Liu Xian (Chinese: 劉顯; died 352) was a military general of the Later Zhao dynasty and ruler during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. During the Ran Wei–Later Zhao War, he defected to Ran Wei and assassinated the Zhao emperor, Shi Zhi, thus ending the Later Zhao. However, he then betrayed Wei and declared himself emperor in Zhao's capital, Xiangguo (襄國, in modern Xingtai, Hebei), but was eventually defeated and killed in 352.
Life
Virtually nothing is known about Liu Xian’s background, except that he worked as a general under the Later Zhao. In 351, the Emperor of Zhao, Shi Zhi, ordered him to lead 70,000 men and attack the Heavenly King of Wei, Ran Min, at Yecheng. Liu Xian marched to Mingguang Palace (明光宮), just 23 li (approx. 9.5 km) away from the city. Initially, Ran Min was startled by Liu Xian's arrival, but he eventually decided to bring his army out fight. Ran Min dealt Liu Xian a decisive defeat and pursued him to Yangping (陽平郡; in present-day Qingfeng County, Henan), killing 30,000 of Liu Xian's troops in the process.
Ran Min's victory frightened Liu Xian into submission. In order to prove his worth, Liu Xian promised Ran Min that he would assassinate Shi Zhi for him. Ran Min believed him and allowed him to return to the Zhao capital, Xiangguo. In the summer of 351, Liu Xian killed Shi Zhi, the Prime Minister, Shi Bing (石炳), the Grand Governor, Zhao Shu (趙庶) and many others, totalling more than ten people. He then sent their heads to Yecheng, where Ran Min had Shi Zhi's head burnt in public. Later Zhao was at its end. For his contributions, Ran Min appointed Liu Xian as Supreme Grand General, Grand Chanyu and Governor of Jizhou.
However, just three months later, Liu Xian betrayed Ran Min and attacked him at Yecheng. He was once again defeated and retreated back to Xiangguo, where he declared himself as the new emperor. In early 352, Liu Xian attacked Ran Wei at Changshan Commandery, prompting Ran Min march out with 8,000 cavalries to repel him. Meanwhile, Liu Xian's Grand Marshal, Liu Ning (劉寧), surrendered Zaoqiang (棗強, in modern Hengshui, Hebei) to Wei. Ran Min defeated Liu Xian and chased him back to Xiangguo. Liu Xian's Grand General, Cao Fuju (曹伏駒), opened the gates and allowed Ran Min's army to enter. As a result, Ran Min massacred Liu Xian and his followers before burning down the city palaces and forcibly relocating the population to Yecheng.
References
- (趙王祗使其將劉顯帥眾七萬攻鄴，軍於明光宮，去鄴二十三里。魏主閔恐... 乃悉眾出戰，大破顯軍，追奔至陽平，斬首三萬餘級。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.99
- (顯懼，密使請降，求殺石祗為效。) Shiliuguo Chunqiu, vol.2
- (劉顯弒趙王祗及其丞相安樂王炳、太宰趙庶等十餘人，傳首於鄴... 魏主閔焚祗首於通衢，拜顯上大將軍、大單于、冀州牧。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.99
- (劉顯攻常山，魏主閔留大將軍蔣干使輔太子智守鄴，自將八千騎救之。顯大司馬清河王寧以棗強降魏。閔擊顯，敗之，追奔至襄國。顯大將軍曹伏駒開門納閔。閔殺顯及其公卿己下百餘人，焚襄國宮室，遷其民於鄴。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.99
- Sima, Guang (1084). Zizhi Tongjian
- Cui, Hong (501-522). Spring and Autumn Annals of the Sixteen Kingdoms (Shiliuguo Chunqiu)
| Monarchs of the Sixteen Kingdoms | |
|---|---|
| Cheng-Han (304–347) | |
| Han-Zhao (304–329) | |
| Former Liang (318–376) | |
| Later Zhao (319–351) | |
| Former Yan (337–370) | |
| Former Qin (351–394) | |
| Later Yan (384–409) | |
| Later Qin (384–417) | |
| Western Qin (385–431) | |
| Later Liang (386–403) | |
| Southern Liang (397–414) | |
| Northern Liang (397–460) | |
| Southern Yan (398–410) | |
| Western Liang (400–421) | |
| Xia (407–431) | |
| Northern Yan (407–436) | |
| Chouchi (296–443) | |
| Dai (310–376) |
|
| Ran Wei (350–352) | |
| Duan Qi (350–356) | |
| Western Yan (384–394) | |
| Zhai Wei (388–392) | |
| Huan Chu (403–404) | |
| Western Shu (405–413) | |
| Xia → Shang → Zhou → Qin → Han → 3 Kingdoms → Jìn / 16 Kingdoms → S. Dynasties / N. Dynasties → Sui → Tang → 5 Dynasties & 10 Kingdoms → Liao / Song / W. Xia / Jīn → Yuan → Ming → Qing → ROC / PRC | |