Wulei (), born Xian, was a

chanyu Chanyu () or Shanyu (), short for Chengli Gutu Chanyu (), was the title used by the supreme rulers of Inner Asian nomads for eight centuries until superseded by the title "''Khagan''" in 402 CE. The title was most famously used by the ruling L ...

of the

Xiongnu Empire The Xiongnu (, ) were a tribal confederation of nomadic peoples who, according to ancient Chinese sources, inhabited the eastern Eurasian Steppe from the 3rd century BC to the late 1st century AD. Modu Chanyu, the supreme leader after 209 ...

. The brother and successor of

Wuzhuliu Wuzhuliu () or Wuzhuliuruodi (), born Nangzhiyasi (), was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire. The brother and successor of Juya Chanyu, he reigned from 8 BC to 13 AD. Wuzhuliu sent his son Wududiyasi to the Western Han imperial court upon his accessi ...

, he reigned from 13 to 18 AD. Xian took part in subjugating

Wuhuan The Wuhuan (, <

Eastern Han Chinese

: *''ʔɑ-ɣuɑn'', <

lands and as a result upset 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 ...

. Han envoys attempted to split up the Xiongnu by creating 15 different chanyus. Xian was one of them, the Xiao Chanyu. He sent his two sons to be educated in

Chang'an Chang'an (; ) is the traditional name of Xi'an. The site had been settled since Neolithic times, during which the Yangshao culture was established in Banpo, in the city's suburbs. Furthermore, in the northern vicinity of modern Xi'an, Qin Shi ...

. When Wuzhuliu died in 13 AD, the Xiongnu Princess Xubu Juci Yun wished to remain on good relations with the Han, so she arranged for the succession to go to Xian, who became Wulei Chanyu. Wulei initially acquiesced to Han demands to return fugitives who had fled to the Xiongnu, but changed his mind when he realized his son, Deng, had died while still living in Chang'an. Xiongnu raiding on Han territory resumed once more. In 15 AD,

Wang Mang Wang Mang () (c. 45 – 6 October 23 CE), courtesy name Jujun (), was the founder and the only Emperor of China, emperor of the short-lived Chinese Xin dynasty. He was originally an official and consort kin of the Han dynasty and later ...

sent to Wulei the body of his son together with presents, however Wulei continued to allow raiding into Han territory. Wulei died in 18 AD and was succeeded by his half-brother

Huduershidaogao Chanyu Huduershidaogao (), born Yu, was a chanyu of the Xiongnu Empire. The brother and successor of Wuzhuliu Chanyu, he reigned from 18 to 46 AD. Biography Yu was the eldest surviving brother of Wuzhuliu Chanyu upon his death in 13 AD, but Yu was pa ...

Footnotes

References

* *Bichurin N.Ya., ''"Collection of information on peoples in Central Asia in ancient times"'', vol. 1, Sankt Petersburg, 1851, reprint Moscow-Leningrad, 1950 * * * * *Taskin B.S., ''"Materials on Sünnu history"'', Science, Moscow, 1968, p. 31 (In Russian) * {{DEFAULTSORT:Wulei Chanyus 1st-century monarchs in Asia 18 deaths