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{{Short description|291–306 AD series of civil wars in the Chinese Jin dynasty}}
{{see also|Military history of the Jin dynasty and the Sixteen Kingdoms}}
{{More citations needed|date=March 2025}}
The '''War of the Eight Princes''', '''Rebellion of the Eight Kings''', or '''Rebellion of the Eight Princes''' ({{lang-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: ''wáng'' 王) of the Chinese [[Jin dynasty (266–420)#Western Jin (266–316)|Western Jin dynasty]] from 291 to 306 AD. The key point of contention in these conflicts was the paramountcy over the empire in light of the developmentally disabled [[Emperor Hui of Jin]]. The name of the conflict is derived from the biographies of the eight princes collected in Chapter 59 of the ''[[Book of Jin]]''.

The "War of the Eight Princes" is somewhat of a [[misnomer]]: rather than one continuous conflict, the War of the Eight Princes saw intervals of peace interposed with short and intense periods of internecine conflict. At no point in the whole conflict were all of the eight princes on one side of the fighting (as opposed to, for example, the [[Rebellion of the Seven States]]). The initial conflicts prior to the coalition against [[Sima Lun]] in 301 also cannot be considered as wars, but rather a series of political intrigues and [[Coup d'état|''coups d'état'']]. The literal Chinese translation, '''Disorder of the Eight Kings''', may be more appropriate in this regard.

While initial conflicts were relatively minor and confined to the imperial capital of [[Luoyang]] and its surroundings, the scope of the war expanded with each new prince who entered the struggle. The civil wars opened the empire to rebellions, most notably by tribal subjects that had resettled into the [[Zhongyuan|Central Plains]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Jacques Gernet |title=A History of Chinese Civilization |date=1996 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=0521497817 |page=180 |edition=illustrated, reprint, revised}}</ref> At its conclusion, the war devastated the Jin heartlands in northern China, and ushered in the [[Sixteen Kingdoms]] era in northern China, causing more than a century of warfare between the numerous short-lived dynasties in the north and the [[Jin dynasty (266–420)#Eastern Jin (317–420)|Eastern Jin dynasty]] in the south.

==The Eight Princes==
While many princes participated in the conflict, the eight major players in this conflict were:
{| class="sortable wikitable"  style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none"
|-style="background:#CCCC;" 
|+ War of the Eight Princes (291–306)
|-
! Prince  || Title || Lifespan
|-
| [[Sima Liang]]   || Prince Wencheng of [[Runan Commandery|Runan]] || ?–Jul 291
|-
| [[Sima Wei]]  || Prince Yin of [[Nan Commandery|Chu]] || 271–Jul 291
|-
| [[Sima Lun]]  || Prince of [[Zhao Commandery|Zhao]] || ?–Jun 301
|-
| [[Sima Jiong]]  || Prince Wumin of [[Qi Commandery|Qi]] || ?–Jan 303
|-
| [[Sima Ai]] (''or'' Sima Yi)  || Prince Li of [[Changsha]]|| 277–Mar 304
|-
| [[Sima Ying]]  || Prince of [[Chengdu]]|| 279–306
|-
| [[Sima Yong]]  || Prince of [[Hejian Commandery|Hejian]] || ?–Jan 307
|-
| [[Sima Yue]]  || Prince Xiaoxian of [[Donghai Commandery|Donghai]] || ?–Apr 311
|}
Other people of note included [[Emperor Hui of Jin]], Emperor Hui's first regent [[Yang Jun (minister)|Yang Jun]], [[Yang Zhi (empress)|Empress Dowager Yang]], Empress [[Jia Nanfeng]], and the senior minister [[Wei Guan]]. It is also important to note that the fiefdom titles of the princes do not reflect their base of operation. Although Sima Ying was the Prince of [[Chengdu]], he mostly operated in [[Ye (Hebei)|Ye]] and was never near his fief,<ref>According to Emperor Hui's biography in ''Jin Shu'' and vol.83 of ''Zizhi Tongjian'', Sima Ying was stationed at Ye in early 299. Jin rebel [[Li Xiong]] would later occupy Chengdu in late 304, and declare himself the Prince of Chengdu.</ref> while Sima Yong, the Prince of [[Hejian Commandery|Hejian]], mainly stayed around [[Chang'an]]. Only Sima Yue made use of his fief in [[Donghai Commandery|Donghai]] as a base during the course of the conflict. The rest of the princes were in [[Luoyang]] at their respective height of power.

The conflict can be divided into two parts. The initial period (290–291) mainly concerns the power struggle between the Yang and Jia clans as they fought for control for Emperor Hui in the wake of his ascension. Sima Liang and Sima Wei were the only two of the Eight Princes involved, and fighting was only limited to coups in the capital, [[Luoyang]]. The later period (300–306) began following the fall of the Jia clan, who held power over the imperial court behind Emperor Hui for a decade before they were deposed by Sima Lun in 300. This period, particularly after Sima Lun's usurpation in February 301, escalated into a series of civil wars in northern China as Emperor Hui changed hands several times to the remaining six princes.

===Family Tree===

{{chart top|collapsed=no|width=auto|The Eight Princes}}
{| style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"
| align="left" |
*{{Color sample|border=#FFFF00|white; border-width:3px}} – Emperors;
*{{Color sample|border=#CC0000|white; border-width:3px}} – The Eight Princes
* - - - - - = The dashed line denotes an adoption
| 
|}
{{tree chart/start|align=center|style=font-size:110%;| summary=Boxes and lines diagram with 52 boxes}}

{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | | | | | | | Fan | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Fan={{nowrap|[[Sima Fang]] <br /><small>司馬防 149–219 </small>}}}}
{{tree chart|border=1| |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.| | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1| Lan | | SFu | | | | | | Yis | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Kui | | | | |Lan={{nowrap|[[Sima Lang]] <br /><small>司馬朗 171–217</small>}}|SFu={{nowrap|[[Sima Fu]] <br /><small>司馬孚 180–272<br />Prince Xian <br />of Anping</small>}}|Yis={{nowrap|[[Sima Yi]] <br /><small>司馬懿 179–251<br />Emperor Xuan<br /> ''Posthumous recognition''</small> }}|Kui={{nowrap|Sima Kui <br /><small>司馬馗</small>}}}}
{{tree chart|border=1|:| |,|-|-|(| | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|.| | | |!| | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1| Wan | | Gui | | Zha | |Lia  | |Lun  | | Shi | | Zhu | | Tai | | | | |Wan={{nowrap|[[Sima Wang]] <br /><small>司馬望 205–271<br />Prince Cheng <br />of Yiyang</small>}}|Gui={{nowrap|Sima Gui <br /><small>司馬瓌 d. 274<br />Prince Lie <br />of Taiyuan</small>}}|Zha={{nowrap|[[Sima Zhao]] <br /><small>司馬昭 211–265<br />Emperor Wen<br /> ''Posthumous recognition''</small>}}|Lia={{nowrap|[[Sima Liang]] <br /><small>司馬亮 d. 291<br />Prince Wencheng <br />of Runan</small>}}|boxstyle_Lia=border-width:2px; border-color: #CC0000;|Lun={{nowrap|[[Sima Lun]] <br /><small>司馬倫  d. 301<br />Prince of Zhao</small>}}|boxstyle_Lun=border-width:2px; border-color: #CC0000;|Shi={{nowrap|[[Sima Shi]] <br /><small>司馬師 208–255<br />Emperor Jing<br /> ''Posthumous recognition''</small>}}|Zhu={{nowrap|[[Sima Zhou]] <br /><small>司馬伷 227–283<br /> Prince Wu <br />of Langya</small>}}|Tai={{nowrap|Sima Tai<br /><small>司馬泰 d. 299<br />Prince Wenxian <br />of Gaomi</small>}}}}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | |!| | | |)|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|-|.|:| | |!| | | |!| | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | |Yon  | |Wud  | | | | | | | | | | You | | Jin | |Yue  | | |Yon={{nowrap|[[Sima Yong]] <br /><small>司馬顒 d. 307<br />Prince of Hejian</small>}}|boxstyle_Yon=border-width:2px; border-color: #CC0000;|Wud={{nowrap|Sima Yan <br /><small>司馬炎 236–290<br />'''[[Emperor Wu of Jìn|Emperor Wu]] '''<br />r. 265–290</small>}}|boxstyle_Wud=border-width:2px; border-color: #FFFF00|You={{nowrap|[[Sima You]] <br /><small>司馬攸 248–283<br />Prince Xian <br />of Qi</small>}}|Jin={{nowrap|Sima Jin<br /><small>司馬覲 256–290<br />Prince Gong <br />of Langya</small>}}|Yue={{nowrap|[[Sima Yue]] <br /><small>司馬越 d. 311<br />Prince Xiaoxian<br />of Donghai</small>}}|boxstyle_Yue=border-width:2px; border-color: #CC0000;}}
{{tree chart|border=1| |,|-|-|-|v|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | |!| | | |!| | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1|Hui  | |Wei  | | |!| | |SAi  | | | | | |Jio  | |Yua  | | | | | | |Hui={{nowrap|Sima Zhong <br /><small>司馬衷  259–307<br />'''[[Emperor Hui of Jin|Emperor Hui]] '''<br />r. 290–307</small>}}|boxstyle_Hui=border-width:2px; border-color: #FFFF00|Wei={{nowrap|[[Sima Wei]] <br /><small>司馬瑋 271–291<br />Prince Yin <br />of Chu</small>}}|boxstyle_Wei=border-width:2px; border-color: #CC0000;|SAi={{nowrap| [[Sima Ai]] <br /><small>司馬乂 277–304<br />Prince Li <br />of Changsha</small>}}|boxstyle_SAi=border-width:2px; border-color: #CC0000;|Jio={{nowrap|[[Sima Jiong]] <br /><small>司馬冏<br />d. 303<br />Prince Wumin <br /> of Qi</small>}}|boxstyle_Jio=border-width:2px; border-color: #CC0000;|Yua={{nowrap| [[Jin dynasty (266–420)#List of emperors and eras|Emperors of <br />the Eastern Jin<br /><small>317–420</small>]]}}|boxstyle_Yua=border-width:2px; border-color: #FFFF00}}
{{tree chart|border=1| |!| | | |,|-|-|-|+|-|-|-|.| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1| SYu | |Yin  | | Yan | |Hua  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |SYu={{nowrap|[[Sima Yu]] <br /><small>司馬遹 278–300<br />Crown Prince <br />Minhuai</small>}}|Yin={{nowrap|[[Sima Ying]] <br /><small>司馬穎 279–306<br />Prince<br> of Chengdu</small>}}|boxstyle_Yin=border-width:2px; border-color: #CC0000;|Yan={{nowrap|Sima Yan <br /><small>司馬晏 283–311<br />Prince Xiao <br />of Wu</small>}}|Hua={{nowrap|Sima Chi <br /><small>司馬熾 284–313<br />'''[[Emperor Huai of Jin|Emperor Huai]] '''<br />r. 307–311</small>}}|boxstyle_Hua=border-width:2px; border-color: #FFFF00}}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | | | |!| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | }}
{{tree chart|border=1| | | | | | | | |Min  | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |Min={{nowrap|Sima Ye <br /><small>司馬業 300–318<br />'''[[Emperor Min of Jin|Emperor Min]] '''<br />r. 313–316</small>}}|boxstyle_Min=border-width:2px; border-color: #FFFF00}}

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{{tree chart|Chang={{nowrap|[[Princess Changshan]]<br />常山公主}}}}
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==Background==
{{see also|Timeline of the Jin dynasty (266–420) and the Sixteen Kingdoms (304–439)}}
[[File:The Eight Princes.png|thumb|470x470px|Map showing the Eight Princes, their fiefs and base of operations.]]
In early 249, [[Sima Yi]], an official, general, and regent of the state of [[Cao Wei]] during the [[Three Kingdoms]] period, effectively seized control of Wei after instigating a successful [[Incident at the Gaoping Tombs|coup]] against his co-regent, [[Cao Shuang]]. Sima Yi and two of his sons, [[Sima Shi]] and [[Sima Zhao]], came to serve as the ''de facto'' rulers of Wei in succession, while the Wei emperors were reduced to puppet rulers. In February 266, Sima Zhao's eldest son, [[Sima Yan]], also known as Emperor Wu of Jin, forced the Wei emperor [[Cao Huan]] to abdicate the throne and established the [[Jin dynasty (265-420)|Jin dynasty]].

The Sima clan sought to learn from the mistakes that led to the Cao Wei's downfall. The Wei regime had previously discouraged their princes from holding government and military offices, instead sending them away to live in their fiefs. Sima Yi, with the backing of the powerful gentry clans, was thus able to take control over the Wei government with minimal resistance. Identifying this issue, Sima Yan bolstered his family power by [[Feoffment|enfeoffing]] his uncles, cousins, and sons with their own private armies. As time passed, these princes and dukes were given administrative powers over their lands and were granted the power to levy taxes and employ central officials. Many were also entrusted with important military responsibilities and given the right to command troops outside of their fiefdoms. These members were assigned to guard key cities such as [[Chang'an]], [[Ye (Hebei)|Ye]] and [[Xuchang]], as well as the Jin capital, [[Luoyang]].

Additionally, Emperor Wu's reign was troubled by a succession crisis as he and many other became aware that his heir Sima Zhong was [[Developmental disability|developmentally disabled]]. A faction of ministers in court wanted Wu's brother, the abled [[Sima You]], to replace him as the Crown Prince, but Wu was adamant in upholding the traditional succession law that the eldest living son should succeed, just as his father, Sima Zhao had done for him. Zhong was strongly backed by both the influential Yang and Jia clans, being the son of Wu's first empress, [[Yang Yan (empress)|Yang Yan]] and husband of [[Jia Nanfeng]]. Another factor for choosing Zhong was that Wu saw great potential in his grandson, [[Sima Yu]], should he succeed Zhong in the future. In the end, Sima You's exile and untimely death in 283 effectively secured Sima Zhong's inheritance to the throne.

By empowering the princes, Emperor Wu intended for them to act as a safeguard for his successors should the gentry clans overstep their power, especially considering Sima Zhong's disability. He had likely hoped that his family members, by virtue of their familial ties, would cooperate with each other to protect the interests of their dynasty. However, after Sima Zhong took the throne and became a mere figurehead, the princes later proved themselves self-serving and willing to undermine one another for real control over the empire.

The War of the Eight Princes coincided with the [[upheaval of the Five Barbarians|upheaval]] of the so-called "[[Five Barbarians]]"; non-Chinese groups that had been resettling into the Chinese interior as far back as the [[Han dynasty|Eastern Han dynasty]]. Through their civil wars and mismanagement of the empire, the Jin lost support from both the Chinese peasantry and the non-Chinese tribes, pushing them to join rebel groups in different parts of China. In 304, refugees from the [[Guanzhong]] led by the [[Di (Five Barbarians)|Ba-Di]] founded the [[Cheng-Han|Cheng-Han dynasty]] in [[Sichuan]], while the [[Xiongnu|Five Divisions]], descendants of the [[Xiongnu|Southern Xiongnu]], founded the [[Han-Zhao|Han-Zhao dynasty]] in [[Shanxi]], thus beginning the [[Sixteen Kingdoms]] period. The princes also empowered the [[Xianbei]] tribes by employing them as auxiliaries in the final years of the conflict. South in the [[Yangtze]] region also saw the major rebellions of [[Zhang Chang (Jin dynasty)|Zhang Chang]] and [[Chen Min (Jin dynasty)|Chen Min]], but these were ultimately suppressed.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Mark Edward Lewis |title=China Between Empires: The Northern and Southern Dynasties |date=2011 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=9780674060357 |pages=63}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Hugh R. Clark |title=The Sinitic Encounter in Southeast China through the First Millennium CE |date=2015 |publisher=University of Hawaii Press |isbn=9780824857189 |pages=39–40}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Andrew Chittick |title=The Jiankang Empire in Chinese and World History: Ethnic Identity and Political Culture |date=2020 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780190937546 |page=222}}</ref>

== Prelude: Yang Jun (290-291) ==

=== Ascension of Emperor Hui ===
In late 289, [[Emperor Wu of Jin|Emperor Wu]] developed a deadly illness and considered appointing his father-in-law, [[Yang Jun (minister)|Yang Jun]], and his uncle, the Prince of Ru'nan, [[Sima Liang]], as Sima Zhong's regent. While the emperor's health declined, Yang Jun had plans to monopolize his control over Zhong as [[consort kin]]. He first sent Sima Liang away to [[Xuchang]] through an edict and then launched a smear campaign against his court rival, [[Wei Guan]], and forced him into retirement. Yang Jun also hid the emperor's final decree appointing him and Sima Liang as co-regents while his daughter, the empress [[Yang Zhi (empress)|Yang Zhi]], issued another edict making her father the sole regent. Emperor Wu was aware of Yang Jun's manipulations, but was too ill to stop him.

On 16 May 290, Emperor Wu died, and Sima Zhong, posthumously known as Emperor Hui of Jin, ascended the throne. Yang Jun was instated as his regent while Yang Zhi was promoted to [[Empress dowager|Empress Dowager]]. However, Yang Jun was not well received by his ministers due to his blatant attempts at consolidating power and refusal to accept advice. He also tried to assassinate Sima Liang without success and rejected suggestions to cooperate with him. Meanwhile, the new empress, [[Jia Nanfeng]], was unhappy with the little control she has over state affairs due to Yang Jun and the Empress Dowager.

=== Fall of the Yang clan ===
Empress Jia enlisted the help of Sima Liang and the Prince of Chu, [[Sima Wei]] to overthrow Yang Jun. Liang was reluctant to help her, but Wei, who was stationed with military command in [[Jing province]] at the time, agreed and left for the capital, [[Luoyang]] with his troops. On the night of 23 April 291, Empress Jia and her allies sent out an imperial edict calling for the deposal of Yang Jun and occupied the gates leading to his residence. Yang Jun was caught by surprise and was unable to decide on his next move. Empress Dowager Yang Zhi tried to get the soldiers to turn on Empress Jia, but failed and implicated herself in the process.

Soon, the soldiers advanced and set fire to the residence. Yang Jun's soldiers were routed, and he was killed while trying to escape. His families, supporters were all rounded up and executed as the [[Nine familial exterminations|extermination of all third degree relatives]]. Yang Zhi was spared but confined inside the palace, where she remained until her death in 292.

== Prince of Ru'nan, Sima Liang (291) ==
On 4 May 291, [[Sima Liang]] and [[Wei Guan]] were installed as the new regents of [[Emperor Hui of Jin|Emperor Hui]]. Now that he was in power, Liang asserted his authority by freely handing out new appointments and titles to around 1,081 people to garner support. At the same time, [[Jia Nanfeng|Empress Jia]] began placing her relatives and allies into positions of power.

Liang and Wei Guan were wary of [[Sima Wei]]. Despite his role in the Yang clan's defeat, Sima Wei was notorious for his violent temperament. They attempted to strip him of his military power and send him back to his fief, but Wei retaliated by conspiring with Empress Jia to depose them, claiming to her that the two were planning to overthrow her. Soon, Empress Jia produced an edict from the emperor calling for the removal of Liang and Wei Guan. However, Wei was unsatisfied with the content of the original edict, as he was not included among the princes who had to raise their troops. Without the empress's knowledge, Wei forged an edict which made him Commander over all military forces and granted himself full control over the operation. On 26 July 291, he sent his subordinates and soldiers to arrest Liang and Wei Guan in [[Luoyang]]. Both men gave no resistance and were put to death.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=115}}

==Prince of Chu, Sima Wei (291)==
Sima Wei was a half-brother of Emperor Hui. With the forged edict in hand, he had essentially granted himself a significant control of the empire's military. Immediately after executing [[Sima Liang]] and [[Wei Guan]], he was advised to utilize his military authority to execute [[Jia Nanfeng|Empress Jia's]] powerful relatives, [[Jia Mi]] and [[Guo Zhang]]. However, Wei was hesitant in accepting this plan. In Empress Jia's camp, the minister, [[Zhang Hua]] urged her to punish Wei for killing the emperor's regents. Just one day after Liang's death, Empress Jia deployed her troops against Wei and spread doubt regarding the edict's authenticity among his soldiers. Deserted by his followers, Wei was captured and executed.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=115}} His full-brother [[Sima Ai]] the Prince of Changsha, who provided support, was demoted to the lesser title of Prince of Changshan as punishment.

== Interlude: Empress Jia (291–300) ==

=== Power behind the throne ===
For the next nine years, Empress Jia ruled Jin in the emperor's name while entrusting power to her closest family members, most notably [[Jia Mi]], and [[Guo Zhang]]. Despite the efforts of ministers like [[Zhang Hua]] and [[Pei Wei (Jin dynasty)|Pei Wei]] to uphold the government's functionality, the imperial court under the Jia clan was beset with widespread corruption and bribery. Rumors began to spread of Empress Jia's personal debauchery and tyrannical behavior, laying the seeds of discontent that would surface by the end of the decade.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=115}}<ref name="one2">{{Cite web |last=Institute of Advanced Studies, Australian National University |date=December 1991 |title=East Asian History |url=http://www.eastasianhistory.org/sites/default/files/article-content/02/EAH02_07.pdf |access-date=2019-07-29 |website=eastasianhistory.org}}</ref>

Empress Jia also carried out a series of transfers that would influence the next stage of the War of the Eight Princes. In 296, a major tribal rebellion led by [[Qi Wannian]] broke out in [[Qín Prefecture|Qin]] and [[Yongzhou (ancient China)|Yong]] provinces under the watch of the Prince of Zhao and Emperor Hui's great-uncle, [[Sima Lun]]. Due to his failure to quell the uprising, Lun was recalled back to [[Luoyang]]. In 299, the Prince of Chengdu and half-brother of Emperor Hui, [[Sima Ying]] was assigned away to [[Ye (Hebei)|Ye]] following a heated argument he had with Jia Mi over the latter's treatment of the [[Crown prince|Crown Prince]], [[Sima Yu]]. At the same time, the Prince of Hejian, [[Sima Yong]], was transferred from Ye to the [[Guanzhong]] region in the west. Yong was a distant relative of the emperor's family but a grandson of the distinguished [[Sima Fu]], and through the endorsement of the gentry clans he was entrusted to guard an important region.

The rebellion in Qin and Yong coincided with famines and plagues, and although it was ultimately put down in 299, it sparked an influx of refugees fleeing south to [[Yizhou (Southwest China)|Yi province]]. It also allowed a [[Di (Five Barbarians)|Di]] leader, [[Yang Maosou]] to set up the state of [[Chouchi]] south of [[Tianshui]] in 296.{{sfn|Xiong|2009|p=414}}

=== Coup of Sima Lun ===
Empress Jia deemed the [[Crown prince|Crown Prince]], [[Sima Yu]] as a threat to her power should he ascend the throne, since he was not her biological son. In early 300, she orchestrated his arrest by convincing him while drunk to copy a text that said, amongst other things, that Emperor Hui should abdicate in favor of him. Empress Jia then presented the copied text to Emperor Hui, who then decided to place him under house arrest.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=116}}<ref>Sima Yu was later deposed as crown prince in February and killed in April.</ref>

Since he was recalled to Luoyang, [[Sima Lun]] had climbed his way into Empress Jia's inner circle and was serving as tutor to the crown prince prior to his arrest. He also commanded some troops in the capital as general of the Right Army and was known to be "avaricious and false" as well as "simple and stupid," heeding only the advice of his confidant, [[Sun Xiu (Jin dynasty)|Sun Xiu]]. Yu's arrest sparked outrage in the court, and a few officials approached Lun for his soldiers to overthrow Empress Jia.

Lun had long wished to betray the empress, but Sun Xiu convinced him to wait until Yu was truly out of the way, arguing that because of Lun's association with the empress, Yu may exact revenge on him if he were to ascend the throne. The duo spread rumours of a plot to restore Sima Yu before encouraging Empress Jia to eliminate him once and for all. The empress agreed and had Sima Yu assassinated.

With Sima Yu dead, many of the original conspirators decided to pull out while Sima Lun went ahead with the plan. He produced an edict allegedly from Emperor Hui calling for the removal of Empress Jia. On 7 May 300, he arrested the empress and put her under house arrest, and later forced her to commit suicide by drinking gold powered wine.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=117}} He also executed many of her partisans, including Jia Mi, Zhang Hua and Pei Wei.

== Prince of Zhao, Sima Lun (300–301) ==
=== Usurping the throne ===
[[Sima Lun]] assumed regency over [[Emperor Hui of Jin|Emperor Hui]], but delegated most of his power over to [[Sun Xiu (Jin dynasty)|Sun Xiu]]. He and Sun Xiu plotted to take the throne by following the precedent of the Jin's foundation. They awarded their family members and allies with high-ranking positions and noble titles, while posthumously honoring Sima Yu and recruiting famous individuals into their administration to win the people's support. [[Yang Xianrong]], a distant relative of Sun Xiu, was also installed as the new empress of Emperor Hui.

In autumn 300, after Sima Lun attempted to take his military authority away, the Prince of Huainan, [[Sima Yun]] rebelled against him with only 700 men in Luoyang. Lun was nearly killed in the fighting, but one of his supporters pretended to defect to Yun and killed him, ending his rebellion.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=117}}<ref>As Sima Yun's son Sima Yu (司马郁; Prince of Qin) was also killed with him, the title of Prince of Qin was later granted to Sima Ye (the later [[Emperor Min of Jin]]).</ref> The rebellion provided Lun and Sun Xiu with pretext to purge more of their court rivals and oppositions. Meanwhile, the Prince of Qi, [[Sima Jiong]], who played a vital part in Empress Jia's arrest, was displeased with the positions he received under Lun's administration. In response, Lun had him assigned away to [[Xuchang]].

Soon after, Lun was granted the [[Nine bestowments|Nine Bestowments]]. The following year, he claimed in a report that the spirit of his father, [[Sima Yi]], had ordered him to move into the Western Palace (西宮), the residence of Emperor Hui. He then forged an edict stating the self-abdication of Emperor Hui and usurped the throne on 3 February 301.

During Sima Lun's regency, the Inspector of [[Yizhou (Southwest China)|Yi Province]], [[Zhao Xin (Jin dynasty)|Zhao Xin]], a relative of Empress Jia by marriage, rebelled in his province out of fear that he would be executed. Zhao Xin allied himself with the refugees from Qi Wannian's rebellion. However, in early 301, these refugees, led by the [[Ba-Di]] leader, [[Li Te]], ousted him from [[Chengdu]] and resubmitted to Jin.

=== Uprising of the Three Princes ===
[[File:Uprising of the Three Princes.png|thumb|400x400px|Uprising of the Three Princes, 301 AD.]]
Not long after his usurpation, Sima Jiong rebelled and sent out a proclamation to campaign against Sima Lun. The most important figure to accept his call was Sima Ying, a half-brother of Emperor Hui. He was described as beautiful but dull in the mind and did not read books, but he heeded his advisor [[Lu Zhi (Jin dynasty)|Lu Zhi]]'s advice to rally the people to his cause. Some 200,000 troops, including the forces of his other half-brother, the Prince of Changshan (later reappointed the Prince of Changsha), [[Sima Ai]], were thus assembled near his base in [[Ye (Hebei)|Ye]]. In [[Chang'an]], Sima Yong initially dispatched troops to support Lun but later sided with the coalition after learning that they were larger in size.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=118}} Due to their strategic bases and command over vast armies, Jiong, Ying and Yong were collectively referred to as the "Three Princes" (三王) in records. Another notable participant of the coalition was the Duke of Xinye, [[Sima Xin (Hongshu)|Sima Xin]], son of [[Sima Jun (prince)|Sima Jun]], a full brother of Sima Liang.

Lun sent Zhang Hong (張泓) and Sun Fu (孫輔) with 24,000 men to secure the passes and 30,000 under Sun Hui (孫會) to confront Ying. Zhang Hong fought Jiong at Yangdi (陽翟, modern [[Yuzhou, Henan]]) and defeated him several times before Jiong retreated and made camp at Yingyin (潁陰; in present-day [[Xuchang]], [[Henan]]). However, one night, a disturbance occurred in Sun Fu's camp, causing him to flee back to Luoyang and claim that Zhang Hong was defeated. Lun recalled a segment of his army to defend Luoyang, but when news of Zhang Hong's recent victories reached him, he sent them out again to attack Sima Ying. However, by this time Jiong had reversed his early defeats and repelled Zhang Hong back to his camp.

Sun Hui led the main army against Ying at Huangqiao  (黃橋, in present-day [[Wen County, Henan]]), defeating the prince's vanguard and killing 10,000. Ying planned to retreat and defend [[Zhaoge]], but Lu Zhi advised him to carry out a surprise attack during the early morning. Sun Hui and his contemporaries were complacent by their recent victory and did not prepare any defense. Ying rallied his troops and returned with a counterattack, smashing Hui's forces north of the [[Yellow River]].{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=121}} Ying's army was the first to make a breakthrough as they crossed the Yellow River to march on Luoyang.

As the coalition forces approached, officials and generals in the capital began to turn on Lun and Sun Xiu despite their attempts to suppress reports of their losses. The defeat at Huangqiao left Sun Xiu's camp greatly alarmed as they struggled to devise a plan in response. On 30 May 301, the general of the Left Guard led troops into the palace and arrested Lun. Sun Xiu and many of Lun's supporters were also captured and executed. Lun spent the next few days denouncing his own conduct before he was forced to commit suicide.

[[Emperor Hui of Jin|Emperor Hui]] was reinstated and celebrated the occasion with a five-day non-stop drinking binge. Ying was the first to reach the capital on 1 June, followed by Yong on 7 June. Jiong was still fighting Zhang Hong's forces at Yangdi at the time, so Ying had to send his soldiers to assist him. After Zhang Hong and his peers surrendered, Jiong entered the capital with "several hundred thousand armored soldiers, before whom the capital trembled in awe" on 23 July.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=121}}

== Prince of Qi, Sima Jiong (301–303) ==

=== Regency ===
[[Sima Jiong]] was the son of [[Sima You]] and a cousin of [[Emperor Hui of Jin|Emperor Hui]]. On 11 August 301,<ref>''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol.84</ref> he received the [[Nine bestowments|Nine Bestowments]] and was made regent of [[Emperor Hui of Jin|Emperor Hui]]. Jiong had intention to share his regency with [[Sima Ying]], but through the advice of [[Lu Zhi (Jin dynasty)|Lu Zhi]], Ying withdrew to [[Ye (Hebei)|Ye]] to care for his ailing mother and handed over all major responsibility to Jiong. At Ye, Ying carried numerous popular policies to win over the people. He arranged for grain to be transported to the famine-stricken region of Yangdi, which had been devastated by war. He then had over 8,000 coffins constructed for high-ceremony funerals of those who had fallen in battle and over 14,000 of Sima Lun's soldiers to be buried. These were all Lu Zhi's ideas.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=122}}

In May 302, the last of Emperor Hui's male descendants died, throwing the line of succession into confusion. [[Sima Jiong]] designated the Emperor's nephew, [[Sima Tan (Jin dynasty)|Sima Tan]], as Crown Prince despite Sima Ying being a leading candidate. At the same time, [[Sima Yue]], Prince of Donghai, was appointed to direct the Central Secretariat.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=122}} Throughout his regency, Jiong alienated many of his ministers due to his arrogant and extravagant personality. He rarely visited the emperor and attended court meetings, and despite multiple attempts to get him to change his ways, he was reluctant to follow through his supporters' advices.

The minister, [[Wang Bao (Jin dynasty)|Wang Bao]], was concerned about the various princes' military power, believing that they would one day use it against Jiong just as they did with his predecessors. In a letter to Jiong, Wang Bao urged him to send the princes back to their respective fiefs and to divide control over the state between him and Sima Ying. Jiong was initially convinced, but when the Prince of Changsha, [[Sima Ai]], discovered the plan, he prompted Jiong to reject it and have Wang Bao executed.

Shortly after Lun's defeat in May 301, the court issued an edict ordering refugees in Yi province to return north. However, many of them, including [[Li Te]], refused to comply with the edict. In winter 301, the provincial inspector, [[Luo Shang]] declared war against Li Te.

=== Conspiracy against Jiong ===
Sima Jiong wanted to appoint Li Han, one of [[Sima Yong]]'s chief of staff, to be colonel of the Army of Readiness. [[Li Han (Jin dynasty)|Li Han]] was reluctant to accept the appointment due to his personal animosity with a few members of Jiong's cabinet, most notably [[Huangfu Shang]]. Instead, he fled back to his prince and conspired with him to rebel against Jiong. Yong was told to align himself with Sima Ying, offering him the role of Crown Prince due to his public support. He was also told to force Sima Ai, who was in [[Luoyang]], into joining so that Jiong would unjustly punish him and provide justification to overthrow him.

In January 303, Yong rebelled and Ying was tempted to join him, despite opposition from Lu Zhi. Yong sent Li Han and [[Zhang Fang]] to campaign against Jiong, and they sent a proclamation ordering Ai to attack Jiong. Believing that Ai was involved, Jiong sent troops to kill him, who fled to the imperial palace for protection. There, using both imperial guards and his own personal forces, Ai defended the palace against Jiong within Luoyang for three days, bringing Emperor Hui along with him. On 27 January, Jiong's own officers betrayed him and he was captured and killed.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=124}}

==Prince of Changsha, Sima Ai (303–304)==

=== Control over the imperial court ===
[[Sima Ai]] seized control of the capital but willingly deferred authority to [[Sima Ying]].{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=124}} The unexpected outcome of Ai and Jiong's battle put a halt to [[Sima Yong]] and Ying's ambitions, which frustrated the two princes. Ying in particular was unhappy with his restricted control over the state as he had to share power with Ai, and the relationship between the half-brothers gradually deteriorated in the coming months.

Ai's administration failed to deal with rebel movements in the empire. In the southwest, [[Li Te]]'s rebellion raged on despite his death. Along the [[Changjiang]], rebels consisting of refugees and draft evaders led by the [[Nanman|Man]] leader, [[Zhang Chang (Jin dynasty)|Zhang Chang]] took up arms.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=124}} When the court ordered Sima Yong to campaign against Zhang Chang, he refused to move his troops. Later, when the Prince of Xinye, [[Sima Xin (Hongshu)|Sima Xin]], asked for permission to send his troops out, Ai rejected his request, believing that Xin was colluding with Ying, who he had good relations with, and plotting to rebel. Xin was killed in battle by the rebels, and Zhang Chang's rebellion spread throughout the southern provinces.

Ai also continued to employ [[Huangfu Shang]] as an advisor, putting [[Li Han (Jin dynasty)|Li Han]] at unease. Shang had a brother, [[Huangfu Zhong]], who was serving as the Inspector of [[Qín Prefecture|Qin province]] all the while, which placed him in a position to threaten Sima Yong's rear. Yong and Li Han conspired to have him arrested, but Zhong saw through their plans and raised troops to attack Li Han. Ai wanted to defuse the situation by recalling Li Han to [[Luoyang]] and ordering Zhong to disperse his troops, However, Zhong refused and Li Han, with orders from Sima Yong, attempted to assassinate Ai. Though he discovered the plot and put Li Han to death, war was once again inevitable.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=125}}

=== Siege of Luoyang ===
[[File:Siege of Luoyang.png|left|thumb|400x400px|Siege of Luoyang, 303–304 AD.]]
After the failed assassination attempt, Yong began preparing his troops. At the time, Sima Ying was setting out to quell Zhang Chang's rebellion, but hearing about the situation in Luoyang and Guanzhong, he took his troops to join Yong instead, once again ignoring Lu Zhi's advice. In fall 303, Yong sent an army of 70,000 under [[Zhang Fang]] to attack the capital. Ying also sent an army 200,000 strong under [[Lu Ji (Shiheng)|Lu Ji]] against the capital.

Uncharacteristically, [[Emperor Hui of Jin|Emperor Hui]] commanded his own troops to help Sima Ai defend Luoyang. On 21 September 303, Ai sent 10,000 men under Huangfu Shang to oppose Zhang Fang, but he was defeated in a surprise attack. Zhang Fang momentarily broke through the city walls and carried out a mass plundering before withdrawing. Meanwhile, Emperor Hui was constantly on the move and shifting his base before he defeated Ying's troops at Goushi (緱氏; in present-day [[Yanshi District]], [[Henan]]) on 22 October. However, when [[Shi Chao]] threatened his position at Goushi, he returned to the palace a few days later.

On 2 November, Ai's forces defeated Ying's army again outside of Luoyang. The next day, Ai brought with him Emperor Hui and personally confronted Lu Ji's army at the city gates. Ai's officers had several thousand cavalry equipped with double-ended halberds charge Lu Ji's forces, heavily defeating them. Many of Lu Ji's officers were killed, and the dead on his side reportedly laid in piles and clogged the river. Lu Ji managed to escape but was arrested and executed on Ying's orders.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=126}}

Ai then moved west to face Zhang Fang. The emperor's presence caused panic within Zhang Fang's army, which  was badly defeated and lost 5,000 soldiers. Zhang Fang rejected his subordinates' advice to retreat and instead secretly constructed ramparts during the night. Ai thought that Zhang Fang had been dealt with, but after realizing that the ramparts had been completed, he attacked them unsuccessfully.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=127}}

Ai's officials attempted to negotiate peace with Ying, seeing that the two were brothers. However, when offered to split the empire between him and Ai, he rejected it. Ai personally wrote a letter to Ying to persuade him, but Ying would only accept it if Ai executed Huangfu Shang, which Ai refused to do.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=127}}

Zhang Fang severed the Qianjin Dam (千金堨; northwest of Luoyang), effectively cutting off Luoyang's water supply. In response, Ai convinced the Inspector of [[Yongzhou (ancient China)|Yong province]], [[Liu Chen (Jin dynasty)|Liu Chen]], to defect from Yong's side and attack [[Chang'an]]. He also sent Huangfu Shang out with an edict from the emperor to get the generals attacking Huangfu Zhong to disband, thus allowing him to send reinforcements to Luoyang. However, along the way, Huangfu Shang was captured and killed.

Ai held out in Luoyang until March 304, and by this point, Zhang Fang had given up hope of taking Luoyang and was planning to withdraw. Despite this fact, the [[Three Excellencies|Minister of Works]], [[Sima Yue]] feared that Ai would not succeed in the long run. On March 17, he and a group of officials kidnapped and put Ai under house arrest. The next day, they opened the gates and surrendered to the enemy forces. However seeing how few of the opposing army remained, the capital troops regretted surrendering and secretly plotted to free Ai. Fearing the consequences should Ai escape, Yue sent Ai to Zhang Fang, who put Ai to the torch.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=128}}

Although Ai was defeated, Yong was still threatened by Liu Chen, while Huangfu Zhong continued to resist in his lone city of Jicheng (冀城; in present-day [[Gangu County]], [[Gansu]]). Yong recalled Zhang Fang to deal with Liu Chen, who had defeated a subordinate army on his way to Chang'an. On his way back, Zhang Fang seized over 10,000 slave women in Luoyang and cut them into mince meat to feed to his men. Liu Chen defeated Yong in succession, and 5,000 of his soldiers were able to break into Chang'an. However, he was slow to capitalize on his success, and the soldiers in Chang'an were eventually killed while Zhang Fang arrived just in time to defeat and capture him.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=129}}

== Prince of Chengdu, Sima Ying (304–305) ==

=== Crown Prince ===
After [[Sima Ai|Sima Ai's]] death, [[Sima Ying]] appointed himself Prime Minister and promoted Sima Yue to President of State Secretariat. Despite his new position, Ying kept [[Emperor Hui of Jin|Emperor Hui]] at [[Luoyang]], leaving behind an army of 50,000 under [[Shi Chao]] while he returned to his base in [[Ye (Hebei)|Ye]]. On April 304, he imprisoned the empress, [[Yang Xianrong]], and depose his nephew, [[Sima Tan (Jin dynasty)|Sima Tan]] from the position of [[Crown prince|Crown Prince]]. On 1 May, Ying was installed as Crown Prince and his power was described as being equal to that of [[Cao Cao]] during the end of the [[Han dynasty]]. Sima Yong was also appointed the Grand Governor and Grand Commander. As Crown Prince, Ying was said to have become more brazen and extravagant in his actions and was inclined towards favoritism, which lost him some of the goodwill from his supporters.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=129}}

=== Battle of Dangyin ===
[[File:WUL-ro09 01076 三綱行実図 2 (嵆紹衛帝).jpg|thumb|The [[Battle of Dangyin]] as depicted in the ''Samgang Haengsil-to'' (삼강행실도) from the [[Joseon]] era of [[Korea]]. The battle is most known for when the attendant and focus of this piece, [[Ji Shao]] sacrificed his life to protect [[Emperor Hui of Jin|Emperor Hui]] from [[Sima Ying|Sima Ying's]] soldiers.]]
[[Sima Yue]] was another distant relative of Emperor Hui, but he and his three brothers ([[Sima Lue|Sima Lüe]], [[Sima Teng]] and [[Sima Mo]]) were renowned among their family for their talent and integrity. Yue himself took up several high-ranking offices in Luoyang, while Sima Lüe and Sima Teng were assigned to guard [[Qingzhou (ancient China)|Qing]] and [[Bing Province|Bing]] provinces respectively.

On 17 August 304, Sima Yue rebelled in [[Luoyang]], restoring Yang Xianrong and Sima Tan to their positions as Shi Chao and the others fled for Ye. He amassed an army of over 100,000 at [[Anyang]] and marched on Ying's capital, bringing with him Emperor Hui. Along the way, Yue was errorneously informed that the soldiers in Ye had scattered, so he prepared very little defense against the enemy. Shi Chao confronted Yue on 9 September, and defeated him heavily at the [[Battle of Dangyin]]. The emperor was wounded in battle and captured by Shi Chao. Yue fled to Xiapi and then to his fief in [[Shandong|Donghai]], while Yue's allies retreated back to Luoyang with Sima Tan.

=== Battle of Pingji and Sack of Ye ===
With Yue defeated, Ying then planned to eliminate the Chief Controller of [[Youzhou (ancient China)|You province]], [[Wang Jun (Pengzu)|Wang Jun]], a former partisan of [[Empress Jia]] who refused to join the coalition against Sima Lun. Ying sent a general to assassinate him, but when the plot was uncovered, Wang Jun rebelled and allied himself with the Inspector of [[Bing Province|Bing]], [[Sima Teng]]. Wang Jun's army consisted of many [[Xianbei]] and [[Wuhuan]] soldiers due to his alliances with the neighbouring tribes, most prominently the [[Duan tribe|Duan]]-Xianbei. In response, Ying sent generals out to oppose him.

Yong sent [[Zhang Fang]] to assist Sima Ying, but after learning Emperor Hui was in Ye, he ordered Zhang Fang to occupy Luoyang instead. Sima Tan was still holding the capital, although real power laid with his general, Shangguan Si (上官巳). Zhang Fang fought Shangguan Si and dealt him a great defeat, forcing them back into the city. One night, Tan led his troops to attack Shangguan Si and ousted him from Luoyang. He then welcomed Zhang Fang into Luoyang, but Zhang Fang soon deposed him and Yang Xianrong.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=130}}

Ying had a general named, [[Liu Yuan (Han Zhao)|Liu Yuan]], who was a noble of the [[Xiongnu|Five Divisions]]. The Five Divisions were descendants of the [[Southern Xiongnu]] in Bing province, and seeing that the princes were distracted by their civil war, they began plotting their rebellion. Liu Yuan convinced his prince to send him back to the Five Divisions so that he could rally and bring them as reinforcements against Wang Jun and Sima Teng. Instead, after arriving in Bing, the Five Divisions acclaimed Liu Yuan as their Grand Chanyu and later the King of [[Han-Zhao|Han]]. His forces swelled to over 50,000 and would continue to grow as both the Chinese peasants and non-Chinese tribes joined them in their resentment towards the Jin in light of the civil wars and famines.{{sfn|Graff|2001|p=48}}{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=130}}

Wang Jun and Sima Teng defeated Shi Chao's army at Pingji (平棘, in modern day [[Zhao County]], [[Hebei]]). As enemy forces reached the outskirts, the people of Ye were terrified and began fleeing. Lu Zhi urged Ying to use his remaining 15,000 armored troops to escort [[Emperor Hui of Jin]] back to Luoyang, but on the morning of their departure, the troops deserted. As there were no horses and porters, Ying and Emperor Hui had to flee on calf-drawn carts. Wang Jun's forces entered Ye and sacked the city in late September. His Xianbei troops partook in mass pillaging and abducted many women from the city.

In southwest China, [[Li Xiong]], the son of Li Te, created the [[Ba-Di]] state of [[Cheng Han|Cheng-Han]] in 304. South of the [[Changjiang]], despite his rebellion spilling over to multiple provinces, Jin forces were able defeat and capture Zhang Chang.{{sfn|Xiong|2009|p=xci}}

=== Captivity in Luoyang ===
Ying's party managed to reach Luoyang, but with very little troops, Zhang Fang was able to dominate him and take possession of Emperor Hui. For a brief period, Zhang Fang was in charge of state affairs. He remained with the in Luoyang for a few more months, but his soldiers were becoming restless and were suggesting him to move the emperor to [[Chang'an]]. On 14 December 304, Zhang Fang forced Emperor Hui to stay at the ramparts he built during his war with Sima Ai. With the emperor away, Zhang Fang's men looted the palaces in the capital. He also planned to burn them down as well, but was persuaded not to by Lu Zhi.

Three days later, Zhang Fang brought Emperor Hui, Ying and the others to Chang'an. Yong welcomed the emperor and placed him under his care. On 4 February 305, Yong issued an edict deposing Ying as Crown Prince and handed the position over to the Prince of Yuzhang, [[Sima Chi]].

== Prince of Hejian, Sima Yong (305–306) ==

=== Western and Eastern Courts ===
Later, [[Sima Yong]] appointed [[Sima Yue]] as the Grand Tutor in hopes of resolving the conflict between their sides. Yong also granted Yue's brothers, [[Sima Lue|Sima Lüe]] and [[Sima Mo]] military command in [[Luoyang]] and [[Jizhou (ancient China)|Ji province]] respectively. Yue declined his office, but for the time being, it appeared that the two sides had reached an agreement. Since [[Wang Jun (Pengzu)|Wang Jun]] had left [[Ye (Hebei)|Ye]], Yue sent Mo to guard the city, while Lüe remained in his position as Commander over [[Qingzhou (ancient China)|Qing province]]. Seeing that many parts of the empire have been devastated by warfare and rebellion, Yong issued an edict encouraging everyone to settle for peace. In another edict, he made himself Commander of all imperial military forces.

Although Emperor Hui was now in Chang’an, the influential ministers, [[Xun Fan]], [[Liu Tun]], and [[Zhou Fu (Western Jin)|Zhou Fu]], were left behind in Luoyang to run a separate court. Thus, there were two courts governing the empire, and Chang’an was referred to as the “Western Court” (西臺) while Luoyang was referred to as the “Eastern Court” (東臺). The Eastern Court reinstated [[Yang Xianrong]] as the empress, but the following year, she was deposed by Zhang Fang.

Since 303, [[Huangfu Zhong]] had resisted Sima Yong from Jicheng, even well after [[Sima Ai]] was executed. Around this time, he sent his son [[Huangfu Zhong#Huangfu Chang|Huangfu Chang]] to meet with Sima Yue and request reinforcements. Yue denied his request, as he had only just made peace with Yong, so Chang went to Luoyang with a forged edict from Yue to entice a campaign against Yong. After restoring Yang Xianrong as empress, he claimed that she had ordered the officials in Luoyang to attack Zhang Fang and return the emperor to the old capital. They were initially willing to participate, but after learning that the edict was fabricated, they had Chang killed. Soon, the people of Jicheng killed Huangfu Zhong before surrendering, and Yang Xianrong was deposed again.

=== Uprising of the Eastern Armies ===
[[File:Uprising of the Eastern Armies.png|left|thumb|400x400px|Uprising of the Eastern Armies, 305–306 AD.]]
In {{circa}}August 305, [[Sima Yue]] sent out a proclamation throughout the regions east of Luoyang calling for a campaign against Yong. He cited that Zhang Fang had forcibly moved Emperor Hui to [[Chang'an]] and aimed to bring him back to Luoyang. His brothers and several other governors such as Wang Jun and [[Sima Xiao]] all joined him. 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 [[Yuzhou (ancient China)|Yu province]], [[Liu Qiao (Jin dynasty)|Liu Qiao]] and the self-declared Inspector of [[Yanzhou (ancient China)|Yan province]], [[Sima Mao]] sided with Sima Yong as Yue attempted to remove them from their positions in {{circa}}September.<ref>([永兴二年]秋，七月，越传檄山东征、镇、州、郡云：“欲纠帅义旅，奉迎天子，还復旧都。”东平王楙闻之，惧；长史王修说楙曰：“东海，宗室重望；今兴义兵，公宜举徐州以授之，则免於难，且有克让之美矣。”楙从之。越乃以司空领徐州都督，楙自为兖州刺史；诏即遣使者刘虔授之。是时，越兄弟並據方任，於是范阳王虓及王浚等共推越为盟主，越辄选置刺史以下，朝士多赴之。成都王颖既废，河北人多怜之。颖故将公师籓等自称将军，起兵於赵、魏，众至数万。初，上党武乡羯人石勒，有胆力，善骑射。并州大饥，建威将军阎粹说东嬴公腾执诸胡於山东，卖充军实。勒亦被掠，卖为茌平人师懽奴，懽奇其状貌而免之。懽家邻於马牧，勒乃与牧帅汲桑结壮士为群盗。及公师籓起，桑与勒帅数百骑赴之。桑始命勒以石为姓，勒为名。籓攻陷郡县，杀二千石、长史，转前，攻邺。平昌公模甚惧；范阳王虓遣其将苟晞救邺，与广平太守谯国丁绍共撃籓，走之。八月，辛丑，大赦。司空越以琅邪王睿为平东将军，监徐州诸军事，留守下邳。睿请王导为司马，委以军事。越帅甲士三万，西屯萧县，范阳王虓自许屯於荥阳。越承製以豫州刺史刘乔为冀州刺史，以范阳王虓领豫州刺史；乔以虓非天子命，發兵拒之。虓以刘琨为司马，越以刘蕃为淮北护军，刘舆为颖川太守。乔上尚书，列舆兄弟罪恶，因引兵攻许，遣其长子祐将兵拒越於萧县之灵壁，越兵不能进。东平王楙在兖州，徴求不已，郡县不堪命。范阳王虓遣苟晞还兖州，徙楙都督青州。楙不受命，背山东诸侯，与刘乔合。) ''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol.86. The 7th month of the 2nd year of the ''Yong'xing'' era corresponds to 7 Aug to 4 Sep 305, while the 8th month corresponds to 5 Sep to 4 Oct.</ref>

In the [[Hebei]] region, where Sima Ying was still regarded as a revered figure, the people were upset by Yong's decision to remove him from power. Ying's general, [[Gongshi Fan]] took advantage of their resentment and rebelled. Among the people who joined him were a shepherd, [[Ji Sang]] and a former [[Jie people|Jie]] slave, [[Shi Le]].{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=131}} To quell his rebellion, Yong sent [[Sima Ying]] and [[Lu Zhi (Jin dynasty)|Lu Zhi]] with 1,000 troops to Ye.

Liu Qiao sent his troops to block Yue from advancing west at [[Xiao County]]. On 20 November, Yong appointed Zhang Fang commander of 100,000 troops and sent him to assist Liu Qiao. Soon, Liu Qiao captured [[Xuchang]] from Sima Xiao, prompting him to flee to [[Jizhou (ancient China)|Ji province]]. Due to the early setbacks, a general of Yue, [[Chen Min (Jin dynasty)|Chen Min]], received permission to go east to recruit more soldiers. However, once there, Chen Min instead rebelled and took control of the [[Jiangnan]] region.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=132}}

In Luoyang, another rebellion broke out which saw Yang Xianrong restored as empress, but it was quickly defeated and she was deposed once more. Seeing that she was being used as a political asset against him, Yong forged an edict from the emperor ordering the Eastern Court to execute her. However, he was opposed by Liu Tun and the others in Luoyang, and after failing to arrest Liu Tun, he changed his mind.

In Ji province, Sima Xiao received some elite [[Xianbei]] and [[Wuhuan]] cavalry forces from Wang Jun. With them, Xiao and his general, [[Liu Kun (Jin dynasty)|Liu Kun]] 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]], [[Henan]]) and forced him to flee back to his fief in [[Dongping County|Dongping]]. Then, they won a great victory over Liu Qiao at [[Qiao Commandery]], causing his army to collapse.<ref>([永兴二年十二月]刘琨说冀州刺史太原温羡，使让位於范阳王虓。虓领冀州，遣琨诣幽州乞师於王浚；浚以突骑资之，撃王阐於河上，杀之。琨遂与虓引兵济河，斩石超於荥阳。刘乔自考城引退。虓遣琨及督护田徽东撃东平王楙於廪丘，楙走还国。琨、徽引兵东迎越，撃刘祐於谯；祐败死，乔众遂溃，乔奔平氏.) ''Zizhi Tongjian'', vol.86</ref>

Early in 306, the administrator, [[Liu Bogen]] declared himself the Duke of Jian and briefly took over [[Qingzhou (ancient China)|Qing province]]. He was swiftly defeated, but one of his followers, [[Wang Mi]], escaped to Mount Zhangguang (長廣山; in present-day [[Pingdu]], [[Shandong]]) and became a bandit, quickly gaining followers under his wing.

Following Liu Qiao's defeat, Yong was desperate settle for peace with Yue, but Zhang Fang advised him to keep fighting. In response, Yong had Zhang Fang executed and sent his head to Yue as part of a peace offer. Yue ignored it and used the head to convince Yong's other generals to surrender. He then sent his generals with Wang Jun's Xianbei troops towards [[Chang'an]]. Unable to stop them, Yong fled alone to [[Mount Taibai]] as the Xianbei soldiers sacked the city, killing around 20,000 people. On 11 June 306, Emperor Hui was sent back to Luoyang and arrived on 28 June. Yong soon returned and recaptured Chang'an, but at this point, the city was the only stronghold he had in control.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=134}}

==Conclusion: Prince of Donghai, Sima Yue (306–311)==

=== Death of Emperor Hui ===
[[Sima Yue]] was the last of the so-called Eight Princes to take control over the imperial court. After receiving [[Emperor Hui of Jin|Emperor Hui]], Yue was appointed Grand Tutor and Manager of the Affairs of the Masters of Writing. On 8 January 307, Emperor Hui died after consuming poisoned bread. It is not clear if Yue was involved in his death. Emperor Hui was succeeded by his half-brother, [[Emperor Huai of Jin|Sima Chi]], posthumously known as Emperor Huai.

Emperor Huai was regarded as an intelligent man, and compared to Emperor Hui, he had more say and was more active in handling state affairs. Yue supported Huai being on the throne, rejecting calls to have him replaced with the child [[Sima Tan (Jin dynasty)|Sima Tan]] and going as far as to having Tan executed. Yet, Yue was also wary of the new emperor's capabilities and was likely insecure about his own position due to the various coups and civil wars that led to the downfalls of his predecessors in recent years. In May 307, Yue left Emperor Huai at Luoyang for Xuchang, after which he assigned [[Sima Teng]], [[Sima Mo]] and [[Sima Lue|Sima Lüe]] to guard strategic locations throughout the empire; Teng was transferred to [[Ye (Hebei)|Ye]] in [[Hebei]], Mo was garrisoned at [[Chang'an]] in [[Guanzhong]], and Lüe was moved to [[Xiangyang]] in [[Jingzhou (ancient China)|Jing province]].

=== Death of Sima Ying ===
Previously, [[Sima Ying]] had been ordered to garrison at Ye to appease [[Gongshi Fan|Gongshi Fan's]] rebels. However, he was unable to get through [[Luoyang]] due to Yue's forces and decided to return towards [[Chang'an]]. Following Yong's defeat, Yue issued an edict calling for Ying's arrest. Ying and [[Lu Zhi (Jin dynasty)|Lu Zhi]] attempted to flee southward but were intercepted. They then planned to join Gongshi Fan, but Sima Xiao caught and apprehended the prince in Ye.

Around November or December 306, Sima Xiao died of natural causes. Xiao's advisor [[Liu Yu (Western Jin)|Liu Yu]] was concerned that his death would encourage the people of Ye to rebel with Ying as their leader. Therefore, he forged a false edict ordering the execution of Ying and killed him during the night. Lu Zhi buried Ying and took up a staff position with [[Sima Yue]]. Gongshi Fan was also defeated and killed by Yue's general, [[Gou Xi]], but his subordinates, [[Ji Sang]] and [[Shi Le]], escaped.

=== Death of Sima Yong ===
Sima Yong held out in Chang'an until around December 306 or January 307. Around this time, Yue sought for peace by issuing an edict to appoint Yong as Minister Over the Masses. Yong believed that Yue's intentions were genuine, and so he left Chang'an for Luoyang. However, along the way, he was intercepted by a general of [[Sima Mo]] at [[Xin'an County|Xin'an]], who had him strangled in his carriage.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=134-135}}

==Aftermath==
[[File:Sixteen Kingdoms 317 AD (2).jpg|thumb|400x400px|317 AD]]
Sima Yue's victory was short lived, as he now had to deal with the various rebellions going on throughout the empire. [[Chen Min (Jin dynasty)|Chen Min]] was overthrown by the gentry clans of [[Jiangnan]], who promptly surrendered the region back to Jin. Ji Sang and Shi Le sacked [[Ye (Hebei)|Ye]] in 307, killing [[Sima Teng]] in the process, while [[Wang Mi]] wreaked havoc on the [[North China Plain]], going as far as occupying [[Xuchang]] and laying siege on [[Luoyang]] in 308. Although Yue eventually quelled their rebellions, both Shi Le and Wang Mi brought their remaining forces to join [[Liu Yuan (Han-Zhao)|Liu Yuan's]] state of [[Han-Zhao|Han]]. Together, they overran most of the lands north of the [[Yellow River]]. In [[Sichuan]], Jin forces failed to extinguish [[Li Xiong|Li Xiong's]] state of [[Cheng-Han|Cheng]].

Sima Yue returned to Luoyang in 309, during which he took measures to tighten his grip on the court. He sent 3,000 armoured soldiers to arrest and execute [[Emperor Huai of Jin]]'s favored courtiers. Then, he dismissed the palace guards, who had participated in many previous coups, and replaced them with soldiers from his own fief. Around this time, Luoyang was hit by a deadly famine and attacked twice by Han forces. In response, Yue decided to march out with the 40,000-strong imperial army to camp at Xiang county (項縣; in present-day [[Shenqiu County]], [[Henan]]) to actively campaign against Han, leaving the capital with little defense and despite Emperor Huai's objections. The emperor was also left behind in Luoyang under the watch of Yue's hand-picked confidants.

This decision was the breaking point in their relationship, as Huai began plotting to depose Yue. He made contact with Yue's second-in-command, [[Gou Xi]], who also had a falling out with the prince, but their plans were eventually discovered. Yue wanted to attack Gou Xi, but was so overwhelmed by stress that he grew ill and soon died on 23 April 311. The imperial army, now at 100,000-strong, were unsure on how to proceed. They hastily chose Yue's minister, [[Wang Yan (Jin dynasty)|Wang Yan]] as a temporary leader, and decided that they should hold the prince's funeral first at his fief. However, the funeral procession was caught by Shi Le and defeated at the [[Battle of Ningping]]. The imperial army was annihilated, and the bodies of officials and soldiers were piled atop one another in a mound as not a single one had been able to escape.{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=136}} With the destruction of the main Jin force in the north, Han forces descended upon the poorly-defended and famine-stricken Luoyang, sacking the city and capturing Emperor Huai on 13 July 311; this came to be known as the [[Disaster of Yongjia]].{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=136}} Gou Xi was also defeated and captured by Shi Le at [[Mengcheng County]] in October.

The Western Jin dynasty would survive for another five years, as an imperial restoration headed by [[Emperor Min of Jin]] (Emperor Huai's nephew) was founded in [[Chang'an]] soon after Huai's capture. However, that too fell by the end of 316, and the Sima clan eventually re-established itself as the [[Jin dynasty (266–420)|Eastern Jin dynasty]] at [[Jiankang]] in southern China. Within four years of his victory in the War of the Eight Princes, Sima Yue had been hounded to death by an assortment of rebellions and court politics. Five years after his death, both the capitals of Chang'an and Luoyang had been lost and most of northern China fell under the rule of an assortment of short-lived states known as the [[Sixteen Kingdoms]].{{sfn|di Cosmo|2009|p=136}}

== See also==
* [[Chinese emperors family tree (early)#Jin Dynasty and Chu|The Eight Princes' family tree]] 
* [[Chinese emperors family tree (early)#Jin Dynasty and Chu|Sima clan family trees]] - including some of the Eight Princes
* [[Upheaval of the Five Barbarians]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

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===Figure===
*[//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5c/Western_Jin_family_tree.jpg Sima's family tree of the Western Jin dynasty]

{{War of the Eight Princes}}
{{Jin dynasty (265–420) topics}}

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