Liu Zixun 劉子勛

Liu Zixun 劉子勛 (456-466), was a counter-emperor during the Liu-Song period 劉宋 (420-479). He was a son of Emperor Xiaowu 宋孝武帝 (r. 453-464) and held the title of Prince of Jin'an 晉安王 and the post of regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Jiangzhou 江州. In 465, he decided to rise up against the tyrannical government of his brother, Emperor Liu Ziye 劉子業 (r. 464-465). Shortly after, Liu Yu 劉彧 (439-472) arranged the emperor's assassination and took the imperial throne himself – posthumously known as Emperor Ming 宋明帝 (r. 465-472).

Yet Liu Zixun did not accept Liu Yu's rulership and refused to lay down his weapons. A year later, he also proclaimed himself emperor, changing the reign motto to Yijia 義嘉. Liu Zixun's resistance was responded to by some governors, namely Xue Andu 薛安都 (410-469), the regional inspector of Xuzhou 徐州, Cui Daogu 崔道固, the regional inspector of Jizhou 冀州, and Shen Wenxiu 沈文秀 (426-486), the regional inspector of Qingzhou 青州. Some high officers in the commanderies of Guiji 會稽 and Wujun 吳郡 also supported Zixun, who resided in Xunyang 尋陽. Liu Yu, who was apparently in an inferior military position, decided to attack the usurper. He prevailed, and Liu Zixun perished in the fights.