Sima Daozi, courtesy name Daozi, formally Prince Wenxiao of Kuaiji, was a regent during the reign of his nephew Emperor An of Jin, being the younger brother of Emperor Xiaowu.
10 Facts About Sima Daozi
1.
2.
Sima Daozi was born in 363, a year after his older brother Sima Yao was born to their father, Sima Yu, Prince of Kuaiji, and mother Consort Li.
3.
Sima Daozi died later that day, and Sima Yao assumed the throne as Emperor Xiaowu.
4.
When Xie died later that year, Sima Daozi became the head of the government under Emperor Xiaowu, who entrusted his brother with most important affairs of state.
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However, with the crown prince being developmentally disabled and with Sima Daozi being foolish and unthinking, no one investigated his death.
6.
From this point on, Sima Daozi trusted no one but his teenaged heir apparent, Sima Yuanxian, and entrusted the capital guards to Sima Yuanxian.
7.
Sima Daozi gave military commands to his distant relatives Sima Shangzhi the Prince of Qiao and Sima Shangzhi's brother Sima Xiuzhi, as well as Wang Yu, in 398.
8.
In late 398, the magician Sun Tai, a friend of Sima Yuanxian's, who had gathered great following due to his magic, was exposed as planning a plot to take over the central government, and Sima Daozi ordered Sima Yuanxian to trap Sun Tai and execute him.
9.
When Sima Daozi awoke from his stupor, he was enraged, but after that point his power became extremely limited, even though he nominally remained regent.
10.
Sima Yuanxian was captured and executed, while Sima Daozi was exiled to Ancheng.