Liu Xiang (; died 179 BC), formally King Ai of Qi () was a

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 ...

king of Qi and a key player during the

Lü Clan Disturbance The Lü Clan Disturbance (, 180 BCE) refers to a political upheaval after the death of Empress Lü Zhi of the Han dynasty. In the aftermath, her clan, the Lü, were deposed from their seats of power and massacred, Emperor Houshao was deposed and ...

(180 BC). He was the grandson of Emperor Gaozu of Han and the eldest son of

Liu Fei, Prince of Qi Liu Fei (), formally King Daohui of Qi (; died 189 BC) was the eldest son of Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han, and Consort Cao—initially his mistress. After Liu Bang decisively defeated Xiang Yu in the Battle of Gaixia in 202 BC, he proclaimed h ...

by Consort Si. With Liu Fei's death in 189 BC, Emperor Hui allowed Liu Xiang to inherit the title of "Prince of Qi". During the Lü Clan Disturbance, Liu Xiang led the Qi forces and also seized the forces of the nearby Principality of Langye, and was ready to march to the capital

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 S ...

to claim the imperial throne for himself, assisted by his brothers Liu Zhang and

Liu Xingju Liu Xingju (劉興居) (died 177 BC) was an important political figure during the Lü Clan Disturbance (180 BC). He was the grandson of Emperor Gao of Han and one of the sons of Liu Fei, the Prince of Qi. In 182 BC, Grand Empress Dowager Lü cr ...

. After the officials in the capital overthrew the Lü clan and deposed Emperor Houshao of Han, however, they instead invited his uncle Prince Liu Heng of Dai (later Emperor Wen) to be emperor. Liu Xiang acquiesced and did not fight Emperor Wen for the throne, and he withdrew his forces back to his territory, though in fact he should be the

heir presumptive An heir presumptive is the person entitled to inherit a throne, peerage, or other hereditary honour, but whose position can be displaced by the birth of an heir apparent or a new heir presumptive with a better claim to the position in question. ...

after the extinction of the male line of

Emperor Hui of Han Emperor Hui of Han (Liu Ying 劉盈; 210 BC – 26 September 188 BC) was the second emperor of the Chinese Han dynasty. He is also known as Han Huidi (Chinese: 漢惠帝 ''Hàn Huìdì''). He was the second son of Emperor Gaozu (Liu Bang, of th ...

. Before he had died, Liu Xiang had hundreds of Tiny Terracotta Warriors made to protect him in the afterlife just like Qin Shi Huangdi.

References

179 BC deaths Han dynasty imperial princes Year of birth unknown {{China-royal-stub