Sima Yong was the seventh of eight princes commonly associated with the War of the Eight Princes.
22 Facts About Sima Yong
1.
2.
Sima Yong's title was the Prince of Hejian, but he did not receive any posthumous names.
4.
In fall 305, Sima Yue, with a large force in the east, formed a coalition against Sima Yong to bring Emperor Hui back to Luoyang.
5.
Sima Yong was defeated the following year and lost the emperor, but he was able to recapture Chang'an and held out in the city before he was assassinated in early 307.
6.
Sima Yong was a grandson of Sima Fu, Prince Xian of Anping, a younger brother of Sima Yi and granduncle of the founder of the Jin Dynasty, Emperor Wu; Yong was thus a second cousin of Emperor Wu.
7.
Sima Yong knew that Sima Jiong was angry at him, and he started a conspiracy; he invited Sima Ai the Prince of Changsha to overthrow Sima Jiong, believing that Sima Ai would fail; his plan was then to, in conjunction with Sima Ying, start a war against Sima Jiong.
8.
In winter 302, Sima Yong declared his rebellion, and Sima Ying soon joined, despite opposition from his strategist Lu Zhi.
9.
Sima Yong Ai became regent, although he submitted all important matters to Sima Yong Ying, then at his stronghold of Yecheng for decision.
10.
Sima Yong's forces were about to withdraw in spring 304 when Sima Yue the Prince of Donghai, the grandson of Sima Kui, believing that Sima Ai could not win this war, arrested him and delivered him to Sima Yong's general Zhang Fang, who executed Sima Ai cruelly by burning him to death.
11.
Sima Yong Ying became in effective control of the government, but continued to control it remotely from Yecheng.
12.
Sima Yong was given additional powers, and later in 304 submitted a pre-arranged petition to have Sima Ying created crown prince.
13.
Sima Yong Ying disappointed people who had high hopes for him.
14.
Sima Yong put people he trusted in charge of the defenses of Luoyang, while remotely controlling the government from Yecheng.
15.
Sima Yong did not return Emperor Hui to Luoyang, but kept the emperor at Yecheng.
16.
Sima Yong Ying was forced to flee to Luoyang with Emperor Hui, now without troops to support him.
17.
Once Sima Ying arrived in Luoyang, he found the troops of his ally Sima Yong there, commanded by Zhang Fang.
18.
Sima Yong Ying was demoted back to being the Prince of Chengdu.
19.
Sima Yong tried to appease possible opposing forces by promoting all of the major princes and warlords, but his promotions did not have the desired effect.
20.
In fall 305, Sima Yue declared yet another rebellion, this time against Sima Yong, claiming that Sima Yong had improperly forced Emperor Hui to move the capital.
22.
Sima Yong agreed to accept it and started to travel back to Luoyang.