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| Emperor Yuan of Wei 魏元帝 | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emperor ofCao Wei | |||||||||||||
| Reign | 27 June 260[1] – 4 February 266 | ||||||||||||
| Predecessor | Cao Mao | ||||||||||||
| Regent | Sima Zhao Sima Yan | ||||||||||||
| Duke of Changdao District, Anci County (安次縣常道鄉公) | |||||||||||||
| Tenure | 256 – 27 June 260 | ||||||||||||
| Prince of Chenliu (陳留王) | |||||||||||||
| Tenure | 4 February 266 – 302 | ||||||||||||
| Born | 246 | ||||||||||||
| Died | 302 (aged 56) | ||||||||||||
| Consorts | Empress Bian | ||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||
| House | House of Cao | ||||||||||||
| Father | Cao Yu, Duke of Yan | ||||||||||||
| Mother | Lady Zhang?[2] | ||||||||||||
Cao Huan (pronunciationⓘ) (246[3] – 302/303[4]),courtesy nameJingming, was the fifth and last emperor of the state ofCao Wei during theThree Kingdoms period. On 4 February 266, he abdicated the throne in favour of regentSima Yan (later Emperor Wu of theJin dynasty), and brought an end to the Wei regime. After his abdication, Cao Huan was granted the title "Prince of Chenliu" and held it until his death, after which he wasposthumously honoured as "Emperor Yuan (of Cao Wei)".[5]
Cao Huan's birth name was "Cao Huang" (曹璜). His father,Cao Yu, the Prince of Yan, was a son ofCao Cao, the father of Wei's first emperor,Cao Pi.[6] In 258, at the age of 12, in accordance with Wei's regulations that the sons of princes (other than the first-born son of the prince's spouse or wife, customarily designated the prince's heir) were to be instated as dukes, Cao Huan was instated as the "Duke of Changdao District" (常道鄉公).
In June 260, after the ruling emperorCao Mao waskilled in an attempt to seize back state power from the regentSima Zhao, Cao Huang was selected to succeed Cao Mao.[7]
At the time Cao Huang became emperor, his name was changed to "Cao Huan" because it was difficult to observenaming taboo with the name "Huang" (which was a homonym to many common terms—including "yellow"黃 and "emperor"皇). During Cao Huan's reign, the Sima clan controlled state power and Cao was merely a figurehead and head of state in name. On 28 Nov 263, Cao Huan instated his wifeLady Bian as empress.[8]
For the first few years of Cao Huan's reign, there were constant attacks by forces from the rivalShu Han state under the command of Shu generalJiang Wei. While Jiang Wei's attacks were largely easily repelled, Sima Zhao eventually ordered acounterattack on Shu with an invading force of 180,000 men commanded byZhong Hui andDeng Ai. In late 263,Liu Shan, then Shu emperor, surrendered to Deng, bringing an end to the state of Shu. After the fall of Shu, Deng Ai was framed for treason by Zhong Hui and stripped of command. In early 264, Zhong Hui plotted with Jiang Wei torestore Shu and eliminate all the Wei generals who might oppose him. However, the generals started a counterinsurgency and killed Zhong Hui and Jiang Wei. Shu's former territories (in present-daySichuan,Chongqing,Yunnan, southernShaanxi, and southeasternGansu) were completely annexed by Wei.
Wei itself did not last much longer after Shu's collapse. In December 263, Sima Zhao again forced Cao Huan to grant him thenine bestowments and this time he finally accepted, signifying that a usurpation was near; at the same time he was also made Duke of Jin. In May 264, Sima Zhao became avassal king under the title "King of Jin" — the final step before usurpation. After Sima Zhao died in September 265, his son,Sima Yan, inherited his father's position and on 4 February 266 forced Cao Huan to abdicate. Two days later, Cao Huan was located to Ye city, where he would live for the rest of his life. Sima Yan then established theJin dynasty on 8 February. He granted Cao Huan the title "Prince of Chenliu" which Cao Huan carried until his death.
Not much is known about Cao Huan's life as a prince under Jin rule. Sima Yan (posthumously known as Emperor Wu of Jin) permitted him to retain imperial banners and wagons and to worship ancestors with imperial ceremonies. He also permitted Cao Huan not to refer to himself as a subject of his. He died in 302 during the reign of Emperor Wu's son,Emperor Hui. He was buried with honours due an emperor and given theposthumous name "Yuan" by the Jin court.
It is not known who immediately succeeded Cao Huan as Prince of Chenliu, but in November or December 326, the title of Prince of Chenliu was conferred uponCao Mai, a great-great-grandson of Cao Cao,[9] who held the title until his death on 1 December 358.[10] He was succeeded by his son,Cao Hui, whose title was confirmed on 24 November 363.[11] The title of Prince of Chenliu would remain within the Cao clan until it was abolished on 25 September 479[12] during the reign ofXiao Daocheng, founding emperor ofSouthern Qi; the final Prince of Chenliu was Cao Can (曹粲).
Emperor Yuan of Cao Wei Born: 246 Died: 302 | ||
| Regnal titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Emperor of Cao Wei 260–266 withSima Zhao (260–265) Sima Yan (265–266) | Abolished |
| Titles in pretence | ||
| Preceded by | — TITULAR — Emperor of China 260–266 Reason for succession failure: Abdication | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | ||