Murong Wei became emperor at age 10 and, late in his reign, with powers in the hands of his mother Empress Dowager Kezuhun and his incompetent and corrupt granduncle Murong Ping, was captured by Former Qin's prime minister Wang Meng in 370, ending Former Yan.
28 Facts About Murong Wei
1.
2.
Murong Wei was born in 350, during the reign of his father Murong Jun, one year before he claimed the title of emperor.
3.
At that time, his older brother Murong Wei Ye was the crown prince.
4.
Murong Wei died soon after, and Murong Wei succeeded him.
5.
Empress Dowager Kezuhun believed him, but Murong Wei did not and refused to authorize his actions.
6.
Murong Wei Ke was an able regent in both governance and military matters, and Former Yan's territorial expansion continued gradually during his regency, largely at Jin's expense.
7.
In 361, a magician that Murong Wei favored, Ding Jin, tried to flatter Murong Ke by persuading him to kill Murong Ping.
8.
In 365, Murong Wei Ke captured the important city Luoyang from Jin.
9.
In 367, Murong Ke grew ill, and on his deathbed, he recommended that Murong Wei give great responsibilities to another uncle of Murong Wei, Murong Chui the Prince of Wu.
10.
Murong Wei Ping was far less able than Murong Wei Ke, and he was corrupt.
11.
However, Murong Wei Ping refused to act, and in late 368, Fu Jian defeated the four rebel dukes.
12.
Murong Wei approved the reform and put Yue in charge of it, and Yue restored over 200,000 people to the tax-paying ranks.
13.
In 369, probably at his mother's instigation, Murong Wei married the daughter of her cousin Kezuhun Yi as his empress.
14.
Murong Wei Chui volunteered to make one last try at resistance, and was put in charge of the army.
15.
Meanwhile, Murong Wei sent a messenger to Former Qin to request assistance, promising to cede the Luoyang region to Former Qin in exchange for assistance.
16.
Murong Wei Chui, hearing the news, fled to Former Qin and became a general for Fu Jian.
17.
Murong Wei Ping led a 300,000-men strong force against Wang, but apprehensive of Wang, he stopped at Lu River.
18.
Murong Wei became confident that Wang would be defeated by sheer numbers, and did not appear concerned.
19.
Murong Wei soon had a stash of wealth, but completely lost the morale of his soldiers.
20.
Murong Wei, hearing this, sent a messenger to rebuke him and ordering him to distribute the wealth to the soldiers, but the damage was done.
21.
In winter 370, the armies engaged, and despite the numerical advantage that Murong Wei Ping had, Wang crushed him, and Murong Wei Ping fled back to Yecheng by himself.
22.
Murong Wei was relocated with most of his clan to the Former Qin capital Chang'an.
23.
Murong Wei Hong was assassinated and Murong Wei Chong became the leader of the Xianbei rebels who would eventually be known as Western Yan.
24.
Murong Wei put Chang'an under a siege and demanded that Fu Jian deliver Murong Wei to him.
25.
In early 385, Murong Wei invited Fu Jian to his house, under the pretense that his son was getting married, ready to assassinate Fu Jian at the feast.
26.
Murong Wei Su suggested that they refuse and immediately start the uprising.
27.
Fu Jian questioned them about their conspiracy, and Murong Wei still tried to deny, but Murong Su, with proud words, admitted, and Fu Jian executed them, as well as all remaining Xianbei people in the city.
28.
Murong Wei had at least two grown sons, but presumably they were executed as well.