Shen Qingzhi 沈慶之

Shen Qingzhi 沈慶之 (386-465), courtesy name Hongxian 弘先, from Wukang 武康 in the commandery of Wuxing 吳興 (today's Deqing 德清, Zhejiang), was a general of the Liu-Song dynasty 劉宋 (420-479), one of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420-589).

Known for his bravery and competence in strategic thinking, he was in 421 made supernumerary General of the Palace (dianzhong yuanwai jiangjun 殿中員外將軍), and somewhat later, became Vice General of the Rear Route Army (hou jun xing canjiang 後軍行參軍) and supernumerary Gentleman Cavalier Attendant (yuanwai sanji shilang 員外散騎侍郎) under Liu Jun 劉浚 (429-453), the Prince of Shixing 始興. In 442, Shen was appointed General Establishing Martiality (jianwu jiangjun 建威將軍) and assisted Zhu Xiuzhi 朱修之 (d.464) in the suppression of native tribes in southern China. The was then 北中郎中兵參軍 of Liu Dan 劉誕 (433-459), the Prince of Guangling 廣陵, then governor (taishou 太守) of Nandongping 南東平, and then Vice General of the Inner Troops (zhongbing canjun 中兵參軍) of Liu Jun 劉駿, the Prince of Wuling 武陵 and eventual Emperor Xiaowu 宋孝武皇帝 (r. 453-464). Afterward, Shen was Commandant of Infantry (bubing xiaowei 步兵校尉) of the Heir Apparent. When Emperor Xiaowu mounted the throne, Shen was made General of the Palace Guard (lingjun jiangjun 領軍將軍) and concurrently Cavalier Attendant-in-ordinary (sanji changshi 散騎常侍). Shen was commissioned with extraordinary powers (shichijie 使持節) as Area Commander-in-Chief (dudu 都督) of the provinces of Nanyanzhou 南兗州, Yuzhou 豫州, Xuzhou 徐州 and Yanzhou 兗州. Shen was also invested as District Duke of Nanchang 南昌縣公.

After his successful pacification of the rebellion of Lu Shuang 魯爽 (d. 454), Shen was titled General-in-Chief Suppressing the North (zhenbei da jiangjun 鎮北大將軍), and changed his investiture to Commandery Duke of Shixing 始興郡公. In the following years, Shen was a palace attendant (shizhong 侍中), Left Grand Master for Splendid Happiness (zuo guanglu dafu 左光祿大夫), and Minister of the Palace with Equal Rank to the Three Excellencies (kaifu yitong sansi 開府儀同三司).

In 459, when Liu Dan, as Prince of Jingling 竟陵, rebelled, Shen took over the suppression of the revolt. When Emperor Xiaowu died, Shen was nominated regent for the Heir Apparent Liu Ziye 劉子業 (known as First Deposed Emperor 宋前廢帝, r. 464-465), together with Liu Yuanjing 柳元景.

The young ruler proved incompetent, and Liu planned to dethroned him and make Liu Yigong 劉義恭 (413-465) emperor. Yet Shen revealed the plan to the emperor, who had Liu Yigong and Liu Yuanjing executed. Shen was rewarded with the (honorific) titles of a palace attendant (shizhong 侍中) and Defender-in-Chief (taiwei 太尉). Yet the differences between Shen's views and that of the ruler led to the imperial order to commit suicide. His posthumous title was Duke Zhongwu 忠武公, which was, under the rule of Emperor Ming 宋明帝 (r. 465-472), changed to Duke Xiang 襄公.