Sima Xiao
| Sima Xiao 司馬虓 | |
|---|---|
| Prince of Fanyang (范阳王) | |
| Tenure | 31 August 278[1] - c.December 306 |
| Successor | Sima Li[2] |
| Born | 270[3] |
| Died | c.December 306[4] |
| Issue | None |
| House | Jin dynasty |
| Father | Sima Sui |
Sima Xiao (司馬虓; 270 - c.December 306), courtesy name Wuhui (武会),[5] was a Western Jin imperial prince. He was a cousin of Sima Yue, Prince Xiaoxian of Donghai, a regent for Emperor Hui and Emperor Huai, and sided with Sima Yue when Yue became active in the War of the Eight Princes.
Background
[edit]Sima Xiao was the son of Sima Sui (司馬绥; posthumously known as Prince Kang of Fanyang (范阳康王)[6]), who was the youngest son of Sima Yi's brother Sima Kui (司馬馗), making Xiao a second cousin of Jin's founding emperor Emperor Wu. Sima Sui was a younger brother of Sima Tai (司馬泰; posthumously known as Prince Wenxian of Gaomi (高密文献王)), father of Sima Yue, Sima Teng, Sima Lue and Sima Mo.
When Sima Xiao was young, he was noted to be studious and articulate in conversations. Among members of the Sima clan, he, his cousin Sima Mo (Prince of Nanyang), and Sima Rui (the future Emperor Yuan) were praised.[7]
When Sima Sui died in August 278,[8] Sima Xiao inherited the title of Prince of Fanyang at the age of eight.
During Emperor Hui's reign
[edit]In May 290, when Sima Xiao was about 20 years old, Emperor Wu died. Emperor Wu's successor, Emperor Hui was developmentally disabled; his reign saw a series of regents who ruled on his behalf. Xiao's activities during the regencies of Yang Jun (father of Emperor Wu's second wife Empress Yang Zhi), Sima Liang and Wei Guan (who were co-regents), Empress Jia Nanfeng (Emperor Hui's first wife) and Sima Lun (Prince of Zhao) were poor documented.
War of the Eight Princes
[edit]After Sima Jiong was killed in battle against Sima Ai in January 303, Liu Kun and his family went to serve Sima Xiao. While Emperor Hui of Jin was held hostage in Chang'an, Sima Xiao approached Zu Ti and invited Zu to serve him, but he declined.[9]
After Sima Yue defeated Sima Yong in 306 and welcomed Emperor Hui back to Luoyang on 28 June,[10] for his merits in the war, in c.September 306, Sima Xiao was appointed Minister of Works and transferred to Yecheng.[11]
After his victory, Sima Yue put out an order for Sima Ying's arrest, and Sima Ying fled with his sons Sima Pu (司馬普) the Prince of Lujiang and Sima Kuo (司馬廓) the Prince of Zhongdu, attempting to flee to Gongshi Fan (公師藩), when he was intercepted by Feng Song (馮嵩) the governor of Dunqiu Commandery (頓丘, roughly modern Puyang, Henan) and taken to Yecheng. Sima Xiao imprisoned Sima Ying but did not wish to kill him.
Death
[edit]Sima Xiao died of a sudden illness at Yecheng in c.December 306, just about two months after his appointment. After his death, his secretary Liu Yu (劉輿; brother of Liu Kun[12]), worried that there were still many of Sima Ying's supporters in the city, forged an edict ordering Sima Ying to commit suicide. Sima Ying's two sons were also killed with him.
References
[edit]- ^ ([咸宁四年]秋七月...癸巳，范阳王绥薨。) Jin Shu, vol.03
- ^ As Sima Xiao was sonless when he died, Sima Mo's son Sima Li was made Prince of Fanyang. Sima Li was later killed with Sima Mo at Chang'an. (无子，养模子黎为嗣，黎随模就国，于长安遇害。) Jin Shu, vol.37.
- ^ Sima Xiao's biography in Book of Jin recorded that he was 37 (by East Asian reckoning) when he died of a sudden illness in the 3rd year of the Yong'xing era. (永兴三年暴疾薨，时年三十七。) Jin Shu, vol.37. The 3rd year of the Yong'xing era is the same year as the 1st year of the Guang'xi era.
- ^ Both Emperor Hui's biography in Book of Jin and vol.86 of Zizhi Tongjian recorded that Sima Xiao died before Sima Ying in the same month (10th month of the 1st year of the Guang'xi era). The month corresponds to 22 Nov to 21 Dec 306 in the Julian calendar.
- ^ (虓字武会，...) Jin Shu, vol.37
- ^ Jin Shu, vol.37
- ^ (少好学，与元帝及范阳王虓俱有称于宗室。) Jin Shu, vol.37 (biography of Sima Mo). (少好学，驰誉，研考经记，清辩，能言论。) Jin Shu, vol.37 (biography of Sima Xiao)
- ^ Sima Sui's biography in Book of Jin recorded that he was appointed Prince of Fanyang when Emperor Wu ascended the throne (in February 266), was Prince of Fanyang for about 15 years and died in 279. (泰始元年受封，在位十五年。咸宁五年薨，...) Jin Shu, vol.37.
- ^ (從惠帝北伐，王師敗績於蕩陰，遂退還洛。大駕西幸長安，關東諸侯范陽王虓、高密王略、平昌公模等競召之，皆不就。) Jin Shu, vol.62. Other princes Zu declined to serve under included Sima Lüe (司馬略) and his younger brother Sima Mo (司馬模).
- ^ ([光熙元年]六月，丙辰朔，帝至洛阳，復羊後。) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86
- ^ ([光熙元年]八月，以司空越为太傅，录尚书事；范阳王虓为司空，镇邺；平昌公模为镇东大将军，镇许昌...) Zizhi Tongjian, vol.86. The month corresponds to 26 Aug to 23 Sep 306 in the Julian calendar. At the same occasion, Sima Yue changed his post from sikong to taifu, while Sima Mo was appointed Grand General Who Guards the East and transferred to Xuchang.
- ^ Jin Shu, vol.62
- Fang, Xuanling: Book of Jin (Jin Shu).
- Sima, Guang: Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance (Zizhi Tongjian)