Ran Zhi (; died ) was the

crown prince A crown prince or hereditary prince is the heir apparent to the throne in a royal or imperial monarchy. The female form of the title, crown princess, is held by a woman who is heir apparent or is married to the heir apparent. ''Crown prince ...

of the short-lived Chinese state Ran Wei. His father was the state's only emperor, Ran Min. Ran Zhi, as Ran Min's oldest son, was created

when he proclaimed the new state in 350 after overthrowing the Later Zhao emperor Shi Jian and declared himself emperor. He created Ran Zhi's mother Lady Dong empress. After he was captured and executed by Former Yan's prince Murong Jun in 352, Empress Dong tried to hold out but was eventually forced to surrender. Murong Jun created her the Lady Fengxi and created Ran Zhi the Marquess of Haibin. In 354, the Former Yan official Song Bin (宋斌) was accused of leading a plot to have Ran Zhi made emperor, and it was said that all who were involved were executed — implying, but not explicitly stating, that Ran Zhi was executed as well.

Notes and references

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ran, Zhi 4th-century births 350s deaths Sixteen Kingdoms nobility Later Zhao people Ran Wei People executed by Former Yan 4th-century executions