Liu Can
Encyclopedia
Liu Can (died 318), courtesy name Shiguang (士光), Posthumous name
(as given by Jin Zhun
) Emperor Yin of Han (Zhao) (漢(趙)隱帝), was an emperor
of the Chinese
/Xiongnu
state Han Zhao
, who reigned briefly in 318 before being killed by his trusted father-in-law Jin Zhun.
, but was not created crown prince
when Liu Cong became emperor in 310 after seizing the throne from his brother Liu He
(after Liu He had tried to have him and the other brothers killed and successfully killed two), because Liu Cong had promised to and did make his brother Liu Ai (劉乂), the son of his father Liu Yuan
's second wife Empress Dan
, crown prince. Liu Can was, however, created the Prince of He'nei and given a substantial military command. He was one of Han Zhao's major generals early in Liu Cong's reign, along with his father's cousin Liu Yao
the Prince of Shi'an, Wang Mi (王彌), and Shi Le
. He appeared to be a competent general, although not as capable as Liu Yao or Shi Le, and he had mild successes in battle, although his campaigns were largely inconclusive. His mother Empress Huyan died in 312.
As the years went, Liu Cong became increasingly trusting of Liu Can, granting him more and more authority. Liu Can was considered, during his youth, to be capable in both governance and in military matters. However, after Liu Cong made him prime minister and created the Prince of Jin in 314, he was described to have become arrogant and abusive of his powers. He became close to flatterers, not willing to listen to honest advice, unkind, and busy with construction of palaces—all traits that his father Liu Cong had displayed as well (and which Liu Can himself had, ironically, advised his father against in 312). He became very trusting of his father-in-law Jin Zhun, who was treacherous.
While it might not have taken much encouragement for Liu Can to scheme against his uncle Crown Prince Ai anyway, in 316 Jin and his associate Guo Yi (郭漪) falsely told Liu Can that Crown Prince Ai was planning a rebellion, along with Liu Can's brothers Liu Fu (劉敷) and Liu Mai (劉勱). Liu Can believed them, particularly after they produced false evidence that convinced Liu Cong as well.
In spring 317, Liu Can finally readied his plan to eliminate his uncle Crown Prince Ai. He falsely informed Crown Prince Ai that Pingyang was under attack and that his subordinates should arm themselves to prepare for the attack. Then, Liu Can informed his father that Crown Prince Ai was ready to attack—and when Liu Cong's messengers then saw Crown Prince's associates armed, they believed Liu Can's accusations and reported back to Liu Cong. Liu Can then further interrogated Crown Prince Ai's subordinate Di
and Qiang chiefs (whom Crown Prince Ai commanded, based on his secondary title of Grand Chanyu) under torture, and the Di and Qiang chiefs were forced to falsely confess to a plot. Crown Prince Ai's associates and troops were all massacred—estimated at the cost of 15,000 men—and Crown Prince Ai was deposed and subsequently assassinated by Jin. When Di and Qiang tribes subsequently revolted due to the treatment of their chiefs, Liu Cong sent Jin to suppress them, and Jin was successful. In fall 317, Liu Cong created Liu Can crown prince.
, empress, and his son Liu Yuangong (劉元公) crown prince. He became sorely reliant on his father-in-law Jin Zhun, trusting him over all others, including his brothers. He also indulged in affairs with his father's four empresses
-- Jin Zhun's daughter Jin Yuehua (靳月華) and Empresses Fan, Xuan, and Wang, leaving all affairs of state to Jin. At Jin's suggestion, he arrested and executed his brothers Liu Ji (劉驥), Liu Cheng (劉逞), Liu Mai, along with key officials Liu Jing (劉景) and Liu Yi (劉顗). He further considered attacking the domain of the general Shi Le
, who controlled the eastern empire, believing Shi to be treasonous. Meanwhile, after Liu Can killed those high level officials, the trusted Jin started a coup and killed Liu Can, and then massacred the imperial Liu clan. Liu Yao would claim the Han Zhao throne, but Han Zhao would not be what it was after Liu Can's death.
Posthumous name
A posthumous name is an honorary name given to royalty, nobles, and sometimes others, in East Asia after the person's death, and is used almost exclusively instead of one's personal name or other official titles during his life...
(as given by Jin Zhun
Jin Zhun
Jin Zhun was an official of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao, who in 318 staged a coup against the Han Zhao emperor and his son-in-law Liu Can and then massacred the imperial Liu family. His forces were subsequently squeezed in by the succeeding emperor Liu Yao and the general Shi Le, and,...
) Emperor Yin of Han (Zhao) (漢(趙)隱帝), was an emperor
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
of the Chinese
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
/Xiongnu
Xiongnu
The Xiongnu were ancient nomadic-based people that formed a state or confederation north of the agriculture-based empire of the Han Dynasty. Most of the information on the Xiongnu comes from Chinese sources...
state Han Zhao
Han Zhao
The Han Zhao , or Former Zhao, or Northern Han , was a Southern Xiongnu state during Sixteen Kingdoms period coeval with the Chinese Jin Dynasty...
, who reigned briefly in 318 before being killed by his trusted father-in-law Jin Zhun.
As Prince of He'nei and then Prince of Jin
Liu Can was Liu Cong's son by his first wife, Empress HuyanEmpress Huyan (Zhaowu)
Empress Huyan , formally Empress Wuyuan was an empress of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao. She was Liu Cong 's first wife....
, but was not created crown prince
Crown Prince
A crown prince or crown princess is the heir or heiress apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The wife of a crown prince is also titled crown princess....
when Liu Cong became emperor in 310 after seizing the throne from his brother Liu He
Liu He
Liu He , courtesy name Xuantai , was for seven days an emperor of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao in 310.-Biography:...
(after Liu He had tried to have him and the other brothers killed and successfully killed two), because Liu Cong had promised to and did make his brother Liu Ai (劉乂), the son of his father Liu Yuan
Liu Yuan (Han Zhao)
Liu Yuan , courtesy name Yuanhai , formally Emperor Guangwen of Han was the founding emperor of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao.-Family background:...
's second wife Empress Dan
Empress Dan
Empress Dan was an empress of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao. She was the founding emperor Liu Yuan 's second wife....
, crown prince. Liu Can was, however, created the Prince of He'nei and given a substantial military command. He was one of Han Zhao's major generals early in Liu Cong's reign, along with his father's cousin Liu Yao
Liu Yao
Liu Yao , courtesy name Yongming , was the final emperor of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao. He became emperor in 318 after most other members of the imperial Liu clan were massacred by Jin Zhun in a coup. However, the empire was soon divided in half, as the general Shi Le declared...
the Prince of Shi'an, Wang Mi (王彌), and Shi Le
Shi Le
Shi Le , courtesy name Shilong , formally Emperor Ming of Zhao , was the founding emperor of the Chinese/Jie state Later Zhao...
. He appeared to be a competent general, although not as capable as Liu Yao or Shi Le, and he had mild successes in battle, although his campaigns were largely inconclusive. His mother Empress Huyan died in 312.
As the years went, Liu Cong became increasingly trusting of Liu Can, granting him more and more authority. Liu Can was considered, during his youth, to be capable in both governance and in military matters. However, after Liu Cong made him prime minister and created the Prince of Jin in 314, he was described to have become arrogant and abusive of his powers. He became close to flatterers, not willing to listen to honest advice, unkind, and busy with construction of palaces—all traits that his father Liu Cong had displayed as well (and which Liu Can himself had, ironically, advised his father against in 312). He became very trusting of his father-in-law Jin Zhun, who was treacherous.
While it might not have taken much encouragement for Liu Can to scheme against his uncle Crown Prince Ai anyway, in 316 Jin and his associate Guo Yi (郭漪) falsely told Liu Can that Crown Prince Ai was planning a rebellion, along with Liu Can's brothers Liu Fu (劉敷) and Liu Mai (劉勱). Liu Can believed them, particularly after they produced false evidence that convinced Liu Cong as well.
In spring 317, Liu Can finally readied his plan to eliminate his uncle Crown Prince Ai. He falsely informed Crown Prince Ai that Pingyang was under attack and that his subordinates should arm themselves to prepare for the attack. Then, Liu Can informed his father that Crown Prince Ai was ready to attack—and when Liu Cong's messengers then saw Crown Prince's associates armed, they believed Liu Can's accusations and reported back to Liu Cong. Liu Can then further interrogated Crown Prince Ai's subordinate Di
Di (ethnic group)
The Di were an ethnic group in China from the 8th century BCE to approximately the middle of the 6th century CE. Note that the character Di is used to differentiate this group from the Beidi , a generic term for "northern barbarians". They lived in areas of the present-day provinces of Gansu,...
and Qiang chiefs (whom Crown Prince Ai commanded, based on his secondary title of Grand Chanyu) under torture, and the Di and Qiang chiefs were forced to falsely confess to a plot. Crown Prince Ai's associates and troops were all massacred—estimated at the cost of 15,000 men—and Crown Prince Ai was deposed and subsequently assassinated by Jin. When Di and Qiang tribes subsequently revolted due to the treatment of their chiefs, Liu Cong sent Jin to suppress them, and Jin was successful. In fall 317, Liu Cong created Liu Can crown prince.
Reign
Liu Cong died in summer 318, and Liu Can ascended the throne. He created his wife, Crown Princess JinEmpress Jin (Yin)
Empress Jin was briefly an empress of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao. Her husband was Liu Can ....
, empress, and his son Liu Yuangong (劉元公) crown prince. He became sorely reliant on his father-in-law Jin Zhun, trusting him over all others, including his brothers. He also indulged in affairs with his father's four empresses
Liu Cong's later empresses
The Han Zhao emperor Liu Cong, after his third wife Empress Liu E's death in 314, became involved in the unorthodox practice of creating multiple empresses, against the Chinese tradition of having one empress at one time...
-- Jin Zhun's daughter Jin Yuehua (靳月華) and Empresses Fan, Xuan, and Wang, leaving all affairs of state to Jin. At Jin's suggestion, he arrested and executed his brothers Liu Ji (劉驥), Liu Cheng (劉逞), Liu Mai, along with key officials Liu Jing (劉景) and Liu Yi (劉顗). He further considered attacking the domain of the general Shi Le
Shi Le
Shi Le , courtesy name Shilong , formally Emperor Ming of Zhao , was the founding emperor of the Chinese/Jie state Later Zhao...
, who controlled the eastern empire, believing Shi to be treasonous. Meanwhile, after Liu Can killed those high level officials, the trusted Jin started a coup and killed Liu Can, and then massacred the imperial Liu clan. Liu Yao would claim the Han Zhao throne, but Han Zhao would not be what it was after Liu Can's death.
Personal information
- Father
- Liu Cong (Emperor Zhaowu)
- Mother
- Empress HuyanEmpress Huyan (Zhaowu)Empress Huyan , formally Empress Wuyuan was an empress of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao. She was Liu Cong 's first wife....
- Empress Huyan
- Wife
- Empress JinEmpress Jin (Yin)Empress Jin was briefly an empress of the Chinese/Xiongnu state Han Zhao. Her husband was Liu Can ....
(created 318)
- Empress Jin
- Children
- Liu Yuangong (劉元公), the Crown Prince (created 318)