Sima Ai or Sima Yi, courtesy name Shidu, formally Prince Li of Changsha, was a Jin Dynasty imperial prince who briefly served as regent for his brother Emperor Hui.
10 Facts About Sima Ai
2.
Sima Ai was the fifth of the eight princes commonly associated with the War of the Eight Princes.
3.
Sima Ai was Emperor Wu's sixth son, born of the same mother as Sima Wei the Prince of Chu.
4.
When Sima Lun the Prince of Zhao usurped the throne in 301, Sima Ai was at his principality, and he led his own troops to join the forces of his brother Sima Ying the Prince of Chengdu against Sima Lun.
5.
Sima Ai became arrogant and extremely controlling, and failed to pay even basic courtesies to Emperor Hui.
6.
Sima Ai became suspicious of Sima Yong the Prince of Hejian, because Sima Yong initially wanted to support Sima Lun, until he saw that Sima Lun's cause was hopeless.
7.
In winter 302, Sima Ai Yong declared his rebellion, and Sima Ai Ying soon joined, despite opposition from his strategist Lu Zhi.
8.
Sima Ai became the effective regent, but in order to reduce opposition, he submitted all important matters to Sima Ying, still stationed at Yecheng.
9.
Sima Ai continued to try to share power with Sima Ying.
10.
Sima Ai made overtures to try to achieve peace with Sima Ying, but after negotiations, those efforts failed.