1. Liu Zhiyuan, later changed to Liu Gao, known by his temple name as the Emperor Gaozu of Later Han, was the founding emperor of the Shatuo-led Chinese Later Han dynasty, the fourth of the Five Dynasties during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period.
Liu Zhiyuan was the older brother of the Northern Han founder Liu Min.
Liu Zhiyuan was born in 895, during the reign of Emperor Zhaozong of Tang, at Taiyuan.
Liu Zhiyuan's mother was a Lady An, likely Liu Dian's wife.
Liu Zhiyuan had at least one other brother of the same father, Liu Chong.
Liu Zhiyuan was said to be serious in his disposition as a young man.
Liu Zhiyuan became a guard soldier for Li Keyong's adoptive son Li Siyuan.
Liu Zhiyuan, who was near Shi at that time, gave Shi his own armored horse, while taking Shi's horse and moving gradually, such that the Later Liang soldiers in pursuit believed that he was leading them into a trap, and broke off the pursuit.
Liu Zhiyuan made Liu and Zhou Gui the commanders of his guards, entrusting military matters to Liu and financial matters to Zhou.
Liu Zhiyuan defeated the first army Li Conghou sent against him, commanded by Wang Sitong, and a second army that Li Conghou sent against him, commanded by Kang Yicheng, defected and submitted to him.
Liu Zhiyuan recommended resistance, a recommendation that joined by Sang Weihan, who further suggested that he seek aid from Khitan's Emperor Taizong.
Liu Zhiyuan argued against the contents of the petition, finding it too humiliating to submit as a son in addition to be subject, and finding the cession to be unnecessary, but Shi did not listen to him.
Liu Zhiyuan subsequently imposed strict discipline on the soldiers, such that the imperial guard soldiers did not dare to violate his regulations.
Shi thereafter had the imperial scholar He Ning visit Liu Zhiyuan to deliver the edict again.
Liu Zhiyuan, realizing the seriousness of the situation, this time accepted with humility.
In 941, with Shi being apprehensive that An Chongrong the military governor of Chengde, who continuously made an issue of Shi's alliance with Khitan would rebel, Liu Zhiyuan was moved to Hedong to serve as its military governor.
Liu Zhiyuan settled Bai's Tuyuhun people between Taiyuan and Lan and Shi Prefectures, took Bai's elite soldiers under his own command, and endorsed having Bai be given the military governorship of Datong Circuit.
Liu Zhiyuan intended to have his only surviving biological son, Shi Chongrui, succeed him, and have Feng be the chief chancellor for Shi Chongrui in the coming administration.
When Liu Zhiyuan later found out about this sequence of events, he came to resent the new emperor.
The tribespeople, knowing that the Later Jin imperial forces were weak and fearing Liu Zhiyuan's strictness, considered fleeing back to their former lands.
Liu Zhiyuan began to be apprehensive of Bai Chengfu, and he, in consulting with Guo, decided to act against Bai, who, at that point, was said to be so rich that his horses had silver-lined stables.
Guo suggested that Liu Zhiyuan kill Bai and confiscate his assets for military use.
Liu Zhiyuan then tricked Bai and some of his key followers into the city of Taiyuan, and then falsely accused Bai and four other tribal leaders of planning a rebellion.
Liu Zhiyuan had soldiers surround and kill them and their clans, for a total of some 400 people.
Liu Zhiyuan submitted a petition to try to save Murong's life.
Liu Zhiyuan spread false news that Zhao Yanshou was intending to defect to Later Jin, rumors that were believed by Feng and Li Song.
Third, he claimed that he was ready to submit tributes to the emperor, but that the Liao general Liu Zhiyuan Jiu was just outside Taiyuan and watching the city, causing the people of the city to be apprehensive, so if Liu Zhiyuan Jiu's army were withdrawn, he would submit tributes immediately.
Subsequently, Liu Zhiyuan sent the deputy defender of Taiyuan, Bai Wenke, to submit an unusual horse as a tribute.
Meanwhile, Gao Conghui, the ruler of the semi-independent realm Jingnan, offered tributes to Emperor Taizong, but sent messengers to Hedong to encourage Liu Zhiyuan to declare himself emperor.
When Liu Zhiyuan subsequently received the news of He Chongjian's submission to Later Shu and lamented that it was the lack of a Chinese emperor that led to He's submission, his staff members encouraged him to take the throne himself, but he hesitated.
Liu Zhiyuan fell ill on the way back to Liao proper, and died near Heng Prefecture.
Liu Zhiyuan therefore seized Li Siyuan's youngest son Li Congyi and declared Li Congyi emperor, before departing Kaifeng.
Liu Zhiyuan subsequently arrived at Luoyang, and sent the general Guo Congyi to Kaifeng to kill Li Congyi and Consort Dowager Wang, before he headed to Kaifeng himself.
Once at Kaifeng, Liu Zhiyuan declared it the eastern capital and Luoyang the western capital.
When Liu Zhiyuan then issued an edict moving him to Guide Circuit and moving Guide's military governor Gao Xingzhou to Tianxiong, Du rebelled and sought aid from the Liao general Yelu Mada, who had been left in control of Heng by Emperor Shizong.
Liu Zhiyuan declared a campaign against Du and commissioned Gao as the commander of the army against Du, with Murong Yanchao serving as Gao's deputy.
When Liu Zhiyuan decided to go to the front himself to oversee the situation, Du continued to hold the defenses, and an attack advocated by Murong was unsuccessful, so Gao continued his strategy of surrounding the city.
Liu Zhiyuan enticed Zhang Lian and then executed Zhang; this showed a lack of faith.
Liu Zhiyuan pardoned Du Chongwei despite Du's great crimes; this showed a lack of proper punishment.
In spring 948, Liu Zhiyuan sent the imperial guard general Wang Jingchong west to attack Zhao and Hou.
Liu Zhiyuan himself was greatly saddened, and it caused him to begin to be ill.
Liu Chengyou was created the Prince of Zhou, and shortly after, when Liu Zhiyuan's death was announced, Liu Chengyou succeeded him as emperor.