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Xiao Ji 蕭紀, the Prince of Wuling 武陵王

Jun 13, 2025 © Ulrich Theobald

Xiao Ji 蕭紀 (r. 508-553), courtesy name Shixun 世詢 or Dazhi 大智, was an emperor (r. 552) of the Liang dynasty 梁 (502-557), one of the Southern Dynasties 南朝 (420-589). He was the eight son of Emperor Wu 梁武帝 (r. 502-549) and a son of Lady Ge 葛氏. He was Prince of Wuling 武陵 and regional inspector (cishi 刺史) of the province of Yangzhou 揚州. Later on, he was made Commander-in-Chief (dudu 都督) with the title General Pacifying the West (anxi jiangjun 安西將軍) and regional governor of Yizhou 益州 (approx. Sichuan).

During the rebellion of Hou Jing 侯景 (503-552), Xiao Ji did not support the dynasty but watched on to see who would be victorious. In 552, after Hou Jing's death, he assumed the title of emperor, changing the reign motto to Tianzheng 天正 and nominating his son Xiao Yuanzhao 蕭園照 Heir Apparent. Only then he moved his troops eastwards as far as Xialing Gorge 西陵峽, where his troops clashed with those of Xiao Yi 蕭繹, who also had declared himself emperor (Emperor Yuan 梁元帝, r. 552-554). Xiao Ji was killed in battle.

Sources:
Chen Quanli 陳全力, and Hou Xinyi 侯欣一, eds. 1988. Diwang cidian 帝王辭典, 102. Xi’an: Shaanxi renmin jiaoyu chubanshe.
Xiong Tiejin 熊鐵基, and Yang Youli 楊有禮, eds. 1994. Zhongguo diwang zaixiang cidian 中國帝王宰相辭典, 222. Wuhan: Hubei jiaoyu chubanshe.