Liu Yan () (died 194[3]),[2] courtesy name Junlang, was a Chinese politician and warlord who lived in the late Eastern Han dynasty of China. He was also a member of the extended family of the Han emperors. For most of his career he served as the governor of Yi Province (covering present-day Sichuan and Chongqing), which he developed into an independent power base. His domain was passed on to his son Liu Zhang, and eventually to Liu Bei, who founded the state of Shu Han during the Three Kingdoms period.
Liu Yan | |
|---|---|
| 劉焉 | |
| Governor of Yi Province (益州牧) | |
| In office 188–194 | |
| Monarchs | Emperor Ling of Han / Emperor Xian of Han |
| Succeeded by | Liu Zhang |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Unknown[1] Qianjiang, Hubei |
| Died | 194[2] Chengdu, Sichuan |
| Children |
|
| Occupation | Politician, warlord |
| Courtesy name | Junlang (君郎) |
| Peerage | Marquis of Yangcheng (陽城侯) |
Life
editLiu Yan was a descendant of Liu Yu, who was Prince of Lu in the early Han dynasty. Because his branch of the Liu family was powerful, and because he proved himself to be an able statesman, he quickly rose through the ranks of the court. However, in July 160,[4] with the death of his teacher Zhu Tian (祝恬), he resigned his position to observe a mourning period as per the traditions of the day.[5] The highest post he reached was that of Minister of Ceremonies (太常), or person responsible for ceremonies related to the emperor. During the reign of Emperor Ling, the central court became a politically dangerous place, which Liu Yan wanted to distance himself from. Initially, Liu Yan wanted to be the Governor of Jiaozhi, but an adviser of his, Dong Fu (董扶), suggested that being the Governor of Yi Province, at that time considered a backward and distant province of the Han Empire, would be auspicious. Liu Yan took the advice, and with his private army set off for his new post in 188.[6]
After arriving in Yi Province, Liu Yan was confronted with his first crisis. Ma Xiang (馬相) and Zhao Zhi (趙祗) started a rebellion in the region, claiming to be part of the Yellow Turban Rebellion. Liu Yan enlisted the help of powerful local families to raise an army and put down the rebellion.
Once firmly in control of the region, he plotted to gain independence from the central Han government. The first step in his plan was to send Zhang Lu and Zhang Xiu (張脩) to attack the forces of the official Han governor of Hanzhong, Su Gu (蘇固) and take over his territory. Zhang Lu first killed Zhang Xiu, and after absorbing the latter's armies he successfully managed to kill Su Gu and take control of the territory, which created an independent buffer state between Liu Yan's Yi Province and the Han central government.
His next step in gaining control of the region was to rein in the power of the local families, who had their own wealth and large private armies. He executed the leaders of over 10 families, but another powerful family leader Jia Long (賈龍) banded together with others and rebelled. Although the armies of the families were powerful, Liu Yan's forces eventually prevailed. The next threat was from the Qiang people, who attacked Liu Yan's capital of Mianzhu (綿竹). However, Liu Yan's forces were able to successfully defend their territory from being ravaged.
In c.April 194, when Li Jue and Guo Si gained control of Chang'an after Dong Zhuo's death, three of Liu Yan's sons (Liu Fan, Liu Dan, and Liu Zhang) were in Chang'an serving in various government posts. Liu Yan joined forces with Han Sui and Ma Teng in an attempt to attack the capital and seize it. With the help of his sons in the city, the armies attacked, but were defeated. In the hasty retreat, Liu Fan and Liu Dan were captured by Li Jue's forces as they tried to flee Chang'an, and were tortured and killed. Liu Zhang, however, barely managed to escape and join up with his father, who returned once again to Yi Province.
In summer of the same year, Liu Yan's residence in Mianzhu was struck by lightning and burnt down, forcing him to relocate the provincial capital to Chengdu. It is said that the grief caused by the loss of two sons and the stress from the Mianzhu fire caused him to develop an illness on his back, which would eventually cause his death later in the year.
His death left his fourth and youngest son Liu Zhang[7] in control of Yi Province.[8]
Family
edit- Ancestor: Liu Yu, fifth son of Emperor Jing
- Sons:
- Liu Fan (劉範), served as General of the Household of the Left, killed by Li Jue
- Liu Dan (劉誕), served as Imperial Clerk Preparer of Documents, killed by Li Jue
- Liu Mao (劉瑁), served as Senior Major, died from illness between late 208 and 214
- Liu Zhang, inherited Liu Yan's position as Governor of Yi Province, lost Yi province to Liu Bei, joined Liu Bei, defected to Sun Quan, died shortly after the defection.
- Daughters-in-law:
In Romance of the Three Kingdoms
editIn the 14th-century historical novel Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Liu Yan was the governor of You Province in northern China[9] during the events of the Yellow Turban Rebellion. He met Liu Bei, who rallied an army of volunteers to help him fight the Yellow Turban rebels. In Chen Shou's Records of the Three Kingdoms, however, there is no record of Liu Yan assuming governorship of You Province.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Although Liu Yan's birth year was not recorded, he should be at least in his 20s when his teacher Zhu Tian died in July 160. Thus, his birth year should be in the late 130s or before.
- ^ a b The Sanguozhi stated that Liu Yan died in the 1st year of the Xingping era (9 Feb 194 - 28 Jan 195 in the Julian calendar) in the reign of Emperor Xian of Han. (... 興平元年，癕疽發背而卒。)
- ^ Liu Xie's biography in Book of the Later Han dated the battle between Han Sui, Ma Teng and Guo Si, Fan Chou to the 3rd month of the 1st year of the Xing'ping era. This corresponds to 9 April to 7 May 194 in the Julian calendar.([兴平元年春]三月，韩遂、马腾与郭汜、樊稠战于长平观，遂、腾败绩，左中郎将刘范、前益州刺史种劭战殁。) Houhanshu vol.09. Liu Yan's biographies in both Houhanshu and Sanguozhi indicated that he died after this incident.
- ^ Emperor Huan's biography in Book of the Later Han indicated that Zhu Tian died on the xinchou day of the 6th month of the 3rd year of the Yan'xi era. This corresponds to 29 Jul 160 in the Julian calendar.
- ^ Liu Yan's biography in Sanguozhi only indicated that his teacher's surname was Zhu; it was Pei Songzhi who identified Master Zhu as Zhu Tian, who was situ before his death. (后以师祝公丧去官。 <臣松之案：祝公，司徒祝恬也>) Sanguozhi, vol.31, with Pei Songzhi's annotation
- ^ Rafe de Crespigny (1967). "An Outline of the Local Administrations of the Later Han Empire" (PDF). Chung-chi Journal: 57–71.
- ^ There is ambiguity in the birth order of Liu Zhang and Liu Mao in Sanguozhi. In Liu Yan's biography, Liu Mao was recorded as being Liu Yan's youngest son. However, in Liu Zhang's biography, Liu Mao became Liu Zhang's elder brother.
- ^ In 208, when Cao Cao attacked Jingzhou, Liu Mao was alive at the start of the invasion, as Cao Cao recommended that he be granted a position as general. Liu Mao only died from illness after this. (璋闻曹公征荆州，已定汉中，遣河内阴溥致敬于曹公。加璋振威将军，兄瑁平寇将军。瑁狂疾物故。) Sanguozhi, vol.31
- ^ Luo Guanzhong, Three Kingdoms: A Historical Novel: No. 1, translated by Moss Roberts. page 5. Foreign Languages Press. Tenth Printing 2007. First Edition 1995. Beijing, China 1995. ISBN 978-7-119-00590-4
- Chen, Shou (3rd century). Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi).
- Fan, Ye (5th century). Book of the Later Han (Houhanshu).
- Luo, Guanzhong (14th century). Romance of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguo Yanyi).
- Pei, Songzhi (5th century). Annotations to Records of the Three Kingdoms (Sanguozhi zhu).