Huan Xuan 桓玄

Huan Xuan 桓玄 (369-404), courtesy name Jingdao 敬道, was a powerful minister and rebel in the late Eastern Jin period 東晉 (317-420). He hailed from Longkeng 龍亢 in the dominion of Qiaoguo 譙國 (today's Huaiyuan 懷遠, Anhui), and was a son of Huan Wen 桓溫 (312-373), whose nobility title of Commandery Duke of Nanjun 南郡公 he inherited.

Huan was proud of his heroic grandeur, and since the court suspected his father Huan Wen of harbouring rebellious intentions, Huan Xuan was not appointed to office until the age of 23 sui, when he became an attendant and mentor for the Heir Apparent (taizi xima 太子洗馬). In 396, he was appointed governor (taishou 太守) of the commandery of Yixing 義興. Later, he abandoned his post and resided central China, waiting for the right moment to act.

In 397, Wang Guobao 王國寶 (350-397), the Director of the Palace Secretariat (zhongshu ling 中書令), plotted to weaken the regional military governors. Huan Xuan persuaded Yin Zhongkan 殷仲堪 (d. 399), the regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Jingzhou 荊州, to support Wang Gong 王恭 (350-398), the regional inspector of Nanyanzhou 南兗州, in raising troops. The Jin court executed Wang Guobao and other rebels to quell the unrest.

The following year, the court appointed Huan Xuan as regional inspector of Guangzhou 廣州, but he refused to take up the post. Wang Gong, together with Yu Kai 庾楷 (d. 402), regional inspector of Yuzhou 豫州, raised troops in rebellion against Sima Daozi 司馬道子 (364-403) and his son Sima Yuanxian 司馬元顯 (382-402), who held power at court. Huan Xuan joined forces with Yin Zhongkan and Yang Quanqi 楊佺期 (d. 399), regional inspector of Yongzhou 雍州, to support the uprising. After Wang Gong was defeated and killed, the court appointed Huan Xuan as regional inspector of Jiangzhou 江州. Stationed at Xunyang 尋陽 (modern-day Jiujiang 九江, Jiangxi), Huan Xuan was elevated to alliance leader by Yin Zhongkan and others, marking the beginning of his rise in power. Later, internal conflict broke out among Huan Xuan, Yin Zhongkan, and Yang Quanqi, during which Huan Xuan took control of Jingzhou.

The court issued an edict appointing Huan Xuan as Commander-in-Chief (dudu 都督) in eight provinces and as regional inspector of Jingzhou and Jiangzhou, thereby giving him control over the middle reaches of the Yangtze River. His military strength grew daily, and he began to oppose the Jin dynasty openly.

In 402, Sima Yuanxian launched a campaign against Huan Xuan, who in turn raised an army and advanced eastward. Liu Laozhi 劉牢之 (d. 402), a commander of the Northern Army (beifubing 北府兵), surrendered to Huan Xuan. Huan Xuan then entered the capital Jiankang 建康 (modern-day Nanjing 南京, Jiangsu), successively executed Sima Yuanxian and Sima Daozi, purged several commanders of the Northern Army, and took control of the empire’s government.

A year later, he forced Emperor An 晉安帝 (r. 396-418) to abdicate and declared himself emperor. He named his state Chu 楚 and adopted the reign title Jianshi 建始, later changing it to Yongshi 永始. Early next year, Liu Yu 劉裕 (the eventual Emperor Wu 宋武帝, r. 420-422, of the Liu-Song dynasty 劉宋, 420-479), a former commander of the Northern Army, together with Liu Yi 劉毅 (d. 412) and He Wuji 何無忌 (d. 410), revolted against Huan Xuan's usurpatory regime. Huan Xuan was defeated and fled to Jiangling 江陵. He then led a navy of 20,000 men eastward but was crushed by Liu Yi at Zhengrong Isle 崢嶸洲 (modern Echeng 鄂城, Hubei), and retreated to Jingzhou. In the fifth month, he was killed by one of his own generals, Feng Qian 馮遷.