Feng Hong seized the throne in 430 when his brother Feng Ba was ill, and he used the title "Heavenly King".
19 Facts About Feng Hong
1.
2.
King Jangsu of Goguryeo, unable to stand Feng Hong's antics, killed him in 438 although, curiously, he gave Feng Hong a posthumous name.
3.
Probably at the same time, Feng Hong was created the Duke of Ji.
4.
Feng Ba, when he took the throne, gave a promotion to Feng Hong, but continued to let him carry the title of Duke of Ji.
5.
That year, Feng Hong Ba was seriously ill, and he issued an edict transferring his authorities to his crown prince Feng Hong Yi.
6.
Feng Hong immediately attacked the palace and seized control of it.
7.
Feng Hong then took the throne himself and, after defeating Feng Yi's troops, slaughtered all of Feng Ba's sons.
8.
However, in 431, Feng Hong created Lady Murong princess instead, and in 432, he created Princess Murong's son Feng Wangren crown prince.
9.
In fall 432, Northern Wei's Emperor Taiwu made the first major attack of Feng Hong's reign, heading for Northern Yan's capital Helong.
10.
Feng Hong tried to appease the Northern Wei emperor by delivering gifts of beef and wine to his army, to no avail.
11.
In spring 434, Feng Hong sent messengers to Northern Wei to request peaceful relations.
12.
Feng Hong sent the Northern Wei messenger Huniuyu Shimen, whom Emperor Taiwu's father Emperor Mingyuan of Northern Wei had sent to Feng Ba in 414 but who then was detained by Feng Ba, back to Northern Wei.
13.
However, later that year, Feng Hong refused to send Feng Wangren to Pingcheng to visit Emperor Taiwu.
14.
When his official Liu Zi warned him that Northern Yan was in an even more perilous position than Shu Han and Eastern Wu were facing against Jin, Feng Hong executed Liu in anger.
15.
In spring 435, in order to try to get Liu Song aid, Feng Hong sent a messenger to the Liu Song capital Jiankang to submit as a vassal.
16.
In summer 435, Emperor Taiwu's brother Tuoba Pi the Prince of Leping again arrived at Helong, and Feng Hong tried to appease him by offering cattle, wine, and armor, but Tuoba Pi's assistant general Qutu Yuan accused Feng Hong of not sending hostages, and they seized 6,000 Northern Yan men and women before withdrawing.
17.
Yang believed Goguryeo to be undependable, but Feng Hong was not deterred, and he sent messengers to Goguryeo seeking aid and agreement to evacuate.
18.
In spring 436, Feng Hong sent messengers to Northern Wei to offer tributes, and declaring that Feng Wangren would arrive briefly.
19.
Emperor Taiwu, not believing in Feng Hong, refused the overture and prepared another attack.