Jin Zhun staged a coup d'etat against the Han emperor and his son-in-law Liu Can and then massacred the Liu imperial family.
15 Facts About Jin Zhun
1.
2.
Jin Zhun then proclaimed himself Heavenly King of Han and nominally submitted to the Eastern Jin dynasty as a vassal.
3.
Jin Zhun's forces were subsequently squeezed in by the troops led by Liu Yao and Shi Le, and, facing probable defeat, his followers assassinated him.
4.
Jin Zhun was probably an ethnic Xiongnu, although some sources claim that he was of Han descent.
5.
Jin Zhun assassinated the former Crown Prince Ai, on Liu Can's orders.
6.
Liu Can became crown prince, and Princess Jin Zhun became crown princess.
7.
Jin Zhun hatched a plan to overthrow Liu Can, and managed to persuade Liu Can, with the help of his two daughters that several imperial princes and high-level officials were conspiring against him.
8.
Jin Zhun became in control of government, and, after putting his cousins Jin Ming and Jin Kang in command of the armies, carried out a coup against Liu Can, capturing and executing him.
9.
Jin Zhun dug up the graves of Liu Cong and the founding emperor, Liu Yuan, and burned the Han imperial temple.
10.
Jin Zhun claimed for himself the titles of supreme commander and either "heavenly king" or "great king" of Han.
11.
Jin Zhun acted in the role of an emperor, and he sent messengers to Emperor Yuan of Jin, claiming that he was about to revert to the Jin dynasty's rule.
12.
The Jin Zhun emperor believed him, and sent out an army to try to support him.
13.
Jin Zhun sent imperial garments and wagons to Shi, seeking peace.
14.
Liu Yao claimed that he admired Jin Zhun for carrying out the coup that allowed him to be emperor, because the government had become so corrupt late in Liu Cong's and in Liu Can's reigns, and offered not only to spare his life but to continue to allow him to be an important official.
15.
Jin Zhun distrusted Liu Yao's offer, because he had killed Liu Yao's mother and brother in the massacre.