Liu Yuan (Han-Zhao)
Liu Yuan (劉淵) (died 19 August 310), courtesy name Yuanhai (元海), also known by his posthumous name as the Emperor Guangwen of Han (Zhao) (漢(趙)光文帝) was the founding emperor of the Xiongnu-led Han-Zhao dynasty of China during the Sixteen Kingdoms period. Due to Tang dynasty naming taboo, he is referred to by his courtesy name as Liu Yuanhai (劉元海) in the Book of Jin.
| Emperor Guangwen of Han 漢光文帝 | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emperor of Han-Zhao | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Reign | 304 – 19 August 310 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Successor | Liu He | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Died | 310 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Burial | Yongguang Mausoleum (永光陵) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Issue | see #Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||
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| House | Liu | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Dynasty | Han-Zhao | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Father | Liu Bao | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Mother | Lady Huyan | ||||||||||||||||||||
Liu Yuan was a sinicized Xiongnu noble who served as a military general under the Western Jin dynasty, but amidst the War of the Eight Princes that weakened the state, he was acclaimed the leader of a Xiongnu rebellion in Bingzhou. In 304, he established his own state on the basis of restoring the Han dynasty, which he claimed descent through his ancestor, Modu Chanyu who married a Han princess. The formation of Han-Zhao, along with Cheng-Han in southwestern China, is seen as the start of the Sixteen Kingdoms period. Despite having minimal success during his reign, Liu Yuan's family and generals would eventually drive the Jin dynasty out of northern China after his death.