Murong Yong
Encyclopedia
Murong Yong (died 394), courtesy name Shuming (叔明), was the last emperor
of the Chinese
/Xianbei
state Western Yan
. He was the grandson of Murong Yun (慕容運), the uncle of Former Yan
's founder Murong Huang
. As a member of Former Yan's imperial clan, he was moved to Guanzhong
, Former Qin
's capital region, when Former Qin destroyed Former Yan in 370. He was described as poor, and he and his wife made their living by selling boots.
Murong Yong apparently became a Western Yan general in 384, when its first two rulers Murong Hong
and Murong Chong
rose against Former Qin. The first actual historical reference to his actions, however, was in 386, when, after Murong Chong was assassinated by the general Han Yan (韓延) and replaced by Duan Sui
, Murong Yong and another general, Murong Heng (慕容恆), jointly attacked Duan Sui and killed him, replacing him with Murong Yi
. The Xianbei people then abandoned Chang'an
, formerly Former Qin's capital, and headed east back toward their homeland. Later that month, however, after Murong Heng's brother Murong Tao (慕容韜) killed Murong Yi, and Murong Heng supported Murong Chong's son Murong Yao
to replace Murong Yi, Murong Yong, along with another general Diao Yun (刁雲), attacked Murong Tao, forcing him to flee to Murong Heng. Later that month, Murong Yong killed Murong Yao and replaced him with Murong Hong's son Murong Zhong
.
Three months later, however, Diao killed Murong Zhong and supported Murong Yong to replace him. Murong Yong claimed the title of Prince of Hedong and sought to be a vassal of the Later Yan
emperor Murong Chui
. He also tried to negotiate with the Former Qin emperor Fu Pi
, asking Fu Pi to allow him a path back east, but Fu Pi refused and tried to intercept Western Yan forces. Murong Yong defeated Fu Pi, killing his prime minister Wang Yong (王永) and general Juqu Jushizi (沮渠俱石子), and while Fu Pi fled, Murong Yong captured most of his officials and his wife Empress Yang
. Fu Pi soon died at the hands of the Jin
general Feng Gai (馮該).
Murong Yong took over Fu Pi's territory (roughly modern central and southern Shanxi
), establishing a capital at Zhangzi (長子, in modern Changzhi
, Shanxi
). He also claimed imperial title, thus signifying a break with Murong Chui. He was ready to make Fu Pi's Empress Yang a concubine, but she tried to stab him with a sword, and he killed her. In fear of their lives, Murong Chui's son Murong Rou (慕容柔) and grandsons Murong Sheng
and Murong Hui
, who had been part of Western Yan's exodus, escaped and fled to Later Yan's capital Zhongshan (中山, in modern Baoding
, Hebei
), perhaps with good reason, for Murong Yong, in 387 or 388, ordered that all descendants of Murong Chui or the Former Yan emperor Murong Jun
be slaughtered.
Murong Yong, once he settled in Zhangzi, carried out few military campaigns and appeared to be content with his domain. In 387, he did briefly engage Later Qin
's emperor Yao Chang
in battle, but did not seriously attack Yao. In 390, he headed for the Jin city of Luoyang
, but the Jin general Zhu Xu (朱序) defeated him, and he withdrew. He attacked Luoyang again in 391 but was again repelled by Jin forces.
In 392, the Dingling
chief Zhai Zhao
, whose father Zhai Liao
had years earlier rebelled against Later Yan and claimed the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang
) and established a Wei state, was sieged by Murong Chui in his capital Huatai (滑台, in modern Anyang
, Henan
), and sought aid from Murong Yong. Murong Yong, wanting to let Murong Chui and Zhai Zhao wear each other out—not realizing that Murong Chui, being far stronger than Zhai Zhao, could crush Zhai Zhao easily—refused to go to Zhai Zhao's aid, and Murong Chui conquered Wei lands easily. Zhai Zhao fled to Western Yan and was created a prince, but a year later, suspecting Zhai of treason, Murong Yong killed Zhai.
In 393, Murong Chui, under advice of his brother Murong De
, decided to attack Murong Yong to end any doubt about the Yan succession. In early 394, he got his forces ready in battle posture, but did not attack for several months. Murong Yong thought Murong Chui was trying for a trick attack and tried to anticipate it, but Murong Chui then attacked by three different routes, leading the main army heading for Zhangzi. Murong Yong personally engaged Murong Chui but was defeated, and he fled back to Zhangzi to try to defend the city. He also sought emergency aid from Jin and Northern Wei
, but before Jin and Northern Wei forces could arrive, Zhangzi fell, and Murong Chui captured and executed Murong Yong. Western Yan was at its end, and its territory was annexed to Later Yan.
Both his sons died in 394, presumably killed along with him.
Emperor
An emperor is a monarch, usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife or a woman who rules in her own right...
of the Chinese
History of China
Chinese civilization originated in various regional centers along both the Yellow River and the Yangtze River valleys in the Neolithic era, but the Yellow River is said to be the Cradle of Chinese Civilization. With thousands of years of continuous history, China is one of the world's oldest...
/Xianbei
Xianbei
The Xianbei were a significant Mongolic nomadic people residing in Manchuria, Inner Mongolia and eastern Mongolia. The title “Khan” was first used among the Xianbei.-Origins:...
state Western Yan
Western Yan
The Western Yan was a state of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China. It was founded by Murong Hong in 384 in the aftermaths of Former Qin's defeat by Jin Dynasty at the Battle of Fei River, with the stated intent of permitting the Xianbei, whom Former Qin's emperor Fu...
. He was the grandson of Murong Yun (慕容運), the uncle of Former Yan
Former Yan
The Former Yan was a state of Xianbei ethnicity during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China.Initially, Murong Huang and his son Murong Jun claimed the Jin Dynasty -created title "Prince of Yan," but subsequently, in 352, after seizing most of the former Later Zhao territory, Murong Juan would...
's founder Murong Huang
Murong Huang
Murong Huang , courtesy name Yuanzhen , formally Prince Wenming of Yan was a ruler of the Chinese/Xianbei state Former Yan and the commonly recognized founder of the state...
. As a member of Former Yan's imperial clan, he was moved to Guanzhong
Guanzhong
Guanzhong , or Guanzhong Plain, is a historical region of China corresponding to the lower valley of the Wei River. It is called Guanzhong or 'within the passes' to distinguish it from 'Guandong' or 'east of the pass', that is, the North China Plain. The North China Plain is bordered on the west by...
, Former Qin
Former Qin
The Former Qin was a state of the Sixteen Kingdoms in China. Founded by the Fu family of the Di ethnicity, it completed the unification of North China in 376. Its capital had been Xi'an up to the death of the ruler Fu Jiān. Despite its name, the Former Qin was much later and less powerful than...
's capital region, when Former Qin destroyed Former Yan in 370. He was described as poor, and he and his wife made their living by selling boots.
Murong Yong apparently became a Western Yan general in 384, when its first two rulers Murong Hong
Murong Hong
Murong Hong was the founder of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan. He was a son of the Former Yan emperor Murong Jun and a younger brother of Former Yan emperor Murong Wei....
and Murong Chong
Murong Chong
Murong Chong , formally Emperor Wei of Yan , was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan. He was a son of the Former Yan emperor Murong Jun and a younger brother of Former Yan emperor Murong Wei....
rose against Former Qin. The first actual historical reference to his actions, however, was in 386, when, after Murong Chong was assassinated by the general Han Yan (韓延) and replaced by Duan Sui
Duan Sui
Duan Sui was a ruler of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan. He was the only ruler of the short-lived state who was not a member of the Murong clan, the imperial clan of Former Yan....
, Murong Yong and another general, Murong Heng (慕容恆), jointly attacked Duan Sui and killed him, replacing him with Murong Yi
Murong Yi
Murong Yi was a ruler of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan. He was a son of the Former Yan Prince of Yidu, Murong Huan , a son of the founder of Former Yan, Murong Huang....
. The Xianbei people then abandoned Chang'an
Chang'an
Chang'an is an ancient capital of more than ten dynasties in Chinese history, today known as Xi'an. Chang'an literally means "Perpetual Peace" in Classical Chinese. During the short-lived Xin Dynasty, the city was renamed "Constant Peace" ; yet after its fall in AD 23, the old name was restored...
, formerly Former Qin's capital, and headed east back toward their homeland. Later that month, however, after Murong Heng's brother Murong Tao (慕容韜) killed Murong Yi, and Murong Heng supported Murong Chong's son Murong Yao
Murong Yao
Murong Yao was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan. He was the son of Murong Chong , the son of the Former Yan emperor Murong Jun....
to replace Murong Yi, Murong Yong, along with another general Diao Yun (刁雲), attacked Murong Tao, forcing him to flee to Murong Heng. Later that month, Murong Yong killed Murong Yao and replaced him with Murong Hong's son Murong Zhong
Murong Zhong
Murong Zhong was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Western Yan. He was the son of Western Yan's founder, Murong Hong the Prince of Jibei, a son of the Former Yan emperor Murong Jun....
.
Three months later, however, Diao killed Murong Zhong and supported Murong Yong to replace him. Murong Yong claimed the title of Prince of Hedong and sought to be a vassal of the Later Yan
Later Yan
The Later Yan was a Murong-Xianbei state, located in modern day northeast China, during the era of Sixteen Kingdoms in China.All rulers of the Later Yan declared themselves "emperors". Later Yan fell to the Goguryeo dynasty.-Rulers of the Later Yan:...
emperor Murong Chui
Murong Chui
Murong Chui , courtesy name Daoming , formally Emperor Wucheng of Yan was a great general of the Chinese/Xianbei state Former Yan who later became the founding emperor of Later Yan...
. He also tried to negotiate with the Former Qin emperor Fu Pi
Fu Pi
Fu Pi , courtesy name Yongshu , formally Emperor Aiping of Qin , was an emperor of the Chinese/Di state Former Qin...
, asking Fu Pi to allow him a path back east, but Fu Pi refused and tried to intercept Western Yan forces. Murong Yong defeated Fu Pi, killing his prime minister Wang Yong (王永) and general Juqu Jushizi (沮渠俱石子), and while Fu Pi fled, Murong Yong captured most of his officials and his wife Empress Yang
Empress Yang (Aiping)
Empress Yang was an empress of the Chinese/Di state Former Qin. Her husband was Fu Pi ....
. Fu Pi soon died at the hands of the Jin
Jìn Dynasty (265-420)
The Jìn Dynasty , was a dynasty in Chinese history, lasting between the years 265 and 420 AD. There are two main divisions in the history of the Dynasty, the first being Western Jin and the second Eastern Jin...
general Feng Gai (馮該).
Murong Yong took over Fu Pi's territory (roughly modern central and southern Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
), establishing a capital at Zhangzi (長子, in modern Changzhi
Changzhi
Changzhi is a prefecture-level city in Shanxi Province, People's Republic of China. It lies between the city of Huozhou in Shanxi and the city of Hebi in Henan....
, Shanxi
Shanxi
' is a province in Northern China. Its one-character abbreviation is "晋" , after the state of Jin that existed here during the Spring and Autumn Period....
). He also claimed imperial title, thus signifying a break with Murong Chui. He was ready to make Fu Pi's Empress Yang a concubine, but she tried to stab him with a sword, and he killed her. In fear of their lives, Murong Chui's son Murong Rou (慕容柔) and grandsons Murong Sheng
Murong Sheng
Murong Sheng , courtesy name Daoyun , formally Emperor Zhaowu of Yan , was an emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Later Yan. He was the oldest son of Murong Bao , and after Murong Bao was killed by Lan Han avenged his father in a coup and took the throne...
and Murong Hui
Murong Hui (Later Yan)
Murong Hui was a general and imperial prince of the Chinese/Xianbei state Later Yan, who served under his grandfather Murong Chui and father Murong Bao...
, who had been part of Western Yan's exodus, escaped and fled to Later Yan's capital Zhongshan (中山, in modern Baoding
Baoding
-Administrative divisions:Baoding prefecture-level city consists of 3 municipal districts, 4 county-level cities, 18 counties:-Demographics:The Baoding urban area has a population of around 1,006,000 . The population of the Baoding administrative area is 10,890,000. The considerable majority are...
, Hebei
Hebei
' is a province of the People's Republic of China in the North China region. Its one-character abbreviation is "" , named after Ji Province, a Han Dynasty province that included what is now southern Hebei...
), perhaps with good reason, for Murong Yong, in 387 or 388, ordered that all descendants of Murong Chui or the Former Yan emperor Murong Jun
Murong Jun
Murong Jun , courtesy name Xuanying , formally Emperor Jingzhao of Yan , was an emperor of the Chinese state Former Yan...
be slaughtered.
Murong Yong, once he settled in Zhangzi, carried out few military campaigns and appeared to be content with his domain. In 387, he did briefly engage Later Qin
Later Qin
The Later Qin was a state of Qiang ethnicity of the Sixteen Kingdoms during the Jin Dynasty in China. Note that the Later Qin is entirely distinct from the ancient Qin Dynasty, the Former Qin, and the Western Qin....
's emperor Yao Chang
Yao Chang
Yao Chang , courtesy name Jingmao , formally Emperor Wuzhao of Qin , was the founding emperor of the Chinese/Qiang state Later Qin...
in battle, but did not seriously attack Yao. In 390, he headed for the Jin city of Luoyang
Luoyang
Luoyang is a prefecture-level city in western Henan province of Central China. It borders the provincial capital of Zhengzhou to the east, Pingdingshan to the southeast, Nanyang to the south, Sanmenxia to the west, Jiyuan to the north, and Jiaozuo to the northeast.Situated on the central plain of...
, but the Jin general Zhu Xu (朱序) defeated him, and he withdrew. He attacked Luoyang again in 391 but was again repelled by Jin forces.
In 392, the Dingling
Dingling
The Dingling were an ancient Siberian people. They originally lived on the bank of the Lena River in the area west of Lake Baikal, gradually moving southward to Mongolia and northern China...
chief Zhai Zhao
Zhai Zhao
Zhao Zhao was the last ruler of the Chinese/Dingling state Wei. During his reign, he used the title "Heavenly Prince" , roughly equivalent to emperor....
, whose father Zhai Liao
Zhai Liao
Zhao Liao was the founder of the Chinese/Dingling state Wei. During his reign, he used the title "Heavenly Prince" , roughly equivalent to emperor.-Early career:...
had years earlier rebelled against Later Yan and claimed the title "Heavenly Prince" (Tian Wang
Tian Wang
Tian Wang , translatable as either "heavenly prince" or "heavenly king," was a Chinese regal title that was most frequently used during the Sixteen Kingdoms era, among the kingdoms founded by members of the Wu Hu tribes, often used as an intermediate stage from claiming a prince/king title to an...
) and established a Wei state, was sieged by Murong Chui in his capital Huatai (滑台, in modern Anyang
Anyang
Anyang is a prefecture-level city in Henan province, People's Republic of China. The northernmost city in Henan, Anyang borders Puyang to the east, Hebi and Xinxiang to the south, and the provinces of Shanxi and Hebei to its west and north respectively....
, Henan
Henan
Henan , is a province of the People's Republic of China, located in the central part of the country. Its one-character abbreviation is "豫" , named after Yuzhou , a Han Dynasty state that included parts of Henan...
), and sought aid from Murong Yong. Murong Yong, wanting to let Murong Chui and Zhai Zhao wear each other out—not realizing that Murong Chui, being far stronger than Zhai Zhao, could crush Zhai Zhao easily—refused to go to Zhai Zhao's aid, and Murong Chui conquered Wei lands easily. Zhai Zhao fled to Western Yan and was created a prince, but a year later, suspecting Zhai of treason, Murong Yong killed Zhai.
In 393, Murong Chui, under advice of his brother Murong De
Murong De
Murong De , name changed in 400 to Murong Beide , courtesy name Xuanming , formally Emperor Xianwu of Yan , was the founding emperor of the Chinese/Xianbei state Southern Yan...
, decided to attack Murong Yong to end any doubt about the Yan succession. In early 394, he got his forces ready in battle posture, but did not attack for several months. Murong Yong thought Murong Chui was trying for a trick attack and tried to anticipate it, but Murong Chui then attacked by three different routes, leading the main army heading for Zhangzi. Murong Yong personally engaged Murong Chui but was defeated, and he fled back to Zhangzi to try to defend the city. He also sought emergency aid from Jin and Northern Wei
Northern Wei
The Northern Wei Dynasty , also known as the Tuoba Wei , Later Wei , or Yuan Wei , was a dynasty which ruled northern China from 386 to 534 . It has been described as "part of an era of political turbulence and intense social and cultural change"...
, but before Jin and Northern Wei forces could arrive, Zhangzi fell, and Murong Chui captured and executed Murong Yong. Western Yan was at its end, and its territory was annexed to Later Yan.
Sons
- Murong Liang (慕容亮), Crown Prince
- Murong Hong (慕容弘), Duke of Changshan
Both his sons died in 394, presumably killed along with him.