1. Overview
Liu Yong (劉永Liu YongChinese, died 27 AD) was a prominent general and politician who emerged during the tumultuous transition from the Xin dynasty to the Eastern Han dynasty in China. A member of the Han dynasty imperial family, he was the son of Liu Li, Prince of Liang, and an 8th-generation descendant of Liu Wu, Prince Xiao of Liang. As the Xin dynasty collapsed, Liu Yong rose as a powerful warlord, establishing himself as the King of Liang and asserting significant regional autonomy. His ambition led him to proclaim himself emperor, directly challenging the nascent Eastern Han dynasty under Emperor Guangwu. His struggle against Emperor Guangwu, marked by military campaigns, internal divisions, and personal tragedies, significantly impacted the political landscape of the era, contributing to the prolonged instability before the Eastern Han fully consolidated its rule. His actions reflect the widespread desire for a return to Han imperial rule, albeit under a different claimant, during a period of profound social upheaval.
2. Family and Ancestry
Liu Yong's background was deeply rooted in the Han dynasty imperial structure, providing him with a legitimate claim to authority during the chaotic interregnum. His lineage and his father's fate under the Xin dynasty profoundly shaped his early political environment and subsequent rise to power.
2.1. Imperial Lineage and Ancestry
Liu Yong was a direct descendant of the imperial House of Liu, tracing his ancestry back to Liu Wu, who was enfeoffed as the Prince Xiao of Liang. Liu Wu was a son of Emperor Wen of Han and a younger brother of Emperor Jing of Han, making Liu Yong an 8th-generation descendant of this prestigious imperial line. This royal heritage was a crucial factor in his ability to rally support and establish a regional kingdom. His lineage through the Princes of Liang included: Liu Wu → Liu Mai → Liu Xiang → Liu Wushang → Liu Dingguo → Liu Sui → Liu Jia → Liu Li → Liu Yong.
2.2. Father's Fate and Early Environment
Liu Yong's father, Liu Li (劉立Liu LiChinese), held the title of Prince of Liang. However, his association with the Wei clan, the maternal relatives of Emperor Ping of Han, led to his execution by Wang Mang in 3 AD during the Xin dynasty. This event, occurring when Liu Yong was young, meant that he did not inherit his father's princely title directly. The political persecution of his family under Wang Mang's rule undoubtedly influenced Liu Yong's later decision to rebel and seek to restore Han authority, albeit under his own banner, once the Xin dynasty began to crumble.
3. Rise as King of Liang and Regional Power Base
Following the collapse of the Xin dynasty, Liu Yong capitalized on the ensuing chaos to establish himself as a significant regional power. His strategic appointments and military campaigns allowed him to consolidate control over a substantial territory in eastern China.
3.1. Appointment and Establishment as King of Liang
In 23 AD, after Liu Xuan assumed the position of Emperor Gengshi and entered Luoyang, Liu Yong traveled to the capital to pay homage. Recognizing his imperial lineage, Emperor Gengshi enfeoffed Liu Yong as the Prince of Liang. Liu Yong then established his capital in Suiyang (within Liang Commandery), which had historically been the capital of the Liang kingdom during the Western Han dynasty. This appointment marked the formal beginning of his regional authority and provided a legitimate basis for his burgeoning power.
3.2. Asserting Autonomy and Governance
Upon hearing of Emperor Gengshi's increasingly chaotic and unstable rule, Liu Yong began to act independently, asserting his autonomy from the central Gengshi regime. He appointed his elder brother, Liu Fang (劉防Liu FangChinese), as his Chief General (輔國大將軍Fǔguó DàJiāngjūnChinese), and his younger brother, Liu Shaogong (劉少公Liu ShaogongChinese), as Secretary of the Royal History (御史大夫Yùshǐ DàfūChinese), also enfeoffing Liu Shaogong as the Prince of Lu. These appointments demonstrated his intention to establish his own administrative and military structure, independent of Emperor Gengshi's court.
3.3. Military Expansion and Alliance Building
Liu Yong actively recruited capable individuals, including Zhou Jian (周建Zhou JianChinese), whom he appointed as a general. Under his command, Liu Yong's forces launched military campaigns to conquer surrounding commanderies, successfully capturing 28 cities across Jiyin, Shanyang, Pei, Chu, Huaiyang, and Runan. To further consolidate his control over eastern China, Liu Yong strategically sought alliances with other regional warlords. He appointed Jiao Jiang (佼彊Jiao JiangChinese) of Xifang (within Shanyang Commandery) as Rampant General (橫行將軍Héngxíng JiāngjūnChinese), Dong Xian (董憲Dong XianChinese) of Donghai Commandery as Wing Han Grand General (翼漢大將軍Yìhàn DàJiāngjūnChinese), and Zhang Bu (張步Zhang BuChinese) of Langya Commandery as Auxiliary Han Grand General (輔漢大將軍Fǔhàn DàJiāngjūnChinese). By bringing these powerful figures under his nominal command, Liu Yong significantly expanded his sphere of influence, incorporating parts of Yuzhou, Yanzhou, Qingzhou, and Xuzhou into his de facto rule.
4. Proclamation of Emperorship and Conflict with Eastern Han
Liu Yong's declaration of himself as emperor marked a direct challenge to the emerging Eastern Han dynasty and led to a prolonged and ultimately fatal confrontation with Emperor Guangwu.
4.1. Declaring Emperorship
In 25 AD, after Emperor Gengshi was defeated by the Chimei Army, the central authority of the Gengshi regime collapsed. Seizing this opportunity and leveraging his imperial lineage and established regional power, Liu Yong proclaimed himself emperor. This act solidified his position as a major contender for imperial power and set him on a collision course with Liu Xuan, who would soon establish the Eastern Han dynasty as Emperor Guangwu.
4.2. Campaigns Against Emperor Guangwu
The conflict between Liu Yong and Emperor Guangwu began in earnest in the summer of 26 AD. Emperor Guangwu dispatched his generals, including Gai Yan (蓋延Gai YanChinese) and Su Mao (蘇茂Su MaoChinese), to suppress Liu Yong. Initially, there were internal conflicts within the Han forces, leading Su Mao, a former general of the Gengshi regime, to defect to Liu Yong. Liu Yong welcomed Su Mao, appointing him as Grand Marshal (大司馬DàsīmǎChinese) and enfeoffing him as the Prince of Huaiyang.
Despite this defection, Gai Yan continued his offensive. He successfully conquered Suiyang, Liu Yong's capital, after a siege lasting several months. Liu Yong, along with his family, was forced to flee to Yu (虞YuChinese), a county within Liang Commandery.
4.3. Internal Divisions and Shifting Loyalties
Liu Yong's position was further weakened by internal divisions and shifting loyalties. After fleeing to Yu, the local populace rebelled against him, tragically killing his mother, wife, and children. This severe personal loss forced Liu Yong to flee again, this time to Qiao (譙QiaoChinese) in Pei Commandery.
Su Mao, Jiao Jiang (佼彊Jiao JiangChinese), and Zhou Jian (周建Zhou JianChinese) rallied their forces to rescue Liu Yong, but they were defeated by Gai Yan. Su Mao fled back to Guang Lecheng (廣樂城Guang LechengChinese) in Yu County, Liang Commandery, while Jiao Jiang and Zhou Jian retreated with Liu Yong to Huling (湖陵HulingChinese) in Shanyang Commandery.
In the spring of 27 AD, in an attempt to solidify his alliances, Liu Yong enfeoffed Zhang Bu (張步Zhang BuChinese) as the King of Qi and Dong Xian (董憲Dong XianChinese) as the King of Haixi. However, the pressure from the Eastern Han forces continued to mount. The Han army's Grand Marshal, Wu Han (吳漢Wu HanChinese), attacked Su Mao at Guang Lecheng, defeating him and forcing him to flee to Huling.
Despite these setbacks, the people of Suiyang, Liu Yong's former capital, rebelled against the Han army and welcomed Liu Yong back. However, Wu Han and Gai Yan quickly surrounded Suiyang again. With their food supplies depleted, Liu Yong, Su Mao, and Zhou Jian were forced to abandon the city once more.
4.4. Personal Tragedy and Assassination
During their desperate flight from Suiyang, Liu Yong's general, Qing Wu (慶吾Qing WuChinese), betrayed him. Qing Wu murdered Liu Yong and presented his head to Emperor Guangwu, who rewarded Qing Wu with a noble title. This marked the end of Liu Yong's personal challenge to the Eastern Han dynasty.
5. Posthumous Resistance and Legacy
Following Liu Yong's death, his cause was briefly continued by his son, Liu Yu, but the Liang kingdom's resistance ultimately came to an end, allowing the Eastern Han to consolidate its control over the region.
5.1. Liu Yu's Continued Struggle
After Liu Yong's assassination, his loyal generals, Su Mao (蘇茂Su MaoChinese) and Zhou Jian (周建Zhou JianChinese), refused to surrender. They rallied around Liu Yong's son, Liu Yu (劉紆Liu YuChinese), proclaiming him the new King of Liang. Liu Yu continued his father's struggle against the Eastern Han regime, attempting to uphold the legacy of the Liang kingdom and challenge Emperor Guangwu's authority. This continuation of resistance demonstrated the enduring loyalty of some of Liu Yong's followers and the lingering instability in the region.
5.2. The Fall of the Liang Kingdom
The resistance led by Liu Yu proved to be short-lived. In August 29 AD, Liu Yu's stronghold at Tanhai Commandery (郯城TanhaiChinese) was captured by Eastern Han forces. With no escape route, Liu Yu was ultimately betrayed and killed by his own soldiers, led by a subordinate named Gao Hu (高扈Gao HuChinese). Liu Yu's death marked the definitive end of the Liang kingdom and the challenge posed by Liu Yong's lineage to the burgeoning Eastern Han imperial authority. His defeat allowed Emperor Guangwu to further consolidate his control over eastern China, contributing to the eventual unification of the empire.
6. Historical Evaluation
Liu Yong's role in the tumultuous period between the Xin dynasty and the Eastern Han dynasty was significant, albeit ultimately unsuccessful. His actions highlight the complex political landscape of the time, characterized by numerous regional warlords vying for power and legitimacy.
Liu Yong's ambition to restore the Han dynasty under his own rule, leveraging his imperial lineage, was a common aspiration among many warlords of the era. His ability to establish a strong regional power base in Liang, conquer 28 cities, and forge alliances with other powerful figures like Jiao Jiang, Dong Xian, and Zhang Bu demonstrates considerable leadership and strategic acumen. He managed to control a significant portion of eastern China, effectively creating a rival state to the emerging Eastern Han.
However, Liu Yong's challenge to Emperor Guangwu ultimately failed. His defeat can be attributed to several factors, including the superior military organization and strategic prowess of the Eastern Han forces under generals like Gai Yan and Wu Han, as well as internal divisions and betrayals within his own ranks, such as Su Mao's initial defection from Han and Qing Wu's ultimate assassination of Liu Yong. The tragic loss of his family members also underscores the brutal realities of the civil war.
From the perspective of regional stability and the populace, Liu Yong's prolonged resistance contributed to the continued unrest and suffering in eastern China during a period that desperately needed unification. While his initial rise might have offered a semblance of order in his controlled territories, his continued conflict with the Eastern Han prolonged the civil war, impacting social stability and hindering the restoration of a unified and peaceful empire. His legacy is thus one of a powerful, ambitious, and legitimate claimant to the Han throne who, despite his efforts, was ultimately unable to withstand the consolidating power of Emperor Guangwu and the Eastern Han dynasty, paving the way for a more stable imperial order.