Han dynasty
The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...
. Its territories was located within the modern
Henan
Henan (; or ; ; alternatively Honan) is a landlocked province of China, in the central part of the country. Henan is often referred to as Zhongyuan or Zhongzhou (), which literally means "central plain" or "midland", although the name is al ...
,
Anhui
Anhui , (; formerly romanized as Anhwei) is a landlocked province of the People's Republic of China, part of the East China region. Its provincial capital and largest city is Hefei. The province is located across the basins of the Yangtze River ...
and
Shandong
Shandong ( , ; ; alternately romanized as Shantung) is a coastal province of the People's Republic of China and is part of the East China region.
Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history since the beginning of Chinese civilizati ...
provinces.
History
Shortly before the establishment of the
Han dynasty
The Han dynasty (, ; ) was an imperial dynasty of China (202 BC – 9 AD, 25–220 AD), established by Liu Bang (Emperor Gao) and ruled by the House of Liu. The dynasty was preceded by the short-lived Qin dynasty (221–207 BC) and a warr ...
, the
Qin Qin may refer to:
Dynasties and states
* Qin (state) (秦), a major state during the Zhou Dynasty of ancient China
* Qin dynasty (秦), founded by the Qin state in 221 BC and ended in 206 BC
* Daqin (大秦), ancient Chinese name for the Roman Emp ...
-era Dang Commandery (碭郡) was granted to
Peng Yue
Peng Yue (died 196 BC), courtesy name Zhong, was a Chinese military general and politician in the late Qin dynasty and early Western Han dynasty. He was involved in the Chu–Han Contention – a power struggle between the Han dynasty's founder, ...
by
Liu Bang
Emperor Gaozu of Han (256 – 1 June 195 BC), born Liu Bang () with courtesy name Ji (季), was the founder and first emperor of the Han dynasty, reigning in 202–195 BC. His temple name was "Taizu" while his posthumous name was Emper ...
Warring States period
The Warring States period () was an era in History of China#Ancient China, ancient Chinese history characterized by warfare, as well as bureaucratic and military reforms and consolidation. It followed the Spring and Autumn period and concluded ...
. Six years later, Peng was executed on a fabricated treason charge, and the kingdom was granted to Liu Hui (劉恢), a son of Liu Bang.
Dong Commandery Dong Commandery ( zh, 東郡) was a commandery in historical China from the Warring States period to Sui dynasty. Its territories were situated in present-day Henan, Hebei and Shandong provinces.
The commandery was established by the state of Qi ...
was then added to Liang's territory. In the seventh year of
Empress Dowager Lü
An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife ( empress consort), mother ( ...
's reign, Hui was moved to Zhao, where he committed suicide soon after. The kingdom was granted to Lü Chan (呂產), a nephew of the empress dowager. In this period, Liang was briefly renamed Lü. During the
Lü Clan Disturbance
The Lü Clan Disturbance (, 180 BCE) refers to a political upheaval after the death of Empress Lü Zhi
An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of impe ...
, Lü Chan was killed, and the kingdom's two component commanderies was restored.
Emperor Wen granted Liang to his fourth son Liu Yi (劉揖) in the second year of his reign. However, his fief included only Dang Commandery. Yi died 10 years later, and the kingdom passed to his brother, Wu (劉武). As the territories held by Emperor Wen's sons was much weaker than those held by other branches of the imperial family, part of Huaiyang, Wu's former fief, was added to Liang, increasing the number of counties in Liang to more than 40.
Liu Wu died in 144 BC during Emperor Jing's reign. After his death, Liang was divided into five principalities, namely Liang, Jichuan (濟川),
Jidong
Jidong County () is a county of southeastern Heilongjiang Province, China, bordering Russia's Primorsky Krai to the southeast. It is under the administration of Jixi City and is the location of Jixi Xingkaihu Airport.
Administrative divisions
...
(濟東), Shanyang (山陽) and Jiyin (濟陰). Its southeastern territories, centered around Suiyang (睢陽), retained the name Liang, and passed to Mai (劉買), Wu's eldest son. Liang's land was further reduced during Emperor Wu's reign. Liu Mai's descendants continued to hold the principality until the
Xin dynasty
The Xin dynasty (; ), also known as Xin Mang () in Chinese historiography, was a short-lived Chinese imperial dynasty which lasted from 9 to 23 AD, established by the Han dynasty consort kin Wang Mang, who usurped the throne of the Emperor Ping o ...
, when it was converted to a
commandery
In the Middle Ages, a commandery (rarely commandry) was the smallest administrative division of the European landed properties of a military order. It was also the name of the house where the knights of the commandery lived.Anthony Luttrell and G ...
.
In 79 AD, Liang was granted to Liu Chang (劉暢), a son of the Emperor Ming, his fief being the former Liang territories and part of Chenliu Commandery (陳留郡). Chang's line held the principality until the end of the Han dynasty.
In 2 AD, Liang administered 8 counties: Dang (碭), Zi (甾), Zhuqiu (杼秋), Meng (蒙), Yishi (已氏), Yu (虞), Xiayi (下邑) and Suiyang (睢陽). The population was 106,752, or 38,709 households.
In 140 AD, Liang administered 9 counties: Xiayi, Suiyang, Yu,
Dangshan
Dangshan County () is a county in the far north of Anhui Province, China. It is under the administration of Suzhou city. It is famous for fruits (pear, peach, plum and watermelon).
Administrative divisions
Dangshan County administers 13 towns a ...
(碭山), Meng, Gushu (穀熟), Yan (焉), Ningling (寧陵) and Bo (薄). The population was 431,283, or 83,300 households.''
Book of Later Han
The ''Book of the Later Han'', also known as the ''History of the Later Han'' and by its Chinese name ''Hou Hanshu'' (), is one of the Twenty-Four Histories and covers the history of the Han dynasty from 6 to 189 CE, a period known as the Later ...
'', Chapter 110.
Princes
*
Peng Yue
Peng Yue (died 196 BC), courtesy name Zhong, was a Chinese military general and politician in the late Qin dynasty and early Western Han dynasty. He was involved in the Chu–Han Contention – a power struggle between the Han dynasty's founder, ...
, 202 BC – 196 BC;
* Liu Hui (劉恢), Prince Gong of Zhao (趙共王), 196 BC – 181 BC;
* Lü Chan (呂產), 181 BC – 180 BC;
* Liu Yi (劉揖), Prince Huai (懷) of Liang, 179 BC – 169 BC;
* Liu Wu (劉武), Prince Xiao (孝) of Liang, 169 BC – 144 BC;
*
Liu Mai Liu Mai (, ''Liú Mǎi''), posthumously named Prince Gong of Liang (, ''Liáng Gōngwàng''), was a prince of the Han dynasty. He was the eldest son and heir of Liu Wu, prince of Liang
Liu Wu (刘武) (–144 BC), posthumously named P ...
(劉買), Prince Gong (恭) of Liang, 144 BC – 137 BC;
* Liu Xiang (劉襄), Prince Ping (平) of Liang, 137 BC – 97 BC;
* Liu Wushang (劉毋傷), Prince Zhen (貞) of Liang, 97 BC – 86 BC;
* Liu Dingguo (劉定國), Prince Jing (敬) of Liang, 86 BC – 46 BC;
* Liu Sui (劉遂), Prince Yi (夷) of Liang, 46 BC – 40 BC;
* Liu Jia (劉嘉), Prince Huang (荒) of Liang, 40 BC – 25 BC;
* Liu Li (劉立), 25 BC – 3 AD;
* Liu Shao (劉紹), 5 – 10;
* Liu Chang (劉暢), Prince Jie (節) of Liang, 79 – 99;
* Liu Jian (劉堅), Prince Gong (恭) of Liang, 99 – 125;
* Liu Kuang (劉匡), Prince Huai (懷) of Liang, 125 – 136;
* Liu Cheng (劉成), Prince Yi (夷) of Liang, 136 – 165;
* Liu Yuan (劉元), Prince Jing (敬) of Liang, 165 – 181;
* Liu Mi (劉彌), 181 – 221.
See also
*
Liang (realm)
Liang () was a traditional Chinese fief centered on present-day Kaifeng. It was held by various powers over the course of Chinese history. It generally comprised modern Henan with a small part of Shanxi.
Ancient China
Liang (sometimes as , ''Li ...