 | This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
AfterLiu Bang defeatedXiang Yu andproclaimed himself emperor of theHan dynasty, he followed the practice of Xiang Yu and enfeoffed many generals, noblemen, and imperial relatives as kings (Chinese:王;pinyin:wáng),the same title borne by the sovereigns of theShang andZhou dynasties and by the rulers of theWarring States. Each king had his own semi-autonomous kingdom. This was a departure from the policy of theQin dynasty, which divided China into commanderies governed by non-hereditary governors.
The kings were divided into two groups:yìxìng wáng, literally "kings of different surnames", andtóngxìng wáng, literally "kings of the same surname", i.e., the imperial surnameLiu. All of the initial kings wereyixing wang, with manytongxing wang being created on former territories of removedyixing wang. Theyixing wang represented an obvious threat to the Han empire, and Liu Bang and his successors suppressed them as quickly as was practical: they had disappeared by 157 BC. Thetongxing wang were originally left to their own devices but, after theRebellion of the Seven States in 154 BC, their independence was curtailed. Eventually they lost most of their autonomy. For this reason, the title is also translated as "prince" when referring to later kings of the dynasty, to reflect both their link to the ruling house and the vestigial nature of the former vassal kingdoms.
The kings from other dynasties (Chinese:異姓王;pinyin:yìxìng wáng) were mostly remnants of therebellion against theQin dynasty. Following theDazexiang Uprising, many noblemen rose in rebellion. Heirs, pretenders, and warlords called themselves "kings" and claimed sovereignty as continuations of thesix states previously suppressed byQin. Among these,Chu was the most powerful. However, its rightful rulerHuai II was assassinated on the orders of the warlordXiang Yu and the18 Kingdoms Xiang had formed rose in rebellion against him.Liu Bang, king ofHan, ultimatelydefeated Chu and established the new Han dynasty. The kings who had sided with him were then permitted to maintain their titles and lands. A few other kingdoms were also formed by Liu Bang for generals and favorites.[citation needed]
Although nominally under the rule of the Han, these kings werede facto independent and held considerable power within their territories, which could span severalprefectures. As these kingdoms proved unruly, Liu Bang gradually subdued them through conspiracies, wars, and political maneuvering. Many were thus deposed and their kingdoms annexed by Han. As he was dying, the emperor ordered his ministers to swear an oath that only members of the royal house ofLiu would be created as kings thenceforth. This injunction was violated by his widow,Empress Dowager Lü, who established several kingdoms with her own relatives as kings. They were destroyed after her death. The last king of the Western Han was Wu Zhu,King Jing of Changsha, who died without an heir in 157 BC. After that, there were no kings outside the royal clan until theend of the Han dynasty, whenCao Cao styled himself King of Wei in AD 216.
The "kings of the same surname" (Chinese:同姓王;pinyin:tóngxìng wáng) were members of theHouse of Liu, sons, brothers, or descendants of the Han emperors. The Han emperors initially felt that creating these kingdoms would strengthen the house, particularly against the other kings. However, these princes became even more dangerous, as they were eligible to succeed the throne.
Several rebellions were attempted by these powerful princes during the reigns of the emperorsJing andWu. After theRebellion of the Seven Princes,Emperor Wu reformed the principalities, reducing them to single prefectures and granting superior authority to prime ministers appointed by the central government. The institution continued until the very end of the dynasty, however.
The Crown Prince in the Han dynasty was the heir apparent to the throne. The Crown Prince was normally the eldest son of the Emperor and the Empress, but not always. The power to nominate the Crown Prince lay with the throne, although the Emperor generally had to obtain the advice or consent of his high ministers. The Crown Prince would not be given a princedom but instead lived with the Emperor in the capital. When a prince became heir apparent, his principality merged with the realm and became extinct. The Crown Prince could be dismissed and this did indeed happen several times in the Han dynasty.
