Emperor Qi Hedi 齊和帝 Xiao Baorong 蕭寶融

Emperor He 齊和帝 (r. 501-502), personal name Xiao Baorong 蕭寶融 (488-502), courtesy name Zhizhao 智昭, was the last emperor of the Southern Qi dynasty 南齊 (479-502).

He was the eight son of Emperor Ming 齊明帝 (r. 494-498) and succeeded his brother Xiao Baojuan 蕭寶卷 (r. 498-501) to the throne. He was originally Prince of the Commandery of Suijun 隨郡, and from 499 Prince of Nankang 南康, and regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Jingzhou 荊州, and Area Commander-in-Chief (dudu 都督) of seven provinces.

Xiao Baojuan was an extremely cruel ruler who ruthlessly killed all princes that could potentially challenge his rule. In 500, the regional inspector of Yongzhou 雍州, Xiao Yan 蕭衍 (464-549; the eventual Emperor Wu 梁武帝, r. 502-549), proposed a change of the sovereign, with Xiao Baorong as a candidate, and organised military resistance to Xiao Baojuan's rule. A year later, Xiao Baorong made himself counter-emperor, choosing the reign motto Zhongxing 中興. He sought support by proclaiming the liberation from labour tax for five years. Nominating Xiao Yan Left Director of the Imperial Secretariat (shangshu zuo puye 尚書左僕射) with special warrant (shichijie 使持節), Xiao Baorong personally led an army towards the capital Jiankang 建康 (Nanjing 南京, Jiangsu) and took it. The emperor perished in the fights.

Xiao Baorong made Xiao Yan Commander-in-chief (da sima 大司馬), Supervisor of the Imperial Secretariat (lu shangshu shi 錄尚書事), Counsellor-in-chief (xiangguo 相國), and invested him as Duke of the Commandery of Jian'an 建安郡公 and then as King of Liang 梁, making him factual regent. In 502, Xiao Yan forced Xiao Baorong to abdicate (shanwei 禪位) and demoted him to the status of King of Baling 巴陵, resigning in Gushu 姑孰 (today's Dantu 當涂, Anhui). Shortly later, Xiao Yan had him killed and founded his own dynasty, the Liang 梁 (502-557). Emperor He was buried in the Gong'an tomb hill 恭安陵.