Murong Xi, courtesy name Daowen, known by his posthumous name as the Emperor Zhaowen of Later Yan, was an emperor of the Xianbei-led Later Yan dynasty of China.
20 Facts About Murong Xi
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Murong Xi was one of the youngest sons of Murong Chui, and after the death of his nephew Murong Sheng became emperor due to his affair with Murong Sheng's mother, Empress Dowager Ding.
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Murong Xi was regarded as a cruel and capricious ruler, who acted at the whims of himself and his wife, Empress Fu Xunying, greatly damaging the Later Yan state.
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Murong Xi was born in 385, to Murong Chui and his concubine Consort Duan, soon after Murong Chui had established Later Yan.
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In 393, Murong Chui created him the Prince of Hejian.
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In 400, when Murong Sheng attacked Goguryeo, Murong Xi served as his forward general, and contributed greatly to the victory.
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Sometime during Murong Sheng's reign, Murong Xi began an affair with Murong Sheng's mother Empress Dowager Ding.
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However, Empress Dowager Ding, because of her affair with Murong Xi, had other ideas, and she made it clear that she wanted Murong Xi to succeed her son.
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The officials were forced to go along with her wishes, and while Murong Xi formally offered the throne to Murong Yuan first, Murong Yuan did not dare to accept, and so Murong Xi accepted the throne.
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Murong Xi was cruel and arbitrary as a ruler, willing to strike out at anyone who disobeyed him or whom he viewed as a potential threat.
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The plot was discovered, and Murong Xi executed Ding Xin and Murong Yuan and forced Empress Dowager Ding to commit suicide, although he still buried her with honors due an empress.
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Murong Xi soon started a number of heavy construction projects.
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Murong Xi further built an artificial hill within the chateau that was described as 500 steps wide and 57 meters high.
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In summer 404, Murong Xi built Xiaoyao Palace at Longteng Chateau, with hundreds of rooms, and constructed an artificial lake.
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Murong Xi tied Wang to a palace gate and executed him by drawing and quartering, and then burned his body.
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The general Murong Yun the Duke of Xiyang suffered an arrow wound during the battle, and, because he feared Murong Xi's cruelty, used this opportunity to resign his post and remain in his home.
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In 407, Murong Xi built a new palace for Empress Fu, Chenghua Palace, using so much dirt in the project that dirt was described to become as expensive as grain.
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Murong Xi returned to Longcheng and settled in outside, at Longteng Chateau, preparing an assault on the city.
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However, for reasons unknown, Murong Xi panicked at this news and fled.
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Later that day, Murong Xi was found, wearing civilian clothes, in a forest, and he was captured and delivered to Murong Yun.