Misplaced Pages

Liu Fei (simplified Chinese: 刘肥; traditional Chinese: 劉肥), formally King Daohui of Qi (Chinese: 齊悼惠王; died c. November 190 BC) was the eldest son of Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han, and Consort Cao—initially his mistress when they lived in the same village. After Liu Bang decisively defeated Xiang Yu in the Battle of Gaixia in 202 BC, he proclaimed himself the emperor of the new Han dynasty and named Liu Fei, his first son, the King of Qi.

In c.December 194 BC, when Liu Fei made an official visit to the capital, he and Emperor Hui of Han (his younger half-brother) both attended a feast put on by Empress Dowager Lü. Emperor Hui, honoring the prince as an older brother, asked him to take a seat at the table even more honored than his own. The empress dowager was greatly offended and instructed her servants to pour two cups of poisoned wine which were set on the table between the trio. She ordered Liu Fei to toast her, while ignoring Emperor Hui. As Liu Fei was about to drink the poisoned wine, Emperor Hui, knowing his mother's murderously jealous temperament and remembering how his other brother Liu Ruyi had died, suddenly reached for the second cup, which the Empress did not intend. (The second cup was a decoy, placed there only to suggest to Liu Fei that she would return his toast, as ritual required, although he would die immediately on drinking his, so she would not need to drink the other cup. Her resentment toward Liu Fei fully captured her attention and she did not even think of her son's presence.) Empress Dowager Lü jumped up and slapped the second cup away from Emperor Hui, spilling it. Liu Fei realized the trick and left, pretending to be already drunk. In the end, he was only able to leave the capital by offering to the Empress an entire commandery from his principality, to be the feudal estate of Princess Yuan of Lu. Empress Dowager Lü, who greatly loved her daughter as well, was pleased and let Liu Fei return to his principality.

Family

• Father
  • Emperor Gaozu of Han (eldest son of)
• Mother
  • Consort Cao—Emperor Gaozu's initial mistress
• Wife
  • Princess Si, mother of Prince Xiang
• Children
  • Liu Xiang (劉襄), Prince Ai of Qi (齊哀王) (died 179 BC)
  • Liu Zhang (劉章), Prince Jing of Chengyang (城陽景王) (died 177 BC)
  • Liu Xingju (劉興居), Marquess of Dongmou (committed suicide 177 BC)
  • Liu Bajun (劉罢军), Marquess of Guangong
  • Liu Ningguo (劉宁国), Marquess of Guaqiu
  • Liu Xindu (劉信都), Marquess of Ningping
  • Liu An (劉安), Marquess Gong of Yangqiu
  • Liu Jianglü (劉将闾), Prince Xiao of Qi (created after his nephew Liu Ze died sonless)
  • Liu Piguang (劉辟光), Prince of Jinan, one of the seven princes in Rebellion of the Seven States.
  • Liu Zhi (劉志), Prince of Jibei, later Prince of Zichuan.
  • Liu Ang (劉卬), Prince of Jiaoxi, one of the seven princes.
  • Liu Xian (劉贤), Prince of Zichuan, one of the seven princes.
  • Liu Xiongqu (劉雄渠), Prince of Jiaodong, one of the seven princes.

References

1. Emperor Hui's biography in Book of Han indicated that Liu Fei died on the xinchou day of the 10th month of the 6th year of Emperor Hui's reign. However, the month doesn't have a xinchou day; the month corresponds to 6 Nov to 5 Dec 190 BC in the proleptic Julian calendar.
2. Sima Qian. "齊悼惠王世家" [House of Prince Daohui of Qi]. Records of the Grand Historian (in Chinese). Vol. 52. Retrieved 12 July 2011.
3. Volume 12 of Zizhi Tongjian placed this incident in the 10th month of the 2nd year of Emperor Hui's reign, which corresponds to 20 Nov to 19 Dec 194 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar. In the modified Zhuanxu calendar used during this era, the 2nd year of Emperor Hui's reign starts from 20 Nov 194 BCE and ends on 8 Nov 193 BCE in the proleptic Julian calendar.
4. (齐悼惠王来朝，饮于太后前。帝以齐王，兄也，置之上坐。太后怒，酌鸩酒置前，赐齐王为寿。齐王起，帝亦起取卮；太后恐，自起泛帝卮。齐王怪之，因不敢饮，佯醉去；问知其鸩，大恐。齐内史士说王，使献城阳郡为鲁元公主汤沐邑。太后喜，乃罢归齐王。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.12

• 221 BC births
• 189 BC deaths
• Han dynasty imperial princes
• Emperor Gaozu of Han