Sima Xiao
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Sima Xiao (司馬虓; 270 - December 306),
courtesy name A courtesy name ( zh, s=字, p=zì, l=character), also known as a style name, is an additional name bestowed upon individuals at adulthood, complementing their given name. This tradition is prevalent in the East Asian cultural sphere, particula ...
Wuhui (武会), was a
Western Jin Western may refer to: Places *Western, Nebraska, a village in the US * Western, New York, a town in the US * Western Creek, Tasmania, a locality in Australia * Western Junction, Tasmania, a locality in Australia *Western world, countries that ...
imperial prince. He was a cousin of
Sima Yue Sima Yue (司馬越) (died 23 April 311), courtesy name Yuanchao (元超), formally Prince Xiaoxian of Donghai (東海孝獻王), was a Jin dynasty (266–420), Western Jin imperial prince and regent for Emperor Hui of Jin, Emperor Hui and Emper ...
, Prince Xiaoxian of Donghai, a
regent In a monarchy, a regent () is a person appointed to govern a state because the actual monarch is a minor, absent, incapacitated or unable to discharge their powers and duties, or the throne is vacant and a new monarch has not yet been dete ...
for Emperor Hui and Emperor Huai, and sided with Sima Yue when Yue became active in the
War of the Eight Princes The War of the Eight Princes, Rebellion of the Eight Kings, or Rebellion of the Eight Princes ( zh, t=八王之亂, s=八王之乱, p=bā wáng zhī luàn, w=pa wang chih luan) was a series of coups and civil wars among kings/princes (Chinese: '' ...
.


Background

Sima Xiao was the son of Sima Sui (司馬绥; posthumously known as Prince Kang of Fanyang (范阳康王)), who was the youngest son of
Sima Yi Sima Yi (; ; 179 CE7 September 251 CE), courtesy name Zhongda, was a Chinese military general, politician, and regent of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He formally began his political career in 208 under th ...
'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 Teng (司馬腾) (died June or July 307), courtesy name Yuanmai (元迈), posthumously known as Prince Wu'ai of Xincai, was a Western Jin imperial prince. He was a younger brother of Sima Yue, Prince Xiaoxian of Donghai, a regent for Empe ...
,
Sima Lue Sima Lüe (司馬略; died 5 April 309), courtesy name Yuanjian (元简), posthumously known as Prince Xiao of Gaomi, was a Western Jin imperial prince. He was a younger brother of Sima Yue, Prince Xiaoxian of Donghai, a regent for Emperor Hui ...
and Sima Mo. When Sima Sui died in August 278, Sima Xiao inherited the title of Prince of Fanyang at the age of eight. 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 Sima Mo (司馬模) (died October 311), courtesy name Yuanbiao (元表), was a Western Jin imperial prince. He was the youngest brother of Sima Yue, Prince Xiaoxian of Donghai, a regent for Emperor Hui and Emperor Huai. He was also the father ...
(Prince of Nanyang), and Sima Rui (the future Emperor Yuan) were praised.


During Emperor Hui's reign

In May 290, when Sima Xiao was about 20 years old, Emperor Wu died. Emperor Wu's successor, Emperor Hui was
developmentally disabled Developmental disability is a diverse group of chronic conditions, comprising mental or physical impairments that arise before adulthood. Developmental disabilities cause individuals living with them many difficulties in certain areas of life, espe ...
; 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 Yang Zhi (楊芷) (259 – 6 March 292), courtesy name Jilan (季蘭), nickname Nanyin (男胤), formally Empress Wudao (武悼皇后, literally "the martial and fearful empress") was an empress of the Jin dynasty. She was Emperor Wu's second ...
),
Sima Liang Sima Liang (司馬亮) (before 227 - 25 July 291), courtesy name Ziyi (子翼), formally Prince Wencheng of Ru'nan (汝南文成王), was briefly a regent during the reign of Emperor Hui during the Western Jin dynasty. He was the first of the ...
and
Wei Guan Wei Guan (220 – 25 July 291), courtesy name Boyu, was a Chinese military general and politician of the state of Cao Wei during the Three Kingdoms period of China. He served under the Jin dynasty after the end of the Three Kingdoms period. E ...
(who were co-regents), Empress
Jia Nanfeng Jia Nanfeng (257 – 13 May 300), nicknamed Shi (峕), was a Chinese empress consort. She was a daughter of Jia Chong and the first wife of Emperor Hui of the Jin dynasty and also a granddaughter of Jia Kui. She is commonly seen as a villain ...
(Emperor Hui's first wife) and
Sima Lun Sima Lun () (born before 250 – poisoned June 5, 301), courtesy name Ziyi (), was titled the Prince of Zhao () and the usurper of the Jin dynasty from February 3 to May 31, 301. He is usually not counted in the list of Jin emperors due to h ...
(Prince of Zhao) were poorly documented.


War of the Eight Princes

After
Sima Jiong Sima Jiong (司馬冏) (before 283 – 27 January 303), courtesy name Jingzhi (景治), formally Prince Wumin of Qi (齊武閔王), was an imperial prince of the Jin dynasty of China. He briefly served as Emperor Hui's regent after overthrowing ...
was killed in battle against
Sima Ai Sima Ai or Sima Yi (司馬乂) (277 – 19/20 March 304), courtesy name Shidu (士度), formally Prince Li of Changsha (長沙厲王), was a Jin dynasty imperial prince who briefly served as regent for his half-brother Emperor Hui. He was the ...
in January 303,
Liu Kun Liu Kun (; born December 1956) is a Chinese politician who served as the Minister of Finance from 2018 to 2023. Previously he served as director of Budgetary Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress, vice minister of Finance, and vi ...
and his family went to serve Sima Xiao. While
Emperor Hui of Jin Emperor Hui of Jin (; 259 – January 8, 307), personal name Sima Zhong (司馬衷), courtesy name Zhengdu (正度), was the second emperor of the Western Jin dynasty. Emperor Hui was a developmentally disabled ruler, and throughout his reign, th ...
was held hostage in
Chang'an Chang'an (; zh, t=長安, s=长安, p=Cháng'ān, first=t) is the traditional name of the city now named Xi'an and was the capital of several Chinese dynasties, ranging from 202 BCE to 907 CE. The site has been inhabited since Neolithic time ...
, Sima Xiao approached
Zu Ti Zu Ti (266 – October 321), courtesy name Shizhi, was a Chinese military general of the Jin dynasty. Between 313 and 321, he commanded an expeditionary force to reclaim territory in northern China that were lost during the Upheaval of the Fi ...
and invited Zu to serve him, but he declined. In August 305,
Sima Yue Sima Yue (司馬越) (died 23 April 311), courtesy name Yuanchao (元超), formally Prince Xiaoxian of Donghai (東海孝獻王), was a Jin dynasty (266–420), Western Jin imperial prince and regent for Emperor Hui of Jin, Emperor Hui and Emper ...
sent out a proclamation throughout the regions east of Luoyang calling for a campaign against
Sima Yong Sima Yong (司馬顒) (before 274 - late January 307), courtesy name Wenzai (文載), was a Jin dynasty imperial prince and briefly a regent for Emperor Hui. He was the seventh of eight princes commonly associated with the War of the Eight Pri ...
. He cited that
Zhang Fang Zhang Fang (died February 306) was a military general of the Jin dynasty (266–420). He was the influential general of the Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong during the War of the Eight Princes who helped him in subduing the Prince of Changshan, Sima ...
had forcibly moved Emperor Hui to
Chang'an Chang'an (; zh, t=長安, s=长安, p=Cháng'ān, first=t) is the traditional name of the city now named Xi'an and was the capital of several Chinese dynasties, ranging from 202 BCE to 907 CE. The site has been inhabited since Neolithic time ...
and aimed to bring him back to Luoyang. His brothers and several other prominent governors such as Wang Jun and Sima Xiao all joined him, and he also began handing out new appointments to his allies without the emperor's assent. Among the forces in the east, only the Inspector of Yu province, Liu Qiao and the self-declared Inspector of
Yan province Yan Province or Yanzhou was one of the Nine Provinces of ancient China, a list of regions compiled by Yu the Great when he toured the land after stopping the Great Flood and succeeding Emperor Yao. Description In the Shang Shu, translated b ...
, Sima Mao sided with Sima Yong after Yue attempted to remove them from their positions in September, with Liu Qiao accusing the prince of overstepping his authority. Liu Qiao sent his troops to block Yue from advancing west at
Xiao County Xiao County or Xiaoxian () is a county in the north of Anhui Province, China, bordering the provinces of Jiangsu to the north and northeast and Henan to the west. It is under the administration of the prefecture-level city of Suzhou. It was former ...
. On 20 November, Yong appointed Zhang Fang commander of 100,000 troops and sent him to assist Liu Qiao. Soon, Liu Qiao captured
Xuchang Xuchang ( zh, s=, t= ; postal: Hsuchang) is a prefecture-level city in central Henan province in Central China. It is bordered by the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the northwest, Kaifeng to the northeast, Zhoukou to the east, Luohe ...
from Sima Xiao, prompting him to flee to
Ji province Ji Province, also known by its Chinese name Jizhou, was one of the Nine Provinces of ancient China. It is referenced in Chinese historical texts such as the ''Tribute of Yu'', ''Erya'' and ''Rites of Zhou''. It consisted of lands north of the Y ...
. Due to the early setbacks, a general of Yue, Chen Min, received permission to go east to recruit more soldiers. However, once there, Chen Min instead rebelled and took control of the
Jiangnan Jiangnan is a geographic area in China referring to lands immediately to the south of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, including the southern part of its delta. The region encompasses the city of Shanghai, the southern part of Jiangsu ...
region. In Ji province, Sima Xiao received some elite
Xianbei The Xianbei (; ) were an ancient nomadic people that once resided in the eastern Eurasian steppes in what is today Mongolia, Inner Mongolia, and Northeastern China. The Xianbei were likely not of a single ethnicity, but rather a multiling ...
and
Wuhuan The Wuhuan (, < Eastern Han Chinese: *''ʔɑ-ɣuɑn'', <
Liu Kun Liu Kun (; born December 1956) is a Chinese politician who served as the Minister of Finance from 2018 to 2023. Previously he served as director of Budgetary Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress, vice minister of Finance, and vi ...
launched a successful counterattack on Yong and Liu Qiao's forces in January 306, killing Shi Chao at Xingyang. Xiao's forces then routed Sima Mao at Linqiu (廩丘, in present-day
Puyang Puyang is a prefecture-level city in northeastern Henan province, People's Republic of China. Located on the northern shore of the Yellow River, it borders Anyang in the west, Xinxiang in the southwest, and the provinces of Shandong and Hebei ...
,
Henan Henan; alternatively Honan is a province in Central China. Henan is home to many heritage sites, including Yinxu, the ruins of the final capital of the Shang dynasty () and the Shaolin Temple. Four of the historical capitals of China, Lu ...
) and forced him to flee back to his fief in Dongping. Then, they won a great victory over Liu Qiao at
Qiao Commandery Bozhou () is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Anhui province, China. It borders Huaibei to the northeast, Bengbu to the southeast, Huainan to the south, Fuyang to the southwest, and Henan to the north. Its population was 4,996,844 at the ...
, causing his army to collapse. After Sima Yue defeated
Sima Yong Sima Yong (司馬顒) (before 274 - late January 307), courtesy name Wenzai (文載), was a Jin dynasty imperial prince and briefly a regent for Emperor Hui. He was the seventh of eight princes commonly associated with the War of the Eight Pri ...
later in 306 and welcomed Emperor Hui back to Luoyang on 28 June, for his merits in the war, in September 306, Sima Xiao was appointed Minister of Works and transferred to Yecheng. After his victory, Sima Yue put out an order for
Sima Ying Sima Ying (司馬穎) (279 – December 306), courtesy name Zhangdu (章度), was a Jin dynasty imperial prince who served briefly as his half-brother Emperor Hui of Jin's regent and crown prince. He was the sixth of eight princes commonly assoc ...
'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

Sima Xiao died of a sudden illness at Yecheng in December 306, just about two months after his appointment. After his death, his secretary Liu Yu (劉輿; brother of
Liu Kun Liu Kun (; born December 1956) is a Chinese politician who served as the Minister of Finance from 2018 to 2023. Previously he served as director of Budgetary Affairs Commission of the National People's Congress, vice minister of Finance, and vi ...
''Jin Shu'', vol.62), 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

* Fang, Xuanling: ''
Book of Jin The ''Book of Jin'' is an official Chinese historical text covering the history of the Jin dynasty (266–420), Jin dynasty from 266 to 420. It was compiled in 648 by a number of officials commissioned by the imperial court of the Tang dynasty, ...
'' (''Jin Shu''). * Sima, Guang: ''Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance'' (''
Zizhi Tongjian The ''Zizhi Tongjian'' (1084) is a chronicle published during the Northern Song dynasty (960–1127) that provides a record of Chinese history from 403 BC to 959 AD, covering 16 dynasties and spanning almost 1400 years. The main text is ...
'') * {{DEFAULTSORT:Sima, Xiao 270 births 306 deaths Jin dynasty (266–420) generals Jin dynasty (266–420) imperial princes