Sima Lun

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Sima Lun (Template:Zh) (born before 250[1] – poisoned June 5, 301), courtesy name Ziyi (Script error: No such module "Lang".), was titled the Prince of Zhao (Template:Zh) and the usurper of the Jin dynasty from February 3 to May 31, 301. He is usually not counted in the list of Jin emperors due to his brief reign, and was often mentioned by historians as an usurper. He was the third of the eight princes commonly associated with the War of the Eight Princes.

Early career

As Sima Yi's ninth[2] and youngest son, Sima Lun held a number of minor titles during the Cao Wei regencies of his father and half-brothers Sima Shi and Sima Zhao. Around February or March 250, he was enfeoffed as Marquis of Anle Village,[3][4] and when Sima Zhao established the Five Feudal Ranks of Zhou in 264, his fief was changed to Viscount of Dong'an, and he was designated Remonstrating and Consulting Grandee.[5]

After his nephew Sima Yan established the Jin dynasty on 8 February 266, Sima Lun was named the Prince of Langye Commandery the next day.[6] He served as a general and governor at times during his nephew's reign, but was undistinguished; several times he was accused of crimes, such as when sending Cavalier Commander Liu Ji to pay laborers wanting to rob imperial furs, but each time Emperor Wu pardoned him of them. On 5 October 277,[7] his principality was moved to Zhao.

During the early reign of Emperor Hui, on 19 September 291,[8] Sima Lun was placed in charge of the military command of Xu (Script error: No such module "Lang".) and Yan (Script error: No such module "Lang".) Provinces. About a month later, on 30 October,[9] Lun's post was changed; he was placed in charge of the military command of Qin (Script error: No such module "Lang"., modern eastern Gansu) and Yong (Script error: No such module "Lang"., modern central and northern Shaanxi) Provinces. During his tenure, his misgovernance contributed to conditions where the Di and the Qiang rebelled under the Di chief Qi Wannian in 296. His chief strategist Sun Xiu was arrested and initially set to be executed, but was spared by his half-brother Sima Rong. Sima Lun and Sun were recalled to the capital Luoyang, where he flattered Empress Hui's empress Jia Nanfeng (who was then the de facto regent) and became trusted by her. Lun then requested a high level office, but was rebuffed by Empress Jia's advisors Zhang Hua and Pei Wei.

As regent

Empress Jia, in jealousy, deposed the crown prince Sima Yu (born not of her, but of her husband's concubine Consort Xie Jiu) in February 300. Later, there was a conspiracy to overthrow her and restore the crown prince. Sima Lun was persuaded to join the conspiracy, but Sun Xiu had another plan for him: he should encourage Empress Jia to assassinate the crown prince in exile, and then use the assassination as the excuse to overthrow her. Sima Lun accepted this plan and persuaded her to assassinate the crown prince, which she did in April 300. He then declared a coup against her in May and arrested her, slaughtering her clan and her associates (including Zhang and Pei). He then forced her to commit suicide.

Sima Lun then became regent for the developmentally disabled Emperor Hui, but was described as being not particularly more intelligent than Emperor Hui. Even though he carried the regent title, true power was in Sun Xiu's hands. Under Sun Xiu's persuasion, he deposed Emperor Hui and declared himself emperor in February 301, offering Emperor Hui the honorific title of retired emperor but putting him under house arrest. Emperor Hui's grandson, the crown prince Sima Zang (司馬臧), was executed.

As emperor

File:Uprising of the Three Princes.png
Uprising of the Three Princes, 301 AD.

The act of usurpation brought widespread anger. In order to appease those who might be angry at his usurpation, Sima Lun rewarded many people with honors. Sun, in particular, was issuing edicts based on his own whims. Suspecting three autonomous key princes—Sima Jiong the Prince of Qi (Emperor Hui's cousin and the son of Emperor Hui's uncle, Prince Xian of Qi Sima You), Sima Ying the Prince of Chengdu (Emperor Hui's half-brother), and Sima Yong the Prince of Hejian (the grandson of Emperor Hui's great-granduncle Sima Fu, Prince Xian of Anping), each of whom had strong independent military commands—Sun sent his trusted subordinates to be their assistants. Prince Jiong refused and declared a rebellion to restore Emperor Hui. Prince Ying, Sima Ai the Prince of Changshan (Emperor Hui's half-brother), and Sima Xin (Script error: No such module "Lang".) the Duke of Xinye (the son of a granduncle of Emperor Hui, Sima Jun) all declared support for Prince Jiong. Prince Yong initially sent his general Zhang Fang (張方) with intent to support Sima Lun, but then heard that Princes Jiong and Ying had great forces, and so declared for the rebels instead. Sima Lun's forces were easily defeated by Princes Jiong's and Ying's forces, and after declaring himself emperor for three months, Sima Lun was captured by officials in Luoyang who declared for the rebellion as well and forced him to issue an edict returning the throne to Emperor Hui. Sima Lun was then forced to commit suicide. Sun and other associates of Sima Lun were executed, as were all of Sima Lun's sons. Sima Lun was posthumously demoted to commoner rank as "Commoner Zhao".

Family

  • Parents:
    • Sima Yi, Emperor Xuan (Script error: No such module "Lang".; 179–251)
    • Furen, of the Bai clan (Script error: No such module "Lang".)
  • Sons:
    • Sima Fu (Script error: No such module "Lang".; d. 301)
    • Sima Fu, Prince Jiyang (Script error: No such module "Lang".; d. 301)
    • Sima Qian, Prince Ruyin (Script error: No such module "Lang".; d. 301)
    • Sima Xu, Marquis Bacheng (Script error: No such module "Lang".; d. 301)

References

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  1. ↑ While Sima Lun's birth year was not recorded, he was younger than his half-brothers Sima Gan and Sima Jun, who were born in 232.
  2. ↑ Script error: No such module "Lang". Jin Shu, vol.59
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "Lang". Jin Shu, vol.59
  4. ↑ Script error: No such module "Lang". Jin Shu, vol.01. The month corresponds to 19 Feb to 19 Mar 250 in the Julian calendar. This was about a year after the Incident at the Gaoping Tombs.
  5. ↑ Script error: No such module "Lang". Jin Shu, vol.59
  6. ↑ According to Sima Yan's biography in Book of Jin, he ascended the throne on the bingyin day of the 12th month of the 1st year of the Taishi era. This corresponds to 8 Feb 266 on the Julian calendar. On the dingmao day (i.e. the next day), he created Lun the Prince of Langye. Script error: No such module "Lang". Jin Shu, vol. 03.
  7. ↑ According to Sima Yan's biography in Book of Jin, he moved Sima Lun's principality to Zhao on the guihai day of the 8th month of the 3rd year of the Xian'ning era. This corresponds to 5 Oct 277 on the Julian calendar. Script error: No such module "Lang". Jin Shu, vol.03
  8. ↑ Script error: No such module "Lang". Jin Shu, vol.04
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "Lang". Jin Shu, vol.04

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Prince of Zhao
Born: c. 240 Died: 13 April 301
Titles in pretence
Preceded byTemplate:S-bef/check — TITULAR —
Emperor of China
Abdication claimant
3 February 301 – 30 May 301
Reason for succession failure:
War of the Eight Princes 		Template:S-aft/check Succeeded by

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