Liang Xuandi 梁宣帝 Xiao Cha 蕭詧

Xiao Cha 蕭詧 (519-562), courtesy name Lixun 理遜, was an emperor (r. 555-562) of the Later Liang dynasty 後梁 (555-587), which ruled over small dominion after the downfall of the main Liang dynasty 梁 (502-557). He was the third son of Xiao Tong 蕭統, Prince Zhaoming 昭明太子, and was deeply loved by Emperor Wu 梁武帝 (r. 502-549), who was fond of his cleverness and spirit. Xiao Cha was first invested as Duke of the Commandery of Qujiang 曲江縣公, and then as Prince of Yueyang 岳陽. He was regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Dong-Yangzhou 東揚州 and governor (taishou 太守) of the commandery of Guiji 會稽.

After the death of Xiao Tong, Emperor Wu nominated Xiao Gang 蕭綱 Heir Apparent (Emperor Jianwen 梁簡文帝, r. 549-550), which led to deep resentment in the heart of Xiao Cha. As regional inspector of Yongzhou 雍州, he commanded the strong garrison of Xiangyang 襄陽, which would allow him to declare his independence. In 550, he decided to accept the suzerainty of the Western Wei empire 西魏 (535-556) in the north, and was invested as King of Liang.

In the meantime, the Liang empire was shaken by the rebellion of Hou Jing 侯景 (503-552). After its end, Prince Xiao Yi 蕭繹 adopted the title of Emperor (Emperor Yuan 梁元帝, r. 552-554), first residing in Jiangling 江陵 in central China. Emperor Yuan destroyed the power of a rival Prince, Xiao Yu 蕭譽 (519-550), and Xiao Cha thereupon decided to cease his territory to Emperor Yuan and became a subject of the Western Wei.

In 554, the Western Wei invaded central China and killed Emperor Yuan, giving the region he controlled into the hands of Xiao Cha, and enthroning him as the sovereign of the Liang dynasty. In 555, Xiao Cha officially adopted the title of emperor and changed the reign motto to Dading 大定. This phase is by historians called the Later Liang empire.

In fact, the Later Liang empire was a satellite state of the Western Wei, and then of the Northern Zhou 北周 (557-581). This can be seen in the appointment of a regional commander-in-chief (zongguan 總管), which had the duty to control central China. The Later Liang permanently fought for their survival against the empire of Chen 陳 (557-589), the successor of the proper Liang dynasty.

Xiao Cha was succeeded by his son Xiao Kui 蕭巋 (Emperor Ming 梁明帝, r. 562-585). His posthumous title is Emperor Xuan 梁宣帝, and his temple name Zhongzong 梁中宗.