| Duke Huan of Tian Qi 田齊桓公 | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ruler ofQi | |||||||||
| Reign | 374–357 BC | ||||||||
| Predecessor | Tian Yan | ||||||||
| Successor | King Wei of Qi | ||||||||
| Born | 400 BC | ||||||||
| Died | 357 BC (aged 43) | ||||||||
| Issue | King Wei of Qi | ||||||||
| |||||||||
| House | Gui | ||||||||
| Dynasty | Tian Qi | ||||||||
| Father | Duke Tai of Tian Qi | ||||||||
| Mother | Consort Xiao (孝大妃) | ||||||||
Duke Huan of Tian Qi (Chinese:田齊桓公;pinyin:Tián Qí Huán Gōng), personal nameTian Wu, was a monarch of theQi state, reigning from 374 BC to 357 BC.[1]
Duke Huan was born in 400 BC, during the reign ofDuke Kang, the last Qi ruler from the House of Jiang. In 386 BC Duke Kang was deposed by Duke Huan's fatherDuke Tai of Tian Qi, the first Qi ruler from the House of Tian. Duke Tai died in 384 BC and was succeeded by his sonTian Yan, Duke Huan's elder brother. In 375 BC Duke Huan murdered Tian Yan and his son Tian Xi, and usurped the throne.[1][2]
Duke Huan ruled through a period of war and instability. In the first five years of his reign, Qi was invaded by the states ofLu,Wei,Wey, andZhao on separate occasions.[1] And besides murdering his brother and nephew, theBamboo Annals also records that he killed his mother in the 11th year of his reign.[2] Although his grandsonKing Xuan is generally credited with the establishment of theJixia Academy, other Chinese sources trace it to Duke Huan.[3]
Duke Huan reigned for 18 years and died in 357 BC, at the age of 43. He was succeeded by his son Tian Yinqi, under whose reign Qi would become the most powerful state of China. Yinqi would also be the first ruler to declare himself King of Qi, and is posthumously known asKing Wei of Qi.[1]
Duke Huan's mausoleum is located on the Dingzu Mountain (鼎足山) near Qiling Town, inLinzi District ofZibo,Shandong, near the ancient Qi capitalLinzi. There are twohill-like tombs built on the same platform. Together they measure 190 metres (620 ft) from north to south, 320 metres (1,050 ft) from east to west, and 30 metres (98 ft) high.[4][5] The area is called Two Kings' Cemetery (二王冢), and had been for 2,000 years thought to be the tombs of earlierDuke Huan of Qi andDuke Jing of Qi. However, archaeologists have concluded that they are in fact the tombs of Duke Huan of Tian Qi andYan, Duke of Qi, the brother he had murdered.[4]
All seven known mausoleums of Tian Qi rulers are now protected as aNational Historical and Cultural Site.[4] Since 2008 they have been included in the tentative list of UNESCOWorld Heritage Sites as part of the ancient Qi capital and mausoleum complex.[5]
Sons:
| Viscount Cheng of Tian | |||||||||||||||||||
| Viscount Xiang of Tian | |||||||||||||||||||
| Viscount Zhuang of Tian (d. 411 BC) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Duke Tai of Tian Qi (d. 384 BC) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Duke Huan of Tian Qi (400–357 BC) | |||||||||||||||||||
| Consort Xiao | |||||||||||||||||||
Duke Huan of Tian Qi Born: 400 BC Died: 357 BC | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Ruler ofQi 374–357 BC | Succeeded by |