King of Liang
Encyclopedia
The King of Liang or Prince of Liang is the English translation of several different titles, applied to different regions and during different eras, in ancient China
.
is the eastern part of the old Wei kingdom
and roughly means modern-day Henan province
plus a small portion of Shanxi province
. King of Liang or Prince of Liang was for a long time synonymous with the King of Wei or Prince of Wei during the Warring States Period
of the Zhou Dynasty
. Indeed, the name came about when Prince Ying
, also known as King Hui of Wei (魏罃, 魏惠王) was forced to relocate his capital to Liang (or Daliang, meaning Liang major, modern day Kaifeng
city in Henan
) after suffering several defeats.
Later, King (or Prince) of Liang was a noble title during the Han Dynasty
. It was created by the Han king Liu Bang, later Emperor Gao of Han, in 202 BC for the able general Peng Yue
. Peng was arrested in 197 BC on false charges of treason and executed. The title of Prince of Liang was later conferred upon several people, the earliest being Liu Hui, a son of Liu Bang. As Liang is a rich and important patch of territory, the Princes were invariably men of power and status, and many met with untimely deaths because they either covet the imperial throne or were suspected of such ambitions. One such is Prince Liu Wu (劉武), the younger brother to Liu Qi, Emperor Jing of Han
. The territory was eventually subdivided and the title mostly became extinct.
, before becoming the first emperor of the Liang Dynasty
, first took the title of Duke of Liang, which he later raised to King of Liang or Prince of Liang .
as a hereditary title
passed down from father to son. The Prince of Liang was also the Viceroy
of Yunnan
. By far the most famous holder of this title would be Basalawarmi
, who in the 14th century, following the fall of the Yuan Dynasty
throughout most of China, continued to fight against Ming Dynasty
forces in Yunnan
and Guizhou
.
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
.
King of Liang (Henan and Shanxi, Zhou and Han Dynasties)
LiangLiang
Liang may refer to:*Liang , a Chinese surname common in Taiwan and southern China.*Liang , one of the states in China of the Spring and Autumn period ....
is the eastern part of the old Wei kingdom
Wei (state)
The State of Wei was a Zhou Dynasty vassal state during the Warring States Period of Chinese history. Its territory lay between the states of Qin and Qi and included parts of modern day Henan, Hebei, Shanxi and Shandong...
and roughly means modern-day Henan province
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
plus a small portion of Shanxi province
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
. King of Liang or Prince of Liang was for a long time synonymous with the King of Wei or Prince of Wei during the Warring States Period
Warring States Period
The Warring States Period , also known as the Era of Warring States, or the Warring Kingdoms period, covers the Iron Age period from about 475 BC to the reunification of China under the Qin Dynasty in 221 BC...
of the Zhou Dynasty
Zhou Dynasty
The Zhou Dynasty was a Chinese dynasty that followed the Shang Dynasty and preceded the Qin Dynasty. Although the Zhou Dynasty lasted longer than any other dynasty in Chinese history, the actual political and military control of China by the Ji family lasted only until 771 BC, a period known as...
. Indeed, the name came about when Prince Ying
King Hui of Wei
King Hui of Wei , originally called Marquis Hui of Wei, and after 344, King Hui of Liang was the third ruler of the state of Wei during the Warring States Period, ruling from approximately 370 BC–319 BC...
, also known as King Hui of Wei (魏罃, 魏惠王) was forced to relocate his capital to Liang (or Daliang, meaning Liang major, modern day Kaifeng
Kaifeng
Kaifeng , known previously by several names , is a prefecture-level city in east-central Henan province, Central China. Nearly 5 million people live in the metropolitan area...
city in Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
) after suffering several defeats.
Later, King (or Prince) of Liang was a noble title during the Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
. It was created by the Han king Liu Bang, later Emperor Gao of Han, in 202 BC for the able general Peng Yue
Peng Yue
Peng Yue , style name Zhong , was a prominent military leader and political figure in the late Qin Dynasty and early Han Dynasty. He was involved in the Chu–Han contention and served Liu Bang as an ally...
. Peng was arrested in 197 BC on false charges of treason and executed. The title of Prince of Liang was later conferred upon several people, the earliest being Liu Hui, a son of Liu Bang. As Liang is a rich and important patch of territory, the Princes were invariably men of power and status, and many met with untimely deaths because they either covet the imperial throne or were suspected of such ambitions. One such is Prince Liu Wu (劉武), the younger brother to Liu Qi, Emperor Jing of Han
Emperor Jing of Han
Emperor Jing of Han was an emperor of China in the Han Dynasty from 156 BC to 141 BC. His reign saw the limit and curtailment of power of feudal princes which resulted in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC. Emperor Jing managed to crush the revolt and princes were thereafter denied rights...
. The territory was eventually subdivided and the title mostly became extinct.
King of Liang (pre-Liang Dynasty)
Emperor Wu of LiangEmperor Wu of Liang
Emperor Wu of Liang , personal name Xiao Yan , courtesy name Shuda , nickname Lian'er , was the founding emperor of the Chinese Liang Dynasty...
, before becoming the first emperor of the Liang Dynasty
Liang Dynasty
The Liang Dynasty , also known as the Southern Liang Dynasty , was the third of the Southern dynasties in China and was followed by the Chen Dynasty...
, first took the title of Duke of Liang, which he later raised to King of Liang or Prince of Liang .
Prince of Liang (Yunnan and Guizhou, post-Yuan Dynasty)
During the Yuan Dynasty, the title of Prince of Liang was granted to one of the sons of Kublai KhanKublai Khan
Kublai Khan , born Kublai and also known by the temple name Shizu , was the fifth Great Khan of the Mongol Empire from 1260 to 1294 and the founder of the Yuan Dynasty in China...
as a hereditary title
Hereditary Title
Hereditary titles, in a general sense, are titles, positions or styles that are hereditary and thus tend or are bound to remain in particular families....
passed down from father to son. The Prince of Liang was also the Viceroy
Viceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
of Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
. By far the most famous holder of this title would be Basalawarmi
Basalawarmi
Basalawarmi , commonly known by his hereditary title, the Prince of Liang, was a descendant of Kublai Khan and a Yuan Dynasty loyalist who fought against the ascendant Ming Dynasty in China.-Before the fall of the Yuan:...
, who in the 14th century, following the fall of the Yuan Dynasty
Yuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
throughout most of China, continued to fight against Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
forces in Yunnan
Yunnan
Yunnan is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the far southwest of the country spanning approximately and with a population of 45.7 million . The capital of the province is Kunming. The province borders Burma, Laos, and Vietnam.Yunnan is situated in a mountainous area, with...
and Guizhou
Guizhou
' is a province of the People's Republic of China located in the southwestern part of the country. Its provincial capital city is Guiyang.- History :...
.