Kingdoms of Han Dynasty
Encyclopedia
Wang or Kings of the Han Dynasty
can be divided into two categories: Yixing Wang （異姓王） or Kings and Tongxing Wang (同姓王) or Princes. Yixing Wang literally means "Wangs with a different family name than the emperors" while Tongxing Wang means "Wangs with the same family name as the emperors". Tongxing Wang were normally relatives of the emperors by direct male line.
It is arguable how to translate the Chinese "Wang" into English. In this article, "kings" is used for Yixing Wang because these Yixing Wang were generally derived from peer kings of Liu Bang, Emperor of Han. During the 2nd century BC, they had enormous power in their territories and were de facto sovereigns to some extent. After the 2nd century BC, these territories lost most of their regional autonomy, the kings lost executive powers, and their kingdoms' administrations were staffed and monitored by the central government. The kings did retain some rights, however, such as revenue sharing of the taxes collected by the central government in their nominal fiefdoms.
Tongxing Wang is translated as "princes" since they were normally sons or brothers of the emperors, and after the Rebellion of the Seven Princes, had relatively little power in their territories. In the early period of Han Dynasty
there was no legal distinction between Yixing Wang and Tongxing Wang. The early princes were as powerful as kings in their territories.
. When the Qin Dynasty collapsed, many former nobles of the old Warring States joined the rebellion and occupied territories. They called themselves "kings" and often used the names of the old Warring States kingdoms to bid for support from the peoples of those states. Among these kingdoms, Chu was the most powerful. After the Qin Dynasty was overthrown, Xiang Yu
, King of Chu, decided to align all the kingdoms for his own political advantage. After the alignment, 18 Kingdoms
were formed. However, many of these kings were not satisfied with this arrangement and rebelled against Xiang Yu
, among them Liu Bang, King of Han
. Liu Bang later defeated Xiang Yu
and became the first emperor of the Han Dynasty. The kings who had sided with Liu Bang in the Chu-Han Contention
remained as kings under the Han Emperors; other kingdoms were created for generals and favorites of Liu Bang.
Although nominally under the rule of the Han Dynasty, these kings were de facto sovereigns
, with very considerable power in their territories. Liu Bang felt this was dangerous to the unity of his empire, and endeavoured to subdue these unruly kingdoms. By conspiracies, wars and other political manoeuvres, many kings were deposed and their kingdoms annexed during Liu Bang's lifetime. When Liu Bang was dying, he ordered his ministers to swear an oath that only members of royal house of "Liu" could be created as Wang (i.e., Tongxing Wang or princes) under the Han Dynasty. In spite of this, some new Yixing Wang were created later, especially during the reign of Empress Dowager Lü. Most of these newly-created kingdoms were abolished after her death. The last king during the Han Dynasty was Wu Chan, King Jing of Changsha, who died without an heir in 157 BC. After that there were no further Yixing Wang for the remainder of the Han Dynasty until Cao Cao
became the King of Wei in the last years of the Han Dynasty.
, in which sons of emperors could be created as lower nobles. Liu Bang and his successers originally thought that creating principalities for members of the royal family would strengthen the royal house and strengthen their hand against the kings (Yixing Wang). However, some of these princes became as powerful as those kings, and equally as dangerous to the emperor - or even more dangerous, because as members of the royal house, they were eligible to succeed to the throne, and were therefore potential pretenders.
Several rebellions or attempted rebellions by these powerful princes happened during the reigns of Emperor Jing
and Emperor Wu
, the most famous being the Rebellion of the Seven States
. Subsequently, Emperor Wu
removed most of the power of these princes and divided their territories, so that they would no longer be a threat to the throne. The institution of principalities would last throughout both phases of the Han Dynasty, however.
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
can be divided into two categories: Yixing Wang （異姓王） or Kings and Tongxing Wang (同姓王) or Princes. Yixing Wang literally means "Wangs with a different family name than the emperors" while Tongxing Wang means "Wangs with the same family name as the emperors". Tongxing Wang were normally relatives of the emperors by direct male line.
It is arguable how to translate the Chinese "Wang" into English. In this article, "kings" is used for Yixing Wang because these Yixing Wang were generally derived from peer kings of Liu Bang, Emperor of Han. During the 2nd century BC, they had enormous power in their territories and were de facto sovereigns to some extent. After the 2nd century BC, these territories lost most of their regional autonomy, the kings lost executive powers, and their kingdoms' administrations were staffed and monitored by the central government. The kings did retain some rights, however, such as revenue sharing of the taxes collected by the central government in their nominal fiefdoms.
Tongxing Wang is translated as "princes" since they were normally sons or brothers of the emperors, and after the Rebellion of the Seven Princes, had relatively little power in their territories. In the early period of Han Dynasty
Han Dynasty
The Han Dynasty was the second imperial dynasty of China, preceded by the Qin Dynasty and succeeded by the Three Kingdoms . It was founded by the rebel leader Liu Bang, known posthumously as Emperor Gaozu of Han. It was briefly interrupted by the Xin Dynasty of the former regent Wang Mang...
there was no legal distinction between Yixing Wang and Tongxing Wang. The early princes were as powerful as kings in their territories.
Yixing Wang (Kings)
Wang (Kings) were remnants of the rebellion against the Qin DynastyQin Dynasty
The Qin Dynasty was the first imperial dynasty of China, lasting from 221 to 207 BC. The Qin state derived its name from its heartland of Qin, in modern-day Shaanxi. The strength of the Qin state was greatly increased by the legalist reforms of Shang Yang in the 4th century BC, during the Warring...
. When the Qin Dynasty collapsed, many former nobles of the old Warring States joined the rebellion and occupied territories. They called themselves "kings" and often used the names of the old Warring States kingdoms to bid for support from the peoples of those states. Among these kingdoms, Chu was the most powerful. After the Qin Dynasty was overthrown, Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu was a prominent military leader and political figure during the late Qin Dynasty. His given name was Ji while his style name was Yu ....
, King of Chu, decided to align all the kingdoms for his own political advantage. After the alignment, 18 Kingdoms
18 Kingdoms
The Eighteen Kingdoms refer to the eighteen feudal principalities/kingdoms created by Xiang Yu in China in 206 BC, after the collapse of the Qin Dynasty. The details of the feudal division are as follows:...
were formed. However, many of these kings were not satisfied with this arrangement and rebelled against Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu was a prominent military leader and political figure during the late Qin Dynasty. His given name was Ji while his style name was Yu ....
, among them Liu Bang, King of Han
Gaozu of Han
Emperor Gao , commonly known within China by his temple name Gaozu , personal name Liu Bang, was the first emperor of the Han Dynasty, ruling over China from 202 BC to 195 BC...
. Liu Bang later defeated Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu
Xiang Yu was a prominent military leader and political figure during the late Qin Dynasty. His given name was Ji while his style name was Yu ....
and became the first emperor of the Han Dynasty. The kings who had sided with Liu Bang in the Chu-Han Contention
Chu-Han contention
The Chu–Han Contention was a post-Qin Dynasty interregnum period in Chinese history. Following the collapse of the Qin Dynasty, Xiang Yu split the former Qin Empire into the Eighteen Kingdoms. Two prominent contending powers, Western Chu and Han, emerged from these principalities and engaged in a...
remained as kings under the Han Emperors; other kingdoms were created for generals and favorites of Liu Bang.
Although nominally under the rule of the Han Dynasty, these kings were de facto sovereigns
Monarch
A monarch is the person who heads a monarchy. This is a form of government in which a state or polity is ruled or controlled by an individual who typically inherits the throne by birth and occasionally rules for life or until abdication...
, with very considerable power in their territories. Liu Bang felt this was dangerous to the unity of his empire, and endeavoured to subdue these unruly kingdoms. By conspiracies, wars and other political manoeuvres, many kings were deposed and their kingdoms annexed during Liu Bang's lifetime. When Liu Bang was dying, he ordered his ministers to swear an oath that only members of royal house of "Liu" could be created as Wang (i.e., Tongxing Wang or princes) under the Han Dynasty. In spite of this, some new Yixing Wang were created later, especially during the reign of Empress Dowager Lü. Most of these newly-created kingdoms were abolished after her death. The last king during the Han Dynasty was Wu Chan, King Jing of Changsha, who died without an heir in 157 BC. After that there were no further Yixing Wang for the remainder of the Han Dynasty until Cao Cao
Cao Cao
Cao Cao was a warlord and the penultimate chancellor of the Eastern Han Dynasty who rose to great power during the dynasty's final years. As one of the central figures of the Three Kingdoms period, he laid the foundations for what was to become the state of Cao Wei and was posthumously titled...
became the King of Wei in the last years of the Han Dynasty.
Tongxing Wang (Princes)
After establishing the Han Dynasty, Liu Bang created several Tongxing Wang, or principalities, for his relatives and sons. It then became a tradition that sons of Chinese emperors should automatically be created as princes. This tradition continued until the Qing DynastyQing Dynasty
The Qing Dynasty was the last dynasty of China, ruling from 1644 to 1912 with a brief, abortive restoration in 1917. It was preceded by the Ming Dynasty and followed by the Republic of China....
, in which sons of emperors could be created as lower nobles. Liu Bang and his successers originally thought that creating principalities for members of the royal family would strengthen the royal house and strengthen their hand against the kings (Yixing Wang). However, some of these princes became as powerful as those kings, and equally as dangerous to the emperor - or even more dangerous, because as members of the royal house, they were eligible to succeed to the throne, and were therefore potential pretenders.
Several rebellions or attempted rebellions by these powerful princes happened during the reigns of Emperor Jing
Emperor Jing of Han
Emperor Jing of Han was an emperor of China in the Han Dynasty from 156 BC to 141 BC. His reign saw the limit and curtailment of power of feudal princes which resulted in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC. Emperor Jing managed to crush the revolt and princes were thereafter denied rights...
and Emperor Wu
Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
, the most famous being the Rebellion of the Seven States
Rebellion of the Seven States
The Rebellion of the Seven States or Revolt of the Seven Kingdoms took place in 154 BC against China's Han Dynasty to resist the emperor's attempt to centralise the government further.-Prelude to the rebellion:...
. Subsequently, Emperor Wu
Emperor Wu of Han
Emperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
removed most of the power of these princes and divided their territories, so that they would no longer be a threat to the throne. The institution of principalities would last throughout both phases of the Han Dynasty, however.
Power of the kings and princes
In the early part of the Han Dynasty, kings or princes were the rulers of their territories, usually including several prefectures. After Emperor Wu of Han, kings and princes were limited to acting as figurehead of their territories, whilst the real power was given to the prime ministers of these princes, who were appointed by the imperial court. Moreover, the princes' territories were reduced to only one prefecture.Crown Prince
The Crown Prince in the Han Dynasty was the heir apparent to the throne. The Crown Prince was normally the eldest son of the Emperor and the Empress, but not always. The power to nominate the Crown Prince lay with the throne, although the Emperor generally had to obtain the advice or consent of his high ministers. The Crown Prince would not be given a princedom, but rather abode with the Emperor in the capital. When a prince became Crown Prince, his princedom became extinct. The Crown Prince could be dismissed and this did indeed happen several times in the Han Dynasty.List of Crown Princes
- Ying, Crown PrinceEmperor Hui of HanEmperor Hui of Han was the second emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. He was the second son of the first Han emperor, Han Gaozu and Empress Dowager Lü. He is generally remembered as a weak character dominated by his mother, Empress Dowager Lü, personally kind and generous but unable to escape...
, son of Emperor Gao of Han, later Emperor Hui - Qi, Crown PrinceEmperor Jing of HanEmperor Jing of Han was an emperor of China in the Han Dynasty from 156 BC to 141 BC. His reign saw the limit and curtailment of power of feudal princes which resulted in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC. Emperor Jing managed to crush the revolt and princes were thereafter denied rights...
, son of Emperor Wen of HanEmperor Wen of HanEmperor Wen of Han was the fifth emperor of the Han Dynasty in China. His given name is Heng.Liu Heng was a son of Emperor Gao of Han and Consort Bo, later empress dowager...
, later Emperor Jing - Rong, Crown Prince, son of Emperor Jing of HanEmperor Jing of HanEmperor Jing of Han was an emperor of China in the Han Dynasty from 156 BC to 141 BC. His reign saw the limit and curtailment of power of feudal princes which resulted in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC. Emperor Jing managed to crush the revolt and princes were thereafter denied rights...
, later demoted to Prince of Linjiang - Che, Crown PrinceEmperor Wu of HanEmperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
, son of Emperor Jing of HanEmperor Jing of HanEmperor Jing of Han was an emperor of China in the Han Dynasty from 156 BC to 141 BC. His reign saw the limit and curtailment of power of feudal princes which resulted in the Rebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC. Emperor Jing managed to crush the revolt and princes were thereafter denied rights...
, originally Prince of Jiaodong, later Emperor Wu - Ju, Crown Prince Li, son of Emperor Wu of HanEmperor Wu of HanEmperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
, rebelled and killed - Fuling, Crown PrinceEmperor Zhao of HanEmperor Zhao of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 87 BC to 74 BC.Emperor Zhao was the youngest son of Emperor Wu of Han. By the time Zhao was born, Emperor Wu was already 62. Zhao ascended the throne after the death of Emperor Wu in 87 BC. He was only 8 years old...
, son of Emperor Wu of HanEmperor Wu of HanEmperor Wu of Han , , personal name Liu Che , was the seventh emperor of the Han Dynasty of China, ruling from 141 BC to 87 BC. Emperor Wu is best remembered for the vast territorial expansion that occurred under his reign, as well as the strong and centralized Confucian state he organized...
, later Emperor Zhao - Shi, Crown PrinceEmperor Yuan of HanEmperor Yuan of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He reigned from 48 BC to 33 BC. Emperor Yuan was remembered for the promotion of Confucianism as the official creed of Chinese government. He appointed Confucius adherents to important government posts...
, son of Emperor Xuan of HanEmperor Xuan of HanEmperor Xuan of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty from 74 BC to 49 BC. His life story was a riches-to-rags-to-riches story.Emperor Xuan was the great grandson of Emperor Wu...
, later Emperor Yuan - Ao, Crown PrinceEmperor Cheng of HanEmperor Cheng of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty ruling from 33 BC until 7 BC.Under Emperor Cheng, the Han dynasty continued its slide into disintegration while the Wang clan continued its slow grip on power and on governmental affairs as promoted by the previous emperor...
, son of Emperor Yuan of HanEmperor Yuan of HanEmperor Yuan of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He reigned from 48 BC to 33 BC. Emperor Yuan was remembered for the promotion of Confucianism as the official creed of Chinese government. He appointed Confucius adherents to important government posts...
, later Emperor Cheng - Xin, Crown PrinceEmperor Ai of HanEmperor Ai of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He ascended the throne when he was 20, having been made heir by his uncle Emperor Cheng, who was childless, and he reigned from 7 BC to 1 BC....
, grandson of Emperor Yuan of HanEmperor Yuan of HanEmperor Yuan of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty. He reigned from 48 BC to 33 BC. Emperor Yuan was remembered for the promotion of Confucianism as the official creed of Chinese government. He appointed Confucius adherents to important government posts...
, originally Prince of Dingtao, adopted by Emperor Cheng of HanEmperor Cheng of HanEmperor Cheng of Han was an emperor of the Chinese Han Dynasty ruling from 33 BC until 7 BC.Under Emperor Cheng, the Han dynasty continued its slide into disintegration while the Wang clan continued its slow grip on power and on governmental affairs as promoted by the previous emperor...
and later Emperor Ai
Kingdoms existing when the Han Dynasty was established
- King of Chu
- King of HuainanKing of HuainanKing of Huainan was a noble title during the Han Dynasty in China. It was created by Liu Bang, King of Han, later Emperor Gao of Han in 202 BC for Ying Bu , former King of Jiujiang. Ying Bu rebelled against Emperor Gao of Han in 196 BC and was killed in action...
- King of Zhao
- King of Yan
Kingdoms created by Liu Bang, Emperor Gao of Han
- King of Changsha
- King of Dai
- King of LiangKing of LiangThe King of Liang or Prince of Liang is the English translation of several different titles, applied to different regions and during different eras, in ancient China.-King of Liang :...
Kingdoms created by Empress Dowager Lü
- King of Lu
- King of Huaiyang
- King of Changshan
- King of Lü
Princes first created by Liu Bang, Emperor Gao of Han
- Prince of Chu
- Prince of DaiPrince of Dai-Han Dynasty:*Liu Xi, elder brother of Emperor Gao of Han.*Liu Ruyi, fourth son of Emperor Gao of Han.*Emperor Wen of Han, was Prince of Dai before he became emperor....
- Prince of Qi
- Prince of Jing
- Prince of Huainan
- Prince of Zhao
- Prince of Yan
- Prince of Wu
Princes first created by Emperor Wen of Han
- Prince of Liang
- Prince of Chengyang
- Prince of Jibei
- Prince of Zichuan
- Prince of Jinan
- Prince of Jiaodong
- Prince of Jiaoxi
- Prince of Hengshan
- Prince of Lujiang
- Prince of Hejian
Princes first created by Emperor Jing of Han
- Prince of Linjiang
- Prince of Jiangdu
- Prince of Changsha
- Prince of Zhongshan
- Prince of Guangchuan
- Prince of Qinghe
- Prince of Changshan
- Prince of Jichuan
- Prince of Jidong
- Prince of Shanyang
- Prince of Jiyin
Princes first created by Emperor Wu of Han
- Prince of Guangling
- Prince of Changyi
- Prince of Lu'an
- Prince of Zhending
- Prince of Sishui
- Prince of Pinggan
Princes first created by Emperor Xuan of Han
- Prince of HuaiyangPrince of HuaiyangPrince of Huaiyang may refer to:*Liu You, sixth son of Emperor Gaozu of Han, later became Prince of Zhao.*Emperor Gengshi of Han*Liu Yu...
- Prince of Dongping
- Prince of Gaomi
Princes first created by Emperor Ping of Han
- Prince of Guangshi
- Prince of Guangzong