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Chen Bozong 陳伯宗, the Deposed Emperor of the Chen Dynasty 陳廢帝

Jun 22, 2025 © Ulrich Theobald

Chen Bozong 陳伯宗 (554-570), courtesy name Fengye 奉業, called the Deposed Emperor (Chen Feidi 陳廢帝, r. 566-568), was a ruler of the Chen dynasty 陳 (557-589), one of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420-589). He was the oldest son of Emperor Wen 陳文帝 (r. 559-566. Having been nominated Heir Apparent in 559, he regularly succeeded his father. He appointed his uncle Chen Xu 陳頊 (the eventual Emperor Xuan 陳宣帝, r. 568-582), the Prince of Ancheng 安成, regent.

In 567, Chen Zhize 陳至澤 (b. 566), as the oldest son, was nominated Heir Apparent. Chen Bozong was a weak ruler, and the empire was controlled by Chen Xu. In 568, Chen Xu demoted Chen Bozong and gave him the title of Prince of the Commandery of Linhai 臨海郡王. Chen Xu himself mounted the throne. Chen Bozong died not long thereafter.

Sources:
Chen Quanli 陳全力, and Hou Xinyi 侯欣一, eds. 1988. Diwang cidian 帝王辭典, 104. Xi'an: Shaanxi renmin jiaoyu chubanshe.
Xiong Tiejin 熊鐵基, and Yang Youli 楊有禮, eds. 1994. Zhongguo diwang zaixiang cidian 中國帝王宰相辭典, 224. Wuhan: Hubei jiaoyu chubanshe.