Helian Bobo built an impressive capital for his state at Tongwancheng that remained difficult to besiege, even centuries later during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
19 Facts About Helian Bobo
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Liu Helian Bobo was born in 381, when his father Liu Weichen was a chief of the Tiefu tribe and a vassal of Former Qin.
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However, Liu Helian Bobo escaped and fled to the Xuegan tribe, whose chief, Taixifu, refused to turn him over despite Northern Wei's demands.
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Sometime before 407, Liu Helian Bobo, who had become known for being handsome, able to speak well, alert, and intelligent, came to the attention of Later Qin's emperor Yao Xing.
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Yao Xing's brother Yao Yong spoke against it, believing Liu Helian Bobo to be untrustworthy, stating:.
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Helian Bobo then declared himself a descendant of Yu the Great, the founder of the Xia dynasty, and named his state Xia.
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Helian Bobo therefore did not settle in a capital city; rather, he roved about with his mobile cavalry, constantly looking for Later Qin cities to pillage.
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Also in 407, Liu Helian Bobo sought marriage with a daughter of the Southern Liang prince Tufa Rutan, but Tufa Rutan refused.
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Tufa Rutan gave chase and, believing that he greatly outpowered Liu Helian Bobo, was careless in his military actions.
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Liu Helian Bobo initially withdraw to let Qi believe that he feared Qi, and Liu Helian Bobo made a surprise counter-attack and captured Qi.
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In 412, when Western Qin's prince Qifu Gangui was assassinated by his nephew Qifu Gongfu, Liu Helian Bobo considered attacking Western Qin despite its status as an ally, but at the counsel of his advisor Wang Maide did not do so.
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Helian Bobo ordered the nobles to change their family name to Tiefa, intending it to mean that they were as strong as iron and be able to attack others.
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In 415, Helian Bobo entered into an alliance with Juqu Mengxun, the prince of Northern Liang.
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Helian Bobo therefore intensified his own attacks on Later Qin as well, and preparing to use the opportunity of Later Qin's destruction to seize more territory.
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Helian Bobo stacked the skulls of the Jin dead into a hill-like structure.
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Meanwhile, the people of Chang'an, who were angry that Liu Yizhen's forces pillaged the city before leaving, expelled Zhu, allowing Helian Bobo to enter Chang'an easily.
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Helian Bobo was described by traditional historians in this way:.
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In 424, for reasons lost to history, Helian Bobo decided to depose Crown Prince Gui and appoint another son, Helian Lun the Duke of Jiuquan, a crown prince.
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Helian Bobo was pleased and created Helian Chang crown prince.