38 Facts About Liu Shan

Liu Shan eventually surrendered to Wei in 263 after Deng Ai led a surprise attack on the Shu capital Chengdu.

Liu Shan was quickly relocated to the Wei capital at Luoyang, and enfeoffed as "Duke Anle".

Widely known to later generations by his infant name "Adou", Liu Shan was commonly perceived as an incapable ruler.

Liu Shan was accused of indulging in pleasures while neglecting state affairs, allowing corrupt officials to take power.

Liu Shan was the eldest son of the warlord Liu Bei and was born to Liu Bei's concubine Lady Gan.

Liu Shan somehow landed in Hanzhong and was sold by slave traders.

Only when Liu Bei declared himself emperor in 221 was Liu Shan reunited with his father.

Liu Shan Bei was defeated at the Battle of Xiaoting and, having retreated to the city of Baidicheng, eventually died in 223.

Under Zhuge Liang's advice, Liu Shan entered into an alliance with the state of Eastern Wu, helping both states to survive against the much larger state of Cao Wei.

In 223, Liu Shan married Zhang Fei's daughter, Empress Zhang.

Unable to supply the troops sufficiently, Zhuge Liang's co-regent Li Yan forged an edict by Liu Shan, ordering Zhuge Liang to retreat.

When Zhuge Liang discovered this, he recommended that Li Yan be removed from his office and put under house arrest, and Liu Shan accepted the recommendation.

Liu Shan followed these recommendations, installing Jiang Wan as the new regent.

Liu Shan was known for his tolerance of dissension and his humility.

That year, Liu Shan took her younger sister as a consort, and in 238 created her empress.

Liu Shan's title remained the same as her sister, Empress Zhang.

Many officials now openly questioned Jiang Wei's strategy, but Liu Shan took no actions to stop Jiang.

Liu Shan followed Jiang Wei's previous plans and ordered the border troops to withdraw and prepare to trap Wei forces, rather than to confront them directly.

Liu Shan advised Zhong Hui to falsely accuse Deng Ai of treason and arrest him, and, with their combined troops, rebel against Sima Zhao.

Zhong Hui did so, and Jiang Wei planned to next kill Zhong Hui and his followers, and then redeclare Shu's independence under emperor Liu Shan, and had in fact written to Liu Shan to inform him of those plans.

Liu Shan himself was not harmed in the disturbance, although his crown prince Liu Xuan was killed in the confusion.

The former Shu officials present were all saddened, but Liu Shan was visibly unmoved.

Liu Shan followed the advice when he was asked the same question later, however Sima Zhao quickly guessed that he had been coached in his answer, and Liu Shan admitted as much.

Liu Shan died in 271 in Luoyang, and was given the posthumous name "Duke Si of Anle".

Liu Shan had a very negative reputation among his contemporaries.

Liu Shan was seen as an incompetent ruler, more interested in satisfying his desires than looking after his country and was held responsible for appointing corrupt officials to position of power.

Lu Kai noted that the natural defences of Sichuan along with a strong army were enough to protect his State yet Liu Shan allowed disorder and corruption in his court, failed to recognize honest officials from dishonest more interested in luxury which is how his State and subordinates became prisoners from another.

When he was Emperor, Liu Shan repeatedly wanted to expand his harem however Dong Yun prevented him from doing so.

Liu Shan was too afraid to act against him and for this disliked him.

Liu Shan noted that when something is without substance, it reflects what's around.

However, modern historians have taken a revisionist view, challenging the common portrayal of Liu Shan seeing him in a far more positive light.

Secondly, Liu Shan surrendering without much fighting is blameworthy, but the fall of Shu Han was actually due to many reasons.

Hence, Liu Shan's awarding of posthumous Marquis titles to the latter four but not timely to Zhao Yun was understandable.

Liu Shan cleverly retook direct control of state affairs after the death of Zhuge Liang and appointed Jiang Wan and Fei Yi so that the two could keep each other in check.

However, Liu Shan carefully instructed Fei Yi to attack only in combination with Eastern Wu, and only when Cao Wei was unprepared.

In contrast, Liu Shan's surrender led to a peaceful transfer of power to the Wei kingdom, with most of the population unharmed, except during the week of unrest caused by Jiang Wei's plotting.

Liu Shan appears as a character in the historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms by Luo Guanzhong, which romanticises the historical events before and during the Three Kingdoms period.

Liu Shan is a playable character in Koei's Dynasty Warriors video game series, first available in the seventh instalment, as well as in Warriors Orochi 3, by Koei.