huyan Yan was appointed as Liu Cong's Supervisor of the Right. [2]
In 315, Liu Cong had removed his close advisor, Chen Yuanda from power as he remonstrated him for his controversial marital practice of having multiple empresses at once. Huyan Yan was one of the many ministers to sign a petition offering their positions to Chen Yuanda, so Liu Cong recalled Chen Yuanda to the government. In 318, Liu Cong was dying, so he made a number of appointments to his officials, including making Huyan Yan the Grand Guardian and authority over the Masters of Writings.
Liu Cong's death was followed by turmoil as the chancellor Jin Zhun slaughtered his family and his successor Liu Can in Pingyang the same year. Liu Yao and Shi Le combined forces to attack Jin Zhun. Huyan Yan led the surviving loyalists from Pingyang to meet Liu Yao at Chibi, where they urged him to become emperor. Liu Yao did so, granting amnesty and giving appointments. Huyan Yan in particular was made Minister of Works, and following this, Liu Yao and Shi Le quickly put down Jin Zhun's rebellion. [3]
In 320, Liu Yao was struck with a crisis as the non-Xiongnu tribes in the Guanzhong region rebelled and place his capital under pressure. He had previously imprisoned the minister, You Ziyuan, who was against his decision to execute all the conspirators of a prior rebellion that led to the more drastic current one. Now that he had been proven wrong, Liu Yao wanted to kill You Ziyuan too, but Huyan Yan and his peers pleaded for his innocence, and that Liu Yao should forgive and release him instead. Liu Yao agreed and with You Ziyuan, he managed to quell the rebellion in only a few months. [4]
Liu Yao went to war with Former Liang in 323. Huyan Yan was tasked in attacking Liang's county of Sangbi (桑壁, in present-day Longxi County, Gansu). However, the war ended with the two sides peacefully withdrawing and Liang offering their vassalage to Liu Yao. [5] Huyan Yan's last appearance in history was in later in 323. Liu Yao's son Liu Yin had returned after he went missing during Jin Zhun's coup back in 318. He was in support of having Liu Yin replace Liu Xi (Liu Yao's other son) as Crown Prince, but this was met with a lengthy debate from the other ministers. Huyan Yan was no longer recorded from this point on. [6]
Liu Can (died c.September 318), courtesy name Shiguang, also known by his posthumous name (as accorded by Jin Zhun) Emperor Yin of Han (Zhao), was an emperor of the Xiongnu-led Han-Zhao dynasty of China, who reigned briefly in 318 before being killed by his trusted father-in-law Jin Zhun, who succeeded him to the Han-Zhao throne.
Liu Kun, courtesy name Yueshi, was a Chinese military general and poet of the Jin dynasty. An esteemed writer during the early years of his career, he was also known for his time as the Inspector of Bingzhou, during which he spearheaded Jin's efforts in fighting back against the Han-Zhao dynasty. Despite his determination and active role in the war against Han, he lacked the sufficient military and administrative skills to quash the growing Han threat, suffering repeated defeats and having to heavily rely on his alliance with the Tuoba-Xianbei. He was eventually driven out from Bingzhou following a decisive defeat to Shi Le in 316 and fled to Youzhou, where he allied with the chieftain, Duan Pidi. After Pidi suspected him of betrayal, he was arrested and executed via strangulation in 318.
Wang Mi, courtesy name Zigu, was a Chinese bandit leader and military general of Han-Zhao during the Western Jin dynasty. He participated in a rebellion led by Liu Bogen during the War of the Eight Princes but after it was quelled, he fled to Mount Zhangguang where he became a notorious outlaw and was given the nickname "Flying Leopard". After two years of banditry, he joined the Xiongnu king, Liu Yuan and his state of Han in 308. He became one of the state's most important commanders in their war against Jin, playing a crucial role in capturing Luoyang during the Disaster of Yongjia. However, Wang Mi's career was cut short after he was assassinated by his peer and rival Shi Le in 311.
Qu Yun, was a military general of the Western Jin dynasty. He was a prominent member of the group from Anding who swore to restore the Jin Dynasty in northern China following the Disaster of Yongjia and was one of Emperor Min of Jin's closest advisors in resisting Han-Zhao. Despite the group's early success, the regime was short-lived as the lack of support and trust among themselves led to it eventually being overwhelmed by Han's forces in 316. After Emperor Min's surrender, Qu Yun killed himself while imprisoned.
Suo Chen, courtesy name Juxiu, was a military general of the Western Jin dynasty. He was a prominent member of the group at Anding to restore Jin authority in the north following the Disaster of Yongjia in July 311 and was Emperor Min's most powerful official alongside Qu Yun. Throughout Emperor Min's reign, he constantly clashed with the Han-Zhao general Liu Yao but was ultimately unable to halt Han's advances into Chang'an. After the fall of Chang'an in 316, Suo was executed for disloyalty, after he had used Emperor Min's surrender as a means to secure a high position for himself in the Han regime. His name can be rendered as Suo Lin.
Zhi Xiong was a Yuezhi military general of Later Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was one of Shi Le's Eighteen Riders (十八騎) whose career stretched from Shi Le's bandit days all the way to the reign of his nephew Shi Hu.
You Ziyuan was a minister and military general of Han-Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He helped Liu Yao defeat a major rebellion in 320 when the non-Xiongnu tribes in the Guanzhong region rose up against him.
Chen Yuanda, courtesy name Changhong, was a Xiongnu minister of Han-Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was an influential figure within the Han court, most known for his fierce remonstrations against the emperor, Liu Cong and his decadent lifestyle. Towards the end of his life, he led the scholar-officials in a power struggle against Liu Cong's eunuchs and consort kins, but killed himself out of despair after his close friend died as a result of the conflict.
Cao Ni was a Chinese military general of Han-Zhao and warlord during the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was one of the followers of the bandit Wang Mi and followed him into service with Liu Yuan's state of Han. Wang Mi entrusted him to secure his family in Qingzhou, but after Wang Mi was killed by Shi Le in 311, Cao Ni gradually became an independent warlord, causing much concern in the Han-Zhao court. He was finally killed in 323 when Shi Le sent his nephew Shi Hu to subdue him once and for all. His name can be rendered as Cao Yi.
Cheng Xia was a Chinese minister of Later Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. His sister, Consort Cheng, was a wife of Shi Le and also the mother to the Crown Prince Shi Hong. As Shi Le's brother-in-law, he was thus given an important role in the Later Zhao administration. He was also strong opposition to Shi Le's powerful nephew, Shi Hu, who he feared would usurp the throne once Shi Le passes. His attempts at diminishing Shi Hu's influence captured his scorn, and after he launched a coup in 333 following Shi Le's death, Shi Hu had Cheng Xia and his ally Xu Guang executed.
Xu Guang, courtesy name Jiwu, was a minister of Later Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was captured by Shi Le's general Wang Yang (王陽) and served as a servant, but after discovering his potential, he was recruited into Shi Le's army instead. Misconducts by Xu Guang angered Shi Le who had him and family imprisoned in 326. However, Xu Guang won Shi Le's favour back in 328, after his advice earned them a victory over Zhao's rival Han-Zhao. As he became a prominent member of the administration, Xu Guang tried to reduce the power of Shi Le's nephew, Shi Hu but could not convince Shi Le to fully remove him. Shi Hu resented him for this, and after his coup in 333, Shi Hu had him and his ally Cheng Xia executed.
Chen An, courtesy name Huhou, was a Chinese military general and warlord of the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Han-Zhao during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. During the aftermath of the Disaster of Yongjia in northern China, Chen An became a favored general of the Jin prince Sima Bao in Qinzhou, but an assassination attempt on him made by one of Bao's subordinates in 315 prompted him to declare independence in Longcheng. He submitted to the Zhao state in 319 but then rebelled in 322, declaring himself the King of Liang. His reign was short-lived, as he was defeated and executed by Zhao forces the following year.
Wang Yan, courtesy name Yifu, was a Chinese politician. He served as a minister and was one of the pure conversation leaders of the Western Jin. During the reign of Emperor Hui of Jin, Wang Yan grew popular among the court for his mastery in Qingtan and for being a patron of Xuanxue. Wang Yan vacillated between the warring princes during the War of the Eight Princes until he ended up with Sima Yue, who gave him a considerable amount of power in his administration. After Yue died in April 311, Wang Yan led his funeral procession but was ambushed and later executed by the Han-Zhao general, Shi Le at Ningping City. Though a bright scholar, Wang Yan was often associated by traditional historians as one of the root causes for Western Jin's demise due to his influential beliefs.
Zhang Chai was a minister and regent of China's Later Zhao dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was a close ally to Shi Hu 's empress, Empress Liu, who helped her establish themselves as the paramount leaders of Zhao through her son Shi Shi following the death of Shi Hu in 349. The pair attempted to centralize their power and eliminate their rivals, but a popular coup led by Shi Zun saw their reign barely lasting a month as they were removed and subsequently executed. Despite the coup, it would soon be known as the beginning of a bigger power struggle within the Shi family over the throne that led to the destruction of Later Zhao in 351 in the hands of Ran Min.
Guo Mo, courtesy name Xuanxiong, was a Chinese military general and warlord of the Jin dynasty (266–420). During the Disaster of Yongjia, he acclaimed himself as a wuzhu before joining another wuzhu, Li Ju against the Han-Zhao and Later Zhao states for control over the Luoyang region. As Li Ju faced defeat, Guo Mo abandoned him and fled south to Jiankang, the capital of the Eastern Jin, where he later sided with the imperial force during Su Jun's Rebellion. After his controversial killing of his contemporary, Liu Yin in 330, the ministers, Tao Kan and Yu Liang raised their troops against him and executed him.
Li Ju, courtesy name Shihui, was a Chinese military general and warlord of the Jin dynasty (266–420). During and after the fall of Western Jin, he was a wuzhu in the northern Henan region who fought for control with the Han-Zhao and Later Zhao states over the former Jin capital, Luoyang, which had been lost after the Disaster of Yongjia in 311. He had much success initially, even briefly recovering the city at one point, but was eventually overwhelmed and forced to withdraw. While attempting to join the Eastern Jin dynasty at Jiankang in 325, he was involved in a horse riding accident and died from his injuries.
Jia Mi, courtesy name Changyuan, originally named Han Mi, was a Chinese politician of the Jin dynasty. He was the grandson of the Jin minister Jia Chong and nephew of Jin's de facto ruler between 291 and 300, Jia Nanfeng. Jia Mi was trusted with state affair by his aunt throughout her regency and wielded much influence over the Jin court. He was an extravagant minister, and under him, the Jin court became increasingly corrupted. Between 299 and 300, Jia Mi pushed his aunt for the removal and later execution of the Crown Prince, Sima Yu, a decision that would lead to the Jia clan's downfall. In May 300, Jia Mi was killed during Sima Lun's coup d'état.
Wang Hun, courtesy name Xuanchong, was a Chinese military general and politician of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period and Western Jin dynasty period. He spent most of his early career serving at the eastern borders of Jin and Eastern Wu, where he occasionally battled with the southern state. He was most known for his role in the Conquest of Wu between 279 and 280, during which he destroyed Wu's main forces under Zhang Ti, as well as his subsequent dispute with Wang Jun, who he accused of going against orders by capturing Jianye on his own and stealing Wang Hun's chance at glory. Despite the controversy surrounding him following the conquest, he remained an accomplished and well-respected figure within the state.
Liu Xuan, courtesy name Shize, was a Xiongnu politician of the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Han-Zhao dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. In 304, he joined a plot led by the Xiongnu aristocracy to break away from the ruling Jin dynasty. He was important in getting his great-nephew, Liu Yuan, to lead the Xiongnu and form Han-Zhao. After the state's establishment, Liu Xuan became its first Prime Minister and played an influential role in its administration.
Beigong Chun was a military general of the Jin dynasty (266–420) and Han-Zhao dynasty during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. He was a subordinate of the Inspector of Liang province, Zhang Gui who led cavalry from Liang to help lift the siege of the Jin capital, Luoyang by Han-Zhao forces in 308 and 309. After the Disaster of Yongjia, he surrendered to Han and became an official before he was killed during Jin Zhun's rebellion in 318.