26 Facts About Liu Yao

Liu Yao became emperor in 318 after most other members of the imperial Liu clan were massacred by Jin Zhun in a coup.

When he was young, Liu Yao Yuan became impressed with his intelligence and strength.

Liu Yao often deprecated Wu Han and Deng Yu, instead comparing himself to the great Warring States general Le Yi, the great Han dynasty prime minister Xiao He, and the Han general and official Cao Can.

When Liu Yao was young, he, along with his cousin Liu Cong, were studying in the Jin capital Luoyang, when on one occasion he committed an unspecified crime punishable by death.

Liu Yao was probably created the Prince of Shi'an in 306, when Liu Yuan declared himself the emperor.

Liu Yao took Emperor Huai's sister-in-law, the deceased Emperor Hui's wife, Yang Xianrong, as his own wife.

Later that year, after Liu Cong's son Liu Can captured Chang'an, Liu Yao was put in charge of the Chang'an region, although he subsequently lost that city to Jin forces under Qu Yun, allowing the Jin prince Sima Ye to occupy that city and subsequently declare himself emperor in 313 after Liu Cong executed the former Jin emperor.

However, in 316, after Emperor Min's forces collapsed and Sima Bao failed to come to his aid, Liu Yao captured Chang'an and Emperor Min.

Liu Yao offered to not only spare Jin Zhun's life but continue to grant him power if Jin would surrender.

However, when Jin Zhun was assassinated and succeeded by his cousin Jin Ming, who then surrendered to Liu Yao, Liu Yao massacred the Jin clan.

In 319, when Shi Le sent messengers to offer tribute to Liu Yao, Liu Yao was initially very happy, as Shi was effectively the master of the eastern half of the empire and his submission therefore showed that his throne was secure.

Liu Yao created Shi the Prince of Zhao and granted him a number of imperial privileges.

However, when one junior member of Shi's delegation, who wished to stay in Chang'an, thereafter submitted a report that Shi was in fact plotting an attack, Liu Yao became angry and slaughtered Shi's delegation.

Liu Yao changed the name of the state from Han to Zhao.

Liu Yao's impulsiveness led to a major Di and Qiang rebellion in 320.

In 322, while on a campaign against the Di chief of Chouchi, Yang Nandi, Liu Yao was stricken by a communicable disease, and while he was still able to force Yang to submit, his general Chen An, a former subordinate of Sima Bao, mistakenly thought that Liu Yao had already died, and therefore declared independence as the Prince of Liang, controlling most of Qin Province.

In 323, Liu Yao, having recovered, personally attacked Chen's headquarters at Shanggui.

Liu Yao declared that he would next cross the Yellow River and head for the Former Liang capital Guzang, but instead was intending to intimidate the Former Liang leader Zhang Mao into submission.

In 325, their armies fought a major battle near Luoyang, and after some initial Former Zhao successes, Later Zhao's general Shi Hu decisively defeated and captured Former Zhao's general Liu Yue, after Liu Yao himself encountered difficulties with his army discipline and could not come to Liu Yue's aid.

Later in 325, Liu Yao created Liu Yin the Prince of Nanyang and further bestowed on him the title of Grand Chanyu, putting Wu Hu tribal forces under his command.

In 326, Empress Liu died, and according to her wishes, Liu Yao married her cousin Liu Fang as empress.

Liu Yao Yin led an army and defeated Former Liang's forces, even crossing the Yellow River, but eventually settling for capturing Former Liang's remaining territory east of the Yellow River.

Liu Yao personally led an army and defeated Shi Hu, and then headed south and surrounded Luoyang, capturing several commanderies around it.

Meanwhile, during the siege of Luoyang, Liu Yao took no precautious to cut off Chenggao Pass, and Shi was able to pass through it and arrive at Luoyang.

Liu Yao put Liu Yao under heavy guard but supplied him with women, and permitted his previously captured generals Liu Yue and Liu Zhen to visit him.

Shi then ordered Liu Yao to write a letter to Liu Xi and Liu Yin, ordering them to surrender.