Former Liang
The Former Liang (Chinese: 前涼; pinyin: Qián Liáng; 301–376) was a dynastic state, one of the Sixteen Kingdoms, in Chinese history. It was founded by the Zhang family of the Han ethnicity. Its territories included present-day Gansu and parts of Ningxia, Shaanxi, Qinghai and Xinjiang.
Former Liang (前涼) 西平, 涼 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 301–376 | |||||||||
Former Liang in the northwest | |||||||||
| Status | Vassal of Eastern Jin, Han Zhao, Later Zhao, Former Qin | ||||||||
| Capital | Guzang | ||||||||
| Government | Monarchy | ||||||||
| Duke/Prince | |||||||||
• 301–314 | Zhang Gui | ||||||||
• 314–320 | Zhang Shi | ||||||||
• 320–324 | Zhang Mao | ||||||||
• 324–346 | Zhang Jun | ||||||||
• 346–353 | Zhang Chonghua | ||||||||
• 353 | Zhang Yaoling | ||||||||
• 353–355 | Zhang Zuo | ||||||||
• 355–363 | Zhang Xuanjing | ||||||||
• 363–376 | Zhang Tianxi | ||||||||
| History | |||||||||
| 301 | |||||||||
| 318 | |||||||||
• Zhang Mao's acceptance of Prince of Liang title | 323 | ||||||||
• Zhang Jun's proclamation as Acting Prince of Liang | 345 | ||||||||
• Zhang Zuo's formal rejection of Eastern Jin suzerainty | 354 | ||||||||
• Zhang Xuanjing's formal acceptance of Eastern Jin suzerainty | 361 | ||||||||
• Disestablished | 26 September 376 | ||||||||
• Zhang Tianxi's death | 406 | ||||||||
| Currency | Chinese coin, Chinese cash (Wu Zhu) | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| Today part of | China Kyrgyzstan Mongolia | ||||||||
All rulers of the Former Liang remained largely titularly under the court of the Eastern Jin dynasty as the Duke of Xiping except Zhang Zuo who proclaimed himself emperor (or king). However, at times the other Former Liang rulers also used the king title when imposed on them when they were forced to submit to their powerful neighbour states—initially the Former Zhao, then the Later Zhao, and finally the Former Qin. As the early rulers did not explicitly declare their independence, the official year of Former Liang's establishment is up to interpretation, but no earlier than 301, the year when Zhang Gui was appointed Inspector of Liang province. Historiographers refer to the state as the Former Liang to distinguish it from the Di-led Later Liang, founded in 386, along with the other Liang states of the Sixteen Kingdoms, Southern Liang, Northern Liang and Western Liang.